I love trying different variations on banana bread–there seem to be so many! I’ve made a Chocolate Chip Banana Bread before, which is really yummy, so a banana bread with chocolate chips and cherries in it sounded really good! This quick bread is such a treat and if you want a more elaborate dessert, you can add a scoop of vanilla or cherry ice cream on top of a warmed, thick slice and drizzle chocolate or hot fudge sauce over it all!
Another thing about this bread is that I think it tastes even better after a day or two. It comes out of the oven a little on the crusty side, but when it’s completely cooled, wrapped, and refrigerated overnight, it moistens up and the flavor seems a little more enhanced somehow. You can also freeze this—it thaws out well and tastes great!
Chocolate Chip-Cherry Banana Bread
CHOCOLATE CHIP–CHERRY BANANA BREAD by NancyC 
Makes a 9×5″ loaf
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 2 teaspoons canola oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup mashed banana (about 2 small-to-medium bananas)
- 12 Maraschino cherries, drained and finely chopped
- 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
- 1/2 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350˚F. Lightly spray or grease a 9×5″ loaf pan; set aside.
In large bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Make a well in center of flour mixture; set aside.
In a medium bowl, combine Greek yogurt (or sour cream), eggs, oil, and vanilla. Stir in mashed bananas.
Add yogurt (or sour cream) mixture to flour mixture, stirring just until moistened (batter will be lumpy). Fold in chopped cherries, walnuts, and mini chocolate chips.
Spoon batter into prepared pan. Bake at 350˚F for 50 to 53 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out almost clean–be careful not to overbake, or the bread will be dry. Cool in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove bread from pan and cool completely on wire rack. Then slice, serve, and enjoy!
Recipe from NancyC | nancy-c.com
Have you made any unique banana bread recipes lately?
Sharing at Meal Plan Sunday, Farmhouse Friday, Weekend Potluck, Grace at Home, Thursday Favorite Things, Full Plate Thursday, Homestead Blog Hop, LouLou Girls, Inspire Me Monday, Happiness is Homemade.
NancyC 
Years ago, I had a similar recipe that included coconut, banana and a jar of diced maraschino cherries. I lost the recipe over the years, so I appreciate this post.
LikeLike
Coconut sounds like a great addition, too! Hope this is as good as your other recipe!
LikeLike
What a pretty bread.
LikeLike
Kind of a banana split in a bread! I love the addition of cherries, XOXO
LikeLike
I’ve been hearing a lot about banana split bread since I posted this–I’ll have to make that sometime!
LikeLike
I love the idea of Maraschino cherries in these. And they make this bread pop! Absolutely beautiful and yummy. I’ll have to make a loaf soon. 🙂
LikeLike
Hope you enjoy the bread, Anne! 🙂
LikeLike
so pretty..my grandmother makes something similar, but adds coconut, she calls it banana split bread…lovely post..sarah
LikeLike
Thanks, Sarah–It sounds like it would be great with coconut!
LikeLike
I am all about your suggestion to layer up a piece of delicious chocolate chip cherry bread with a dollop of ice cream and chocolate sauce. Oh yes!
LikeLike
Glad you like the idea–you can’t go wrong with ice cream and chocolate sauce! 🙂
LikeLike
This does really sound so nice-will have to get to it quickly!
LikeLike
Hope you like it, Carol! 🙂
LikeLike
Pingback: Banana Walnut Bread (IN A JAR??) | LauraLovingLife
your recipe shows yogurt but the instructions tell us to add in sour cream! What gives? Is this a substitution?
LikeLike
Hi Eileen–The original recipe called for sour cream, but I substituted Greek yogurt–you can use either. I’ve updated the recipe, sorry about the confusion on that!
LikeLike
Nancy, this bread looks so delicious! I’m also always on the prowl for different banana bread recipes, and this one is definitely getting bookmarked; thanks so much for sharing 🙂
LikeLike
You’re welcome, and I hope you like the bread!
LikeLike
Nancy this bread looks amazing! Pinned and featuring tomorrow! I am also working on a banana bread round-up post and would love to include this recipe and the others mentioned so let me know if that’s okay! Thanks so much for sharing at Mom On Timeout!
LikeLike
Sorry I’m just now getting back to you, Trish–I was away from my computer all day! Thanks so much for pinning the bread, and yes, that would be great to include it in the roundup if you still have time to! 🙂
LikeLike
Pingback: Your Creative Timeout Party {No.77} - Mom On Timeout
Wow! I can almost taste that just looking at it! I’d love it if you shared it at our What’s for Dinner party!
https://lazygastronome.com/whats-for-dinner-sunday-link-up-243/
LikeLike
Thanks Helen! I’d be happy to share it at your link up! 🙂
LikeLike
Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday,476.
Miz Helen
LikeLike
My first time trying banana bread with maraschino cherries…I love how beautiful your looks… and it seems it may be a dessert bread…I did not have plain Greek yogurt, so I used vanilla..I can’t wait to try it! Thanks so much!
LikeLike
You’re welcome, Mitzi! Hope you enjoy it! 🙂
LikeLike
This looks so tasty. I love bananas and cherries. I could just eat a slice 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m a big fan of bananas and cherries too! 🙂
LikeLike
Your post is awesome and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday, 627. Happy Valentine Day and come back to see us soon!
Miz Helen
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, and Happy Valentine’s Day to you, too! 🙂
LikeLike