I received this chocolate chip banana bread recipe from my co-worker and dear friend Judy years ago. When she gave it to me she said I'd never need another banana bread recipe. She was almost right. I added more chocolate chips for the chocolate lovers in my family. — Debra Keiser, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1-1/4 cups sugar
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 medium)
• 1/4 cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts, optional

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Line bottom of a greased 9x5-in. loaf pan with parchment; grease paper.
2. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until crumbly. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in bananas, buttermilk and vanilla. In another bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; stir into creamed mixture. Fold in chocolate chips and, if desired, walnuts.
3. Transfer to prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 60-65 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack; remove paper.