This Almond Joy Banana Bread is loaded with lots of chocolate, almonds, and coconut. Such a fun way to use up those ripe bananas on the counter.
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I can't seem to stop buying bananas. It is probably safe to say they are my favorite fruit.
Every single time we are at the store and they have the "baking" bananas super cheap, we come home with at least 6 or more bunches, plus some green ones to eat right away.
Most of the baking bananas get peeled, chopped, and frozen right away for smoothies and Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream. But I usually set aside one bunch of bananas to get really good and dark.
To get the best flavor in your baked goods, the bananas have to be dark...not spotty...like black dark.
They totally gross me out when I am peeling them, but I love how good they make this Cherry Chocolate Chip Banana Bread and these Banana S'mores Muffins taste.
Of course, if you are looking for the best banana bread I suggest making this Sour Cream Banana Bread. It's simple and tastes amazing!!!
The idea to mix bananas and almond joy in a sweet bread has been swirling in my head for awhile.
Coconut is a huge addiction for me. I love to add it to everything. It has found its way into cookies, bars, and cheesecake.
Two out of three of our kids don't even bat an eye anymore when they taste the coconut in stuff! One point for mom in that category.
It totally proves that if you keep offering the same food to your kids, eventually they will eat it and maybe even like it. Well, unless they are a picky eater like our youngest. If you finds coconut in something, he will stop eating it ASAP.
Does anyone remember the little Almond Joy candy pieces? They were so good, but I haven't seen them in stores for quite a while.
When I first made this coconut banana bread years ago, I add those candies to the batter. So the bread had spots of blue all over it from those little candies. You can imagine the amount of comments I got about moldy bread. LOL!!!
So, I decided it was time to remake this chocolate chip banana bread using just coconut and almonds.
Tips for making Almond Joy Banana Bread:
Beat the butter, cream cheese, and sugars until light and creamy.
Add the eggs, smashed bananas, and almond extract and mix again.
Stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Slowly mix this into the butter mixture.
Add the diced almonds, chocolate chips, and coconut and stir gently. Spoon the mixture into two greased 9x5 loaf pans. Sprinkle the top of the batter with extra almonds and coconut.
Bake the banana bread for 45 minutes, then add a tented pieced of foil over the top of the breads to keep them from browning too much. Continue baking for an additional 10-15 minutes.
Cool the bread in the pan for 10-15 minutes, then flip the bread out onto a plate or wire rack. Gently flip the bread back over and let it cool completely.
Looking for more Almond Joy recipes?
A hidden layer of coconut macaroons and the white chocolate on top make these Almond Joy Brownies an amazing dessert.
These Almond Joy Chocolate Chip Cookies have almonds, coconut, and candy pieces in them. They are perfect for dunking in a cup of milk.
Try one of these Almond Joy Hot Chocolate drinks the next time you need a drink to warm you up.
These Almond Joy Energy Bites are a little bit healthier way to have dessert while watching the calories you eat.
These Almond Joy Bars taste just like the candy bar only better. A thick chocolate layer and the coconut shortbread crust makes them so delicious.
Recipe
Almond Joy Banana Bread
This Almond Joy Banana Bread is loaded with lots of chocolate, almonds, and coconut. Such a fun way to use up those ripe bananas on the counter.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup butter, room temperature
- 1 - 8 ounce cream cheese, softened
- ¾ cup sugar
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 2 cups smashed bananas (4-5)
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 cups flour
- 1 ½ cups coconut, divided
- ¾ cups sliced almonds, divided
- ¾ cups miniature chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray 2 - 9x5 loaf pans with nonstick spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter, cream cheese, and sugars until creamy. Add the eggs, banana, and almond extract.
- Stir together the baking powder, baking soda, salt, and flour. Slowly add it to the butter mixture until it is incorporated.
- Dice ½ cup of the sliced almonds. Stir the chocolate chip, diced almonds, and 1 cup coconut into the batter.
- Spoon the batter evenly in the pans. Sprinkle the tops with the extra ½ cup coconut and ¼ cup sliced almonds.
- Bake for 45 minutes. Cover the tops of the bread with foil and bake an additional 10-15 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out mostly clean.
- Cool the pans of bread on a wire rack for 10-15 minutes before flipping the bread out onto a plate to cool all the way. Store in a sealed container.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 277Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 190mgCarbohydrates: 35gFiber: 2gSugar: 19gProtein: 4g
(original recipe from July 2012)
*The recipe and post for Almond Joy Banana Bread was first published on July 11, 2012. The post and pictures have been updated and it has been republished on March 11, 2019.
shopannies
these sound awesome so super yummy and my hubby would love it as well
come see us at http://shopannies.blogspot.com/2012/07/blackberry-peach-cobbler-with-praline.html
Carole
Interesting - not sure about the blue bits.
Glad I found you through It's a Keeper's linky party. I linked in bacon and scrambled egg rolls. Have a super week.
Holly
I am IN LOVE witht this banana bread! I am right there with you... I adore coconut. I wish my hubby liked it, too :/
Heather Kinnaird
Delicious! I love any excuse to eat candy for breakfast:)
Jocelyn
You are a girl after my own heart:-)
Debi....Recipes For My Boys
I'll be right over for coffee and this delicious bread! I've been sneaking my coconut in my bars and cookies also. lol Thank you for sharing on Thursday's Treasures Week 42. I hope to see you again each week. <3 and hugs! http://www.recipesformyboys.com/2012/07/thursdays-treasures-week-42.html
Tanya-Lemonsforlulu.com
What a good looking bread! I love coconut, luckily my kids do too! The bread looks so moist and I love the bright blue dots from the candies! I really, really wish that bread was here now. It would be lovely with my coffee! On my grocery list: Almond Joy Candies and overripe bananas!
snazzybiscuits
Oh my, this looks delicious, and so pretty! I love banana bread, and with almonds and chocolate? Oh boy! 🙂
Dawn
I'm slightly addicted to coconut myself! This banana bread looks sooo good. I love the blue form the Almond Joy pieces. Thanks for sharing on Whatcha Whipped Up.
Averie (Love Veggies and Yoga)
this is stunning! LOVE coconut in anything and Almond Joy bars and banana bread...and chocolate. Every single thing is perfect!
Jocelyn
I totally agree with you...coconut in anything and everything is pretty awesome!!!
baking.serendipity
I love making banana breads and this is such an awesome adaptation! Those Almond Joy bites are perfect 🙂
Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl
Oh my goodness? Why did I not think to put the Almond Joy candy pieces in banana bread?? I think this might just be the best idea ever!
Ellen B Cookery
Put the coffee on, I'm coming over! That is one awesome banana bread! YUM!
Jocelyn
I've got the coffee ready for you:-)
Aimee
Genius combo girl. Guess I'll have to make something with coconut next week.....
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust
Yessssss. Almond joy? Banana bread? One of the joys of life. 🙂
4Sisters
I'll be right over...I'll even bring the coffee 😉 This looks so fabulous - there are bananas on my counter right now...putting Almond Joy pieces on my grocery list! I love the pic with the view from the top 🙂
Becca @ Crumbs and Chaos
Hayley
Aaaaaand this is why I love coming to your blog, Jocelyn! The knowledge that I'll stop by and see Almond Joys inside of banana bread and that I know you are obsessed with coconut as much as I am! Seriously, this is genius! Never would have crossed my mind to stuff banana bread with candy pieces and a liberal sprinkling of coconut 🙂 I bet this tastes redonkulous straight out of the oven--and I'd bet I'd be burning myself silly just trying to fork it all in straight away. YUMMMMM.
Jocelyn
I love that you come by my blog all the time...you are the best!!! I thought of you when I posted this because I know how addicted you are to coconut!!! And I would probably let it cool just a bit before digging it...your mouth will thank you for that tid bit:-)
Sally
Jocelyn, all of your almond joy recipes have me craving coconut this second. I love coconut. And paired with chocolate AND banana is pure heaven. I love jazzed up banana breads - there are so many ways to dress it up with delicious flavors! This is a winner recipe that I'm saving, I just LOVE the looks and sounds of it!
Jocelyn
Coconut is the best!!! I love how almost anything goes in banana bread!!! You are going to love this one for sure:-)
The Miller Five
Oh my family would love this. You know that I don't care for coconut (hate it) but my husband and kids eat Almond Joy's like they are going out of style.I may just have to make this as a surprise. Thanks for sharing!
Chocolate Shavings
The texture of these looks just perfect - yum!
Sophie
Yum! I know I LOVE bananas! I always grab a couple of the darkest ones when we go to the store for my baking:)
Jocelyn
Bananas always find their way into my cart too:-) So many ways to use them up!!!