Easy Chocolate Bread Recipe

Chocolate lovers unite! Our Chocolate Bread is a twist on the traditional pound cake. Chocolate chips are sprinkled throughout the homemade batter and on top of the freshly baked loaf for an extra chocolatey flavor. You won’t be able to resist grabbing a slice right out of the oven.

We can’t think of anything more nostalgic than a fresh, homemade chocolate loaf sitting out on the counter, ready to grab as a sweet afternoon treat or to serve for dessert.

Our chocolate bread recipe is filled with rich cocoa and chocolate chips for extra chocolatey flavor. Every irresistible bite is so tender and moist.   

The next time you’re craving the homemade comfort of a sweet bread, we recommend baking our Cinnamon Chip Bread or our Best Ever Banana Bread.

Ingredients

• Flour: We use all purpose flour for our chocolate loaf cake recipe. Use your favorite cup-for-cup or 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour to make this chocolate bread gluten-free. 
• Cocoa Powder: The powder gives the bread its rich brown color and chocolate flavor. We use Dutch unsweetened cocoa powder for its milder, smoother chocolate flavor. Any cocoa powder will work as long as it's unsweetened. 
• Baking Soda and Baking Powder: These leavening agents cause the chocolate loaf cake to rise. 
• Butter and Sugar: This recipe begins by combining butter and sugar until they are well blended. The fat content of butter gives the bread a moist, soft internal texture. Be sure to let it reach room temperature. 
• Eggs: This recipe requires two room-temperature eggs. If you don’t have large eggs, you can substitute smaller eggs. Be sure to adjust the number of eggs accordingly.  
• Vanilla Extract: Vanilla adds a warm, sweet undertone to the flavor of the bread. Use imitation or pure vanilla extract, whatever you have on hand. Madagascar vanilla yields the strongest vanilla flavor. 
• Buttermilk and Sour Cream: The acid in these dairy products interacts with baking soda to leaven the breads, resulting in a light, moist texture. 
• Semisweet Chocolate Chips: Use any chocolate chip you prefer, noting it will change the overall sweetness of the bread. 

See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.

Variations

• Mix-Ins: Along with or instead of chocolate chips, add in nuts such as pecans or walnuts, dried cranberries or cherries, or oatmeal.  
• Top it With a Glaze: Elevate this simple chocolate loaf cake recipe with a fruity glaze. Think of cherry glaze as a nod to chocolate-covered cherries. Raspberry glaze would also be delicious. Alternatively, you could drizzle the bread with a vanilla glaze, similar to glazed donuts. 
• Peanut Butter Cup Flavor: Add peanut butter chips to the batter, then top the bread with more chips and your favorite Nutella for a spin on a Reese’s Cup. Because what goes together better than chocolate and peanut butter? 

How to Make Chocolate Bread

Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare the loaf pans with parchment paper and cooking spray. 

1. Step 1: Mix the Wet Ingredients. Add the butter and sugar to your mixer and blend until it’s smooth. Mix in the eggs, vanilla extract, and oil until the batter is light and fluffy. Add in the sour cream. 

2. Step 2: Add the Dry Ingredients. Add the salt, baking powder, and baking soda to the batter and mix until it’s thoroughly blended. Slowly stir in the cocoa powder with the mixer on low speed. Add in the buttermilk and flour, alternating between the two ingredients. Finally, add in the chocolate chips. 

3. Step 3: Bake the Bread. Pour the bread batter into the loaf pans and sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips on top. Bake the loaves for 50 to 55 minutes. 

4. Step 4:Let the Bread Cool. Let the freshly baked loaves completely cool before serving. 

Storage Directions 

• Storing: Place leftover bread in an airtight container and set in a cool spot on your counter or pantry. Room temperature bread will last for 2 to 4 days. You can also store the bread in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days. To freeze leftovers, cut the bread into slices and wrap them individually before freezing.  Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
• Reheating: Reheat frozen bread slices in the microwave for 15-20 seconds. Or, let the slices thaw at room temperature and enjoy as is.

Serving Suggestions

There’s no reason to save this decadent chocolate quick bread for dessert. Enjoy it for breakfast or as an afternoon treat. You could even serve it as part of a brunch. 

• Serve a slice of chocolate chip bread with our homemade vanilla ice cream, berries, whipped cream, or a generous drizzle of caramel sauce and sea salt. 
• Add this chocolate bread loaf to your brunch menu. It goes great with these sausage egg muffins or sausage cream cheese crescent rolls along with this strawberry pecan salad, and fresh fruit. 
• Having overnight guests? Set out slices of this freshly baked bread, our homemade waffles, hashbrown breakfast casserole, cereal, and fruit as a part of a breakfast buffet. 

Recipe FAQs

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