• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Cooking Duo
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Recipes By Course
    • Appetizers
    • Bread
    • Breakfast
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Dinner
    • Salads
    • Sides
    • Soups + Stews
  • Method
    • Air Fryer Recipes
    • 30 Minute Meals
    • Baking
    • Easy Casseroles
    • Grilling Recipes
    • Instant Pot
    • One Pot Meals
    • Sheet Pan Dinners
    • Skillet Recipes
    • Stove Top Recipes
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Recipes By Course
  • Method
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Recipes By Course
  • Method
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
ร—
Home ยป Bread ยป Easy Chocolate Bread Recipe

Easy Chocolate Bread Recipe

Published: Nov 14, 2023 ยท Modified: Apr 28, 2025 by Ryan Allen ยท This post may contain affiliate links ยท Leave a Comment

  • Facebook
  • Email
Jump to 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 wonโ€™t be able to resist grabbing a slice right out of the oven.

Chocolate bread with two slices cut off and resting to the side of the chocolate loaf.
Jump to:
  • Why Youโ€™ll Love This Recipe
  • Ingredients
  • Variations
  • How to Make Chocolate Bread
  • Expert Tips
  • Storage Directionsย 
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Recipe FAQs
  • More Decadent Chocolate Treats
  • Double Chocolate Bread

We canโ€™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 youโ€™re craving the homemade comfort of a sweet bread, we recommend baking our Cinnamon Chip Bread or our Best Ever Banana Bread.

Why Youโ€™ll Love This Recipe

  • Easy Chocolate Bread Recipe: Making the batter is a simple process that only takes 20 minutes. Plus, our no-knead recipe is perfect for both beginner and experienced bakers.  
  • Homemade Goodness: We canโ€™t think of anything more satisfying than making your own bread from scratch then enjoying the sweet, chocolate aroma as it bakes. 
  • Chocolate Loverโ€™s Delight: This recipe is full of chocolate flavor in every bite. Bake this chocolate loaf cake to satisfy your sweet tooth, or make it part of a chocolate loverโ€™s gift basket and give it to a friend.

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 donโ€™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.

Two loaves of chocolate bread in baking pans.

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 Reeseโ€™s Cup. Because what goes together better than chocolate and peanut butter? 

How to Make Chocolate Bread

Preheat the oven to 350ยฐF 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 itโ€™s smooth. Mix in the eggs, vanilla extract, and oil until the batter is light and fluffy. Add in the sour cream. 
  1. Step 2: Add the Dry Ingredients. Add the salt, baking powder, and baking soda to the batter and mix until itโ€™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. 
  1. 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. 
  1. Step 4:Let the Bread Cool. Let the freshly baked loaves completely cool before serving. 

Hint: Avoid Overbaking

Oven temperatures can vary from one oven to the next, which can result in overbaking. To avoid that, check the bread at the earliest cooking time. The bread is done when a toothpick or skewer inserted in the middle of the loaves comes out clean.

Chocolate bread in a baking pan lined with parchment paper.

Expert Tips

  • Smooth Batter: Allow the butter, buttermilk and the eggs to come to room temperature before baking. This helps the ingredients mix together smoothly and creates a more consistent batter. 
  • Prevent Overmixing: Overmixing creates dense bread. To prevent that, add all the ingredients gradually. 
  • Even Distribution of Chips: Gently fold in the chocolate chips using a spatula in order to prevent them from sinking to the bottom and keep the chips evenly distributed.

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.
Two loaves of chocolate bread on a gray countertop next to a bowl of cocoa powder and chocolate chips.

Serving Suggestions

Thereโ€™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

Why is my chocolate loaf dry?

If it turned out dry, itโ€™s most likely due to adding too much flour or cocoa. Avoid this by measuring all your ingredients on a baking scale.

What can I use if I donโ€™t have buttermilk?

You can make your own! Add a tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice to a cup of whole milk to make your own buttermilk. Set it aside for 10 minutes to allow it to thicken.

What is the difference between chocolate bread and cake?

Great question! This recipe is a quick bread made without yeast. This results in a dense, moist loaf. It's also often called a chocolate loaf cake, though cakes tend to be lighter and fluffier.

Chocolate bread with pieces cut off.

More Decadent Chocolate Treats

  • Hot Cocoa Cookies
  • Chocolate peppermint cookies on parchment paper surrounded by crushed candy canes.
    Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
  • Overhead look at oatmeal chocolate chip bars stacked on a black cooling rack.
    Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars
  • Close up of four Oh Henry bars stacked on top of each other.
    O'Henry Bars Recipe

We would love it if you would leave a 5 Star โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ rating below. Then follow me onย Facebook,ย Instagram,ย andย Pinterest! Share your favorite recipes or ask questions in myย Facebook Group.

Chocolate bread with two slices cut off in front of the rest of the chocolate loaf.

Double Chocolate Bread

Author: Ryan Allen
Satisfy your chocolate cravings with our homemade Chocolate Bread. Itโ€™s easy to make, comes together quickly, and is filled with rich, chocolatey flavor in every bite.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 55 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
Course Bread, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 16 Slices
Calories 292 kcal

Equipment

  • Glass Mixing Bowls

Ingredients
  

  • 1ยผ cup all-purpose flour
  • ยฝ cup Dutch unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ยผ teaspoon baking soda
  • ยพ teaspoon baking powder
  • ยผ teaspoon salt
  • ยฝ cup butter (salted) room temperature
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • โ…” cup buttermilk room temperature
  • 2 eggs room temperature
  • ยผ cup sour cream
  • ยผ cup canola oil
  • 1ยฝ cup semisweet Chocolate chips reserve ยฝ cup for the topping

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 350โ„‰โ€”line 2 loaf pans with parchment paper. The easiest way to do this is to cut a piece of parchment paper that is long and narrow. Make sure the width of the paper is the same size as the length of the pan. This will create a sling. Spray the parchment paper with cooking spray while it is inside the loaf pan. Set aside.
  • Add butter and granulated sugar to the bowl of your mixer. Mix until the butter and sugar are mixed together well. Next, mix in the eggs, vanilla extract, and canola oil. Mix until light and fluffy, then mix in the sour cream.
  • Add salt, baking powder, and baking soda and mix until well incorporated. Slowly add in the Dutch cocoa powder while the mixer is on low. Alternate adding the buttermilk and flour. Next, mix in one cup of semisweet chocolate chips.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pans. Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips over the top of the batter. Bake loaves for 50-55 minutes.
  • Cool completely, and enjoy!

Notes

  • Bring the buttermilk, eggs, and butter to room temperature before baking.
  • Test the doneness by inserting a toothpick in the center of the loaf.ย 
  • Let the bread completely cool before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 292kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 4gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 141mgPotassium: 175mgFiber: 3gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 254IUVitamin C: 0.03mgCalcium: 47mgIron: 2mg

*All nutrition information provided is automatically calculated and is an estimate and will vary based on ingredients, brands, and changes in cooking methods listed in the recipe. If you need exact numbers on your ingredients, I would recommend calculating them with your prefered nutrition calculator.

Keyword Chocolate Bread
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

More Bread

  • Garlic Knots on a tray with dipping sauce.
    Garlic Knots
  • Cranberry bread sliced and ready to serve on a baking rack.
    Cranberry Bread
  • Homemade biscuits stacked up in a bread basket.
    Easy Homemade Biscuits
  • Sliced cinnamon swirl bread on a wood cutting board.
    Cinnamon Chip Bread

Reader Interactions

5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating





Primary Sidebar

Ryan and Shanna owners of thecookingduo.com.

Hey there, we are Ryan and Shanna!

As food bloggers and parents, we share easy, delicious recipes with simple ingredients to make mealtime easy and yummy. Come join us on our culinary journey!

More about us

Popular Recipes

  • Marry me chicken tortellini in a skillet.
    Marry Me Chicken Tortellini

  • Healthy turkey sloppy Joes on a piece of parchment paper
    Easy Ground Turkey Sloppy Joes Recipe

  • Overhead look at sheet pan breadsicks on parchment paper
    Quick & Easy Sheet Pan Breadsticks

  • Overhead look at Instant Pot baked ziti on a plate with a salad in the background.
    Easy Instant Pot Baked Ziti with Meat

  • The Best Cheeseburger soup in a black bowl and garnished with cheddar cheese.
    Best Cheeseburger Soup with Potatoes

  • Reese's pieces cookies stacked on top of each other on a white background.
    Reese's Pieces Cookies

Dinner Recipes

  • Sheet pan shrimp boil on parchment paper garnished with parsley and lemons.
    Sheet Pan Shrimp Boil

  • Pepper steak in a skillet ready to be served.
    Pepper Steak Recipe

  • Sheet pan sausage green beans and potatoes ready to be served.
    Sheet Pan Sausage Green Beans and Potatoes

  • Baked chicken skewers stacked on top of each other on a wood cutting board.
    Baked Chicken Skewers

  • Two sloppy Joe grilled cheese sandwiches stacked on top of each other.
    Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese

  • Sweet and sour chicken in a skillet with a wooden spoon.
    Sweet and Sour Chicken

Footer

โ†‘ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Let's Connect

  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Punchfork

Contact

  • Contact

The Cooking Duo is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

Copyright ยฉ 2025 The Cooking Duo

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.