Chocolate Banana Pound Cake

• butter↗1 cup

  (room temperature)

• eggs↗2
• sugar↗1 cup
• brown sugar↗1 cup
• bananas↗4

  (mashed)

• buttermilk↗1⁄3 cup
• vanilla extract↗3 tablespoons
• cinnamon↗1 teaspoon
• flour↗2 1⁄2 cups
• baking soda↗2 teaspoons
• salt↗1⁄4 teaspoon
• baking cocoa↗1⁄3 cup
• boiling water1 cup
• semi-sweet chocolate chips↗1

  (optional)

• pecan pieces↗1 cup

  (optional)

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. 2

   Grease and flour two 9x5x3 loaf pans.

3. 3

   Cream butter, eggs, sugars, bananas, buttermilk, vanilla and cinnamon.

4. 4

   Mix together flour, baking soda, salt, baking cocoa and pecans.

5. 5

   Add dry ingredients to creamed ingredients. Mix well.

6. 6

   Add boiling water and stir rapidly for 2 minutes.

7. 7

   Pour batter into loaf pans.

8. 8

   Bake for 45 minutes.

9. 9

   Sprinkle chocolate chips over tops of loaves. (if using chocolate chips).

10. 10

    Return to oven for about 15 minutes or until toothpick comes clean when poked into center of loaf.

11. 11

    Remove from oven and place on cooling rack.

12. 12

    Take a spatula and spread melted chocolate chips in an even layer on top of loaves.

13. 13

    Let cool and remove from pans.

14. 14

    Warm to serve and enjoy!

15. 15

    Note: This recipe will also make 48 small cupcakes with a baking time of 20 minutes, and chocolate frosting can be substitued for the chocolate chips.