I am a quick bread fanatic, well, I pretty much love any kind of bread. Chocolate is also one of my favorite things, so put my love of bread and chocolate together and you have a delightful chocolate bread recipe.
It is hard to beat the smell of fresh baked bread. I love how the smell fills up my whole house. It is quite comforting. And then finally biting into a piece of the freshly baked homemade bread, puts a huge smile on my face.
This chocolate bread recipe is super easy to make and packed with chocolate flavor. If you like banana bread, zucchini bread, coconut bread, etc. Then you will love this bread! Like other quick bread, it is super easy to make, if I can do it, you can do it. Let’s get baking!
Step 1: Gather the ingredients and tools
In order to make this yummy chocolate bread you will need the following ingredients:
- Sugar – Use white granulated sugar. It is the main sweet element in this bread.
- Butter – You will need room temperature softened butter, so it will mix easily with the sugar. The butter will add lots of flavor to the bread.
- Eggs – The eggs will act as a binder for the other ingredients, add leavening, and moisture to the batter.
- Buttermilk – The buttermilk will add moisture and help make the bread soft and tender. The acid in the buttermilk will also react with the baking soda helping it to rise.
- Flour – Use all purpose/plain flour
- Unsweetened Cocoa powder – Not to be confused with chocolate milk powder. The cocoa powder is what makes this bread chocolate bread.
- Baking powder – one of the leavening agents that also gives the bread structure.
- Baking soda – Another leavening agent which will help the quick bread rise and give it structure.
- Salt – The salt gives the bread flavor, balances out the sweetness, and enhances the flavor of the other ingredients.
Some optional ingredients that you can add are walnuts or pecans and chocolate chips.
Step 2: How to make chocolate bread
Begin by preheating your oven to 350 F/176 C. In a large bowl add the softened butter and the sugar. Use a hand mixer or stand mixer and cream those ingredients together. It will take around 20 to 30 seconds. If you don’t have a mixer you can use a stiff whisk or wooden spoon.
Step 3: Eggs and buttermilk
Next add in the large eggs and blend those in really well. Put the mixer away and do the rest by hand. This will ensure you don’t over mix the chocolate bread batter. Pour in the buttermilk. Use a spatula to fold in the buttermilk until well combined.
Step 4: Dry ingredients
Next add all the dry ingredients, the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, to a sifter and sift them into the bow. Alternatively, you can whisk them all together in a separate bowl and then add them to the batter.
Fold in the dry ingredients with a sturdy spatula until well combined, completing the chocolate bread batter.
Step 5: Bake that homemade chocolate bread
Grease a 5×9 inch bread pan with shortening or use cooking spray. Then pour the batter into the pan. Level the top with a spatula.
Next, bake the chocolate bread in the oven for 55 to 60 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
Step 6: Serve up a slice of that chocolate bread
When the bread comes out of the oven allow it to cool in the pan for about 15 minutes. Then use a cake spatula or butter knife and run it along the inside edges of the pan to help loosen the bread from the sides. Now remove the bread and place it on a wire rack to cool completely. Slice yourself up a piece and enjoy!
I really enjoy putting on strawberry preserves and butter on a slice. So yummy!
Step 7: How long does chocolate bread last?
Store the bread in a ziplock bag or in an airtight container for around 3 days at room temperature. It will last about a week in the fridge. Or you can freeze the bread for up to 3 months.
Chocolate Bread
Equipment
- Hand mixer
- Sifter
- Bowls
- Spatula
- 5×9 inch bread pan
- Wire rack for cooling
- Shortening or cooking spray
Ingredients
- 1 cup white granulated sugar 200g
- 1/2 cup butter room temp/softened (115g)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk 240g
- 1 3/4 cup all-purpose plain flour (210)
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 50g
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/3 cup chopped walnuts optional (40g)
- 1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips optional (60g)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F/176 C. In a large bowl cream together the butter and the sugar with a mixer.
- Add in the eggs and mix those until well combined. Put the mixer away. Add the buttermilk and stir/fold it in with a sturdy spatula or wooden spoon. Just until combined.
- In a sifter add the flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Sift those dry ingredients into the bowl. Or if you don't have a sifter whisk them together in a separate bowl and then add them to the main bowl. Fold the dry ingredients into the batter until just combined.
- Some optional ingredients you can add at this point are walnuts or pecans and chocolate chips.
- Grease a 9×5 inch bread loaf pan or spray it with kitchen spray. Add the chocolate bread batter to the pan and bake it in the oven, middle rack, for 55 to 60 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Allow the bread to cool for 15 minutes. Remove it from the pan and place it on a wire rack to cool completely. Serve up a slice and enjoy! I like to add strawberry preserves and butter to mine, but it is amazing plain as well.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Do you like this recipe? Please give it a rating and comment down below, I really appreciate it. If you make it tag me on Instagram @inthekitchenwithmatt. Also, sign up for the newsletter so you won’t miss out on any of my new posts and recipes.
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Look the bread, was wondering if I could sub. the coco for choc bars? What effect would that have? How much would I need to put in instead? Always looking for quick and easy bread to make.
Hi Joyce! Generally when swapping chocolate bars for cocoa powder swap 1 ounce of chocolate with 3 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder. Also, reduce the amount of (butter/oil/shortening) added by 1 tbsp, since chocolate bars already have fat in them. 🙂
Delicious with chocolate chips added!
So happy you like it, Leslie!! 🙂 🙂
I imagine this would be even better with chocolate chunks! Yum! Homemade bread is so good.
You can never go wrong with chocolate chunks! lol 🙂
this looks amazing. i def need to try making it.
Thank you! 🙂
I love a good Chocolate Bread recipe. I hope to try your version. I’ll add more chocolate toppings!
Thanks! I hope you get a chance to try it too.
I never come across recipe so easy and mouthwatering. Looks amazing!
Thank you, Ana! 🙂
I remember having some chocolate muffins at Sweet Tomatoes. They are now closed RIP. This chocolate bread is very similar to it. I am going to try to make it in the upcoming week. I love the easiness of your recipes.
that is awesome!! Yeah, sorry to seem them closed.
thank you, dis the kind of comment I was looking for
Glad you found what you were looking for. 🙂
This looks amazing! I can’t wait for the try the recipe!
Thank you, Hayley!
Really nice looking chocolate bread. I would definitely have a slice or more.
Thank you, Steven!
Hhhaaaaaa….how nice it would be to enjoy this bread!!!!! The milk cut me short on this journey.
You can easily substitute the milk with almond milk or soy milk. 🙂
As simple as super tasty to eat especially for breakfast!
Thank you, Christina! 🙂
I am so craving chocolate right now! And I love any chocolate cake like texture. This would be so good.
If you love chocolate, you will definitely love this. 🙂
oh wow. this looks so yummy. looks like it would make a great dessert for brunch. and i love the idea of using buttermilk. thanks for sharing.
Thank you! You are welcome. 🙂
You had me at CHOCOLATE BREAD! This is a must-try recipe. I can’t wait to try it. Thank you!
Awesome! You are welcome, Christine!
I have to make this! I think I’m going to add some nuts and chocolate chips to it, too!
Definitely! Chocolate chips and nuts are a perfect addition. 🙂
That looks delicious! I’ve seen chocolate added to other types of breads, but I’ve never seen a straight chocolate bread. I’ll have to try this.
Thank you, Bill! 🙂
Is there something I can use as a substitute for buttermilk? I couldn’t find it in the store 🙁
I read somewhere you can also use 1 cup of plain yogurt or 1-3/4 teaspoons cream of tartar plus 1 cup milk as a substitute; would that work?
Thank you so much for everything!
Hello!! Yes just take a cup of milk, like whole milk and add a few tsp. of lemon juice or vinegar. Then let it sit for about 15 to 20 minutes. https://inthekitchenwithmatt.com/homemade-buttermilk
Thank you so much for replying! I’m gonna try this out tomorrow now!!!
You are so very welcome! 🙂
This quickly became a favorite at my house! Really good!
Thanks so much, Toni!
Bread and Chocolate, my two favorite things! This is awesome!
Thank you!! Same with me. 🙂
This is just what I needed to get my chocolate fix while I’m stuck at home. Perfect texture, perfect flavor, thanks!
Awesome! 🙂 You are welcome, Stephanie.