Dark Chocolate Banana Oat Nut Bread [sugar-free + egg-free + air-fried]
This rich, moist, and chocolatey banana bread is packed with dark cocoa, crunchy nuts, and hearty oats. Perfect for breakfast, snacking, or dessert!
Sometimes, the best recipes come from a little chaos in the kitchen…
It all started with a bunch of bananas teetering on the edge of overripeness, practically begging to be transformed into something delicious. I’m not usually one for sweets—give me a crusty baguette over a slice of cake any day—but bananas have that perfect natural sweetness that doesn’t overwhelm. Plus, with the skyrocketing price of eggs, I figured I’d go egg-free.
I set out to make a loaf of banana bread, preheated my oven… and then watched in horror as it caught on fire and died. 😳 Yep, right when I had a full pan of batter sitting on my counter, my oven decided to retire in the most dramatic way possible.
Panic mode set in. I debated my options: slow-cook it in a crockpot? Fire up the tiny oven in our RV? Turn the batter into pancakes? But then, a lightbulb moment—I had an air fryer. Would it work? Could it work?
Spoiler alert: It totally worked. I had to switch to a smaller loaf pan to fit, but after some experimenting, I ended up with a moist, dense, and rich banana bread with just the right level of sweetness—reminiscent of a 70% dark chocolate bar, which happens to be my favorite.
So, out of a near-disaster, this air-fried banana bread was born. And honestly…I may never go back to the oven again.
Kitchen Tools Needed:
Air Fryer - If using the air fryer cooking method.
Mixing Bowls – One large for wet ingredients, one medium for dry ingredients.
Fork or Potato Masher – To mash the bananas.
Whisk – For mixing dry ingredients evenly.
Spatula or Wooden Spoon – To fold the batter without overmixing.
Measuring Cups & Spoons – For accurate ingredient measurements.
9x5-inch Loaf Pan – If baking in the oven.
Air Fryer-Safe Baking Pan – If using the air fryer.
Parchment Paper or Cooking Spray – To prevent sticking.
Toothpick or Cake Tester – To check doneness.
Cooling Rack – To cool the bread evenly.
Ingredients:
3 to 4 ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 ½ cups)
½ cup neutral oil (avocado or vegetable)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
¼ cup dark cocoa powder
⅓ cup old-fashioned rolled oats, plus more for topping
⅓ cup chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, or almonds)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon sea or kosher salt
Instructions:
Prepare the Batter
Preheat your oven to 350°F or air fryer to 320°F. Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan (for oven) or a small air fryer-safe pan.
In a large bowl, mash the bananas until smooth.
Stir in the oil and vanilla extract until combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, oats, nuts, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Do not overmix!
Bake the Bread
Oven Method:
Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top.
Sprinkle extra oats and nuts on top for added crunch.
Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
Air Fryer Method:
Pour the batter into an air fryer-safe pan.
Sprinkle extra oats and nuts on top.
Air fry at 320°F for 35-50 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Let cool for 10-15 minutes before slicing.
Serve & Store
✔ Enjoy warm with nut butter or a drizzle of honey!
✔ Store in an airtight container at room temp for 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Would you try air-frying banana bread? Let me know in the comments