Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips & Toasted Walnuts

Who doesn't love banana bread? And banana bread with mini chocolate chips & coconut is even better. I found this wonderfully delicious recipe over at For the Love of Cooking and it is absolutely fantastic. I baked it Saturday afternoon & ended up baking a second loaf for my mom & sister. The unusual addition of cloves & the toasting of the walnuts all add to the flavor.

Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips & Toasted Walnuts
1 cup of flour
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 ripe bananas
1 egg
1/4 cup of white sugar
1/4 cup of brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp ground cloves
1/4 cup melted butter
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup toasted walnut pieces
1/2 cup of mini chocolate chips
1/3-1/2 cup coconut*

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a loaf pan. Toast the walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat. Stir frequently for 3-4 minutes, remove from heat and let cool.

Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a large bowl and mix thoroughly, set aside.
In another bowl mash bananas, egg, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, butter and vanilla together then mix thoroughly. Slowly add dry ingredients into wet ingredients and mix well. Once the batter is well combined add the chocolate chips, toasted walnuts & coconut then stir. Pour ingredients into prepared loaf pan. Bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from oven & let cool for a few minutes before cutting. Serve while it's warm with butter. Enjoy!

*Coconut - I decided to add coconut when I saw it in my baking drawer next to the walnuts. It is not a part of the original recipe.