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Chocolate and Hazelnut Banana Breakfast Cake

I don’t know about you, but after Easter I have a pile of chocolate bunnies just waiting to be eaten.  Everyone is going to think I’m insane, but I don’t like to just nom on a brick (or bunny) of plain chocolate (unless it’s really good chocolate).  Every year, chop those bunnies up and turn them into something delicious.  This year?  Chocolate and hazelnut banana breakfast cake.  Phew, that name is a mouthful, but a delicious mouthful that ends in eating chocolate and cake for breakfast.

Chocolate and Hazelnut Banana Breakfast Cake

I’m a big believer in sweet foods for breakfast.  To me, indulging a little bit in the morning helps me say no to buttery, sugary cookies at work — which is frankly incredibly hard when it seems like *someone* brings in treats at least twice a week **cough** definitely not me, no way **cough cough**  Coffee cake is a classic sweet breakfast food that’s easy to make a head, package up, and throw in my lunch to take to work, plus it’s so delicious — but is it really doing me any good if I eat a legitimate dessert for breakfast?  Butter + oil + sugar x 10000 = going to have to pass.  Well, I wish I didn’t have to, but I will  try.  My answer to the coffee cake is breakfast cake.  Um, same thing?  Basically, but no oil/butter and naturally sweetened goodness.

Chocolate and Hazelnut Banana Breakfast Cake

Because it’s breakfast, I threw in some fruit.  Let’s be honest, because I’m me I threw in some fruit.  Bananas pair wonderfully with chocolate and hazelnuts, plus those favorite nuts of mine add a fantastic crunchy element.  This holds up well in the fridge throughout the work week, so cut into slices and grab a piece as you run out the door or microwave and eat with a fork for maximum deliciousness.  Delicious enough for a healthy dessert, too 😉

5.0 from 2 reviews

Chocolate and Hazelnut Banana Breakfast Cake
Author: 
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 

Serves: 9
 

Ingredients
  • 1 ½ c white whole wheat flour or whole wheat pastry flour
  • 3 dashes cinnamon
  • 1 dash nutmeg
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ½ c agave or honey
  • 1 very ripe banana, mashed
  • 1 tbsp ground flax
  • 1 tbsp water
  • 1 tsp butter extract (or other extract, but you’ll lose the buttery flavor)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ¾ c unsweetened almond milk or milk of choice
  • 2 ripe bananas, sliced
  • ⅓ c chopped hazelnuts (roughly divided into 2 portions)
  • ¼ c chocolate chunks or chips, chopped into smaller pieces
  • 2 tbsp. Nutella, chocolate peanut butter, or additional chocolate, melted

Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F and prepare a 9”x9” baking pan with nonstick spray.
  2. Combine all ingredients from flour to salt in a bowl.
  3. In a second bowl, mix agave/honey, mashed banana, flax, water, extracts, and milk until well combined.
  4. Add the flour mixture and milk mixture to the sugar mixture, starting and ending with the flour mixture. Stir until just combined.
  5. Pour ~half of the batter into the pan. Cover with an even layer of the banana slices, topped with ½ of the hazelnuts, and drizzled with Nutella or melted chocolate (may need to microwave the Nutella for ~15 seconds to make it drizzle-able).
  6. Top with remaining batter, followed by remaining hazelnuts and all of the chopped chocolate.
  7. Bake for 25 – 30 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean (aside from melty chocolate). Cut into 9 pieces

Notes
Based on my Apple Breakfast Cake recipe.
For a vegan breakfast, use chocolate peanut butter or melted chocolate chips instead of the Nutella + consider using agave, vegans have varying opinions on honey.

Nutrition Information
Serving size: 1/9th Calories: 250 Fat: 6 Carbohydrates: 47 Fiber: 4 Protein: 4

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18 Comments
    Kathleen R. May 11, 2014

    Wow. This sounds amazing. I love banana chocolate anything. Thanks for sharing 🙂

    Christie - Food Done Light Apr 29, 2014

    This sounds delicious Kelly. I love the idea of using Easter chocolate. We still have Halloween candy from last year too!

      Kelly Apr 30, 2014

      Wow, you have some amazing willpower to not have devoured all your Halloween candy by now! I can’t trust myself around actual candy (bars of chocolate or chocolate bunnies I’m usually pretty good about passing on), so chopping it up into healthier baked goods is always my go-to move.

    Becky @ Olives n Wine Apr 24, 2014

    Omggggg! Kelly this is like my ideal breakfast! I also am not a fan of gnawing on a brick of a chocolate bunny and this would be the perfect solution!

    Breana Apr 24, 2014

    I have walnuts, could I switch out the hazelnuts for walnuts?

      Kelly Apr 24, 2014

      Breana – yes! Any nut would work here. I just happen to be partial to hazelnuts 🙂

    Pam Apr 24, 2014

    Excellent! This recipe is a keeper! It would’ve been great with my coffee earlier. I like your blog too!

    Julia {The Roasted Root} Apr 24, 2014

    YES!! Best use of massacred chocolate bunny EVER! This breakfast cake looks amazing. I’m a huge proponent of the sweet bk too…savory bk’s are great but when I eat a savory bk, I always follow it up with a sweet bk anyway, so might as well just eat what you’re craving if you ask me. I needs me this cake 😀

    cheri Apr 24, 2014

    What a clever way to use up Easter candy. I prefer my sweets in the morning as well, because I fell like I have all day to work them off. Usually this keeps me from partaking something sugary the rest of the day.

    Em @ Love A Latte Apr 24, 2014

    I’m all about sweet at breakfast too. Chocolate chips in pancakes are generally my go too. There is so much food/desserts that float around my office. It’s so tough to resist! This bread looks and sounds fantastic!

    Kayle (The Cooking Actress) Apr 24, 2014

    This is the PERFECT use for those choc bunnies!!!! I love everything about this breakfast cake!!! Hazelnut, yum, banana, yum, and CHOCOLATE! And this deliciousness is suitable for breakfast, hoooooray!

    Joanne Apr 24, 2014

    Normally I just let the.boy eat all our bunnies…but now that you’ve put this idea of baking with them into my head, I’m going to HAVE to do it!! This cake sounds so good. Any excuse to eat chocolate for breakfast sounds good to me!