Baking Banana Bread: Fun and Easy Recipe to Get Your Kids Involved

Cooking with kids can be a chaotic, hilarious, and heartwarming experience. For me, one of my favorite things to do with my daughter is bake banana muffins (or, as she likes to call them, "banana bread with extra chocolate chips"). It’s not just about the recipe—it’s about the laughter, the mess, and the little moments that make cooking together such a special part of our routine.

How It All Started: From Toddler to Baking Pro
My daughter started helping me in the kitchen when she was just two years old. At first, it was all about handing me ingredients and stirring (which, let's be honest, often meant more flour on the floor than in the bowl). But as she grew, she became more and more involved. Now, she’s practically running the show when it comes to banana bread!
One of the things she loves most about cooking is the joy of feeding people with something she made herself. It's a little bit magical to watch her light up when she serves up a batch of banana muffins that she baked. I mean, who wouldn’t be proud to share something they’ve created? Even if there’s a tiny amount of chocolate chips in every bite.

Why We Love Baking Together
Baking with her is never boring—it’s a mix of love, laughter, and the occasional stress (because, you know, kids don’t always measure as accurately as we’d like). But even when we get a bit flustered with spilled flour or an extra egg that somehow cracks on the floor, those moments make us laugh so much. It’s that combination of joy, learning, and bonding that makes cooking with kids so rewarding.
Plus, she’s got this one little trick that makes our banana bread “extra special” (and I’m not complaining): she adds a generous amount of chocolate chips to the batter. Sometimes it’s one cup, other times it’s two—who’s counting, right?

Banana Muffins (AKA Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips)
Here’s the recipe that has become a staple in our kitchen. It's simple, but it’s her twist on it that really makes it special:

Ingredients:
3 or 4 ripe bananas
½ cup sugar
1 egg
½ cup melted butter
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 ½ cups of flour
1–2 cups of chocolate chips (depending on how chocolatey your daughter likes them)

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
Mash the bananas. This is where the fun starts—let your little one squish away.
Add the sugar and slightly beaten egg. Stir well.
Stir in the melted butter and mix thoroughly.
Add the dry ingredients—baking soda, baking powder, and flour. Mix until just combined.
Now here’s the fun part: Pour in the chocolate chips and stir. We usually add a generous amount, so don’t be shy.
Pour the batter into a greased muffin pan (or a loaf pan for banana bread).
Bake for 20 minutes for muffins or 50–60 minutes for a loaf of banana bread. Check with a toothpick to see if it comes out clean.

Final Thoughts
Cooking with kids isn’t always smooth sailing, but it’s always memorable. Whether it’s the smiles when they successfully bake their first batch of banana muffins or the giggles after a little kitchen mishap, these moments are precious. And if the recipe ends with a little bit of chocolate chip chaos, well, that’s just part of the fun!

Have you cooked with your kids recently? What’s their favorite recipe to make? I’d love to hear all about it in the comments!

Love, Fabi