This Hot Cocoa Banana Bread is the cozy holiday upgrade you didn’t know your banana bread needed. It’s so chocolatey and gooey from all the marshmallows. It makes for a decadent breakfast or dessert!
For optimal viewing of toddler instructions, please view on a larger screen such as tablet or laptop devices.
This recipe makes 1 bread loaf.
AuthorcookingwithtoddlersIngredients
General Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, applesauce, and sugar until fully combined.
- Add eggs
- In a small bowl, mash bananas then add them to the mixing bowl
- Add milk, spices, and vanilla
- Add cocoa powder
- Add flour (1 cup at a time), baking powder, and baking soda
- Add hot cocoa + marshmallow chips
- Grease baking dish/bread pan, then pour batter into dish
- Bake for 1 hour (toothpick should come out clean)
- Cool completely
- Frost with marshmallow fluff. Drizzle chocolate sauce. Top with mini marshmallows + sprinkles
Toddler Instructions: Click on the skill level below for detailed instructions. (#’s relate to General Directions)
Beginner:
2. Pour pre-measured ingredients into mixing bowl. You can assist with hand over hand to ensure it all gets in the bowl. Using hand over hand help, cream ingredients.
3. Using hand over hand help, stir ingredients.
4. Help peel banana. Using hand over hand help, mash bananas. Pour mashed bananas into mixing bowl
5. Pour in pre-measured ingredients. Using hand over hand help, stir ingredients.
6. Pour in pre-measured ingredients. Using hand over hand help, stir ingredients.
7. Pour in pre-measured ingredients. Using hand over hand help, stir ingredients.
8. Pour in pre-measured ingredients. Using hand over hand help, stir ingredients.
12. Help decorate with mini marshmallows and sprinkles
Experienced:
2. Unwrap butter. Pour pre-measured ingredients into mixing bowl. Using a large mixing spoon or spatula, help to cream ingredients with help as needed.
3. In a separate bowl, mix egg whites/yolks using a whisk until combined. Pour into mixing bowl.
4. Peel bananas and add to bowl. Help mash bananas using a masher with help as needed. Pour mashed bananas into mixing bowl. Help to mix in bananas, with help as needed.
5. Pour in pre-measured ingredients. Help to fully mix into batter with help as needed.
6. Pour in pre-measured ingredients. Help to fully mix into batter with help as needed.
7. Pour in pre-measured ingredients. Help to fully mix into batter with help as needed.
8. Pour in pre-measured ingredients. Using hand over hand help, stir ingredients.
12. Help decorate with mini marshmallows and sprinkles
Pro:
2. Unwrap butter and cut stick in half. Help to measure applesauce and sugar, then pour into mixing bowl. Using a large mixing spoon, stir sugar and applesauce to creamed butter first, with help mixing as needed.
3. Crack eggs into a separate bowl and mix egg whites/yolks together using a whisk until combined. Pour into mixing bowl. Stir ingredients, with help as needed.
4. Peel bananas. Mash bananas using a masher, with help as needed. Pour mashed bananas into mixing bowl. Mix into batter (help finish mixing as needed).
5. Help measure ingredients. Add to batter. Mix into batter (help finish mixing as needed).
6. Help measure ingredients. Add to batter. Mix into batter (help finish mixing as needed).
7. Help measure ingredients. Add to batter. Mix into batter (help finish mixing as needed).
8. Help measure ingredients. Add to batter. Mix into batter (help finish mixing as needed).
12. Help to frost with Fluff and decorate with chocolate sauce, mini marshmallows, and sprinkles.
Notes:
- The Fluff can be a little runny so I found it holds its shape better when refrigerated after frosting.
- You can also use the Marshmallow frosting instead of straight Fluff – it’s super yummy
Suggested Fine Motor Activities: