Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures that the bread bakes evenly throughout.

Grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan with butter or non-stick spray to prevent sticking.

In a large mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork until smooth. Ripe bananas add natural sweetness and moisture.

Add the melted butter to the mashed bananas and mix until combined.

Stir in the egg and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Sifting the cocoa powder helps to eliminate lumps.

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring gently with a spatula until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to a dense bread.

Fold in the chocolate chips, distributing them evenly throughout the batter.

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top with a spatula.

Bake in the preheated oven for 55-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. This ensures the bread is cooked through.

Once baked, remove the bread from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes.

Transfer the bread to a cooling rack to cool completely before slicing. This helps maintain the texture.