Chocolate-Banana Bread

INGREDIENTS

Bread

• 2 cups Banana Nut Cheerios® cereal
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup canola or vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 egg
• 1 cup mashed very ripe bananas (2 medium)
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

Topping

• 1/2 cup Banana Nut Cheerios cereal

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom only of 9x5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. Place 2 cups cereal in resealable food-storage plastic bag or between sheets of waxed paper; crush with rolling pin to make 3/4 cup. Set aside.
2. In large bowl, beat sugar and oil with electric mixer on low speed until well mixed. Beat in buttermilk, vanilla and egg just until blended; beat in bananas. Stir in flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt until well mixed. Stir in 3/4 cup crushed cereal and chocolate chips. Spoon and spread evenly in pan.
3. Place 1/2 cup cereal in resealable food-storage plastic bag or between sheets of waxed paper; coarsely crush with rolling pin. Sprinkle over batter in pan; press lightly.
4. Bake 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Remove from pan to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 2 hours.

NOTE: Mini chips are used in this recipe because the larger ones can sink to the bottom.