Royal Banana Chocolate Bread

The royal part of this quick bread is the fact that it is the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle’s, recipe.

The story goes that when she and her husband, Prince Harry, visited Australia in October of 2018, Her Royal Highness baked the now-famous banana bread in the kitchen of Admiralty House in Sydney. It was after a long day of engagements, well into her pregnancy.

To quote google, “As if juggling pregnancy, jetlag and 16 days of speeches, meetings and handshaking with Prince Harry wasn’t enough, the Duchess took it upon herself to make homemade banana bread for morning tea.”

Okay, well I think most of us who’ve been pregnant could have managed all of this and more, but whatever….

The bread isn’t just your ordinary loaf. It has crystallized ginger, chocolate chips, and, as the Duchess put it, “too many bananas.”

The recipe might not be the exact recipe of HRH, because I saw many versions online, some containing walnuts, maple syrup, and cinnamon, but the bread has indeed become famous.

This is the recipe that my sister has always used, and she highly recommends it. Me? I hadn’t even heard of HRH’s banana bread. But it is good!

Royal Banana Chocolate Bread

3 very ripe bananas, mashed
4 ounces unsalted butter, melted
2/3 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs, beaten
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon grated ginger*
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup crystallized ginger, finely chopped

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9 x 5″ loaf pan with butter; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, beat the mashed bananas, melted butter, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla until smooth and evenly combined.

Add the grated ginger, flour, baking soda and salt. Stir just until combined with no dry spots. Stir in the chocolate chips and crystallized ginger.

Pour batter into greased loaf pan and bake for 60 minutes, or until bread has risen, is golden brown, and a tester inserted into the center comes out clean.

Remove the bread from the loaf pan and let cool completely at room temperature before slicing and serving.

* Instead of fresh ginger I opted for 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger. I was worried that I couldn’t smoosh and properly disperse the fresh ginger.

The banana bread is very good, and somewhat unique. I’m glad I used the ground ginger.

I had to try it warmed with butter, although the bread itself is moist.

It’s certainly pleasing enough to be not only a snack but a dessert.


HRH the Duchess obviously has a loving heart and great sense of community, because she helped compile a cookbook, entitled Together: Our Community Cookbook, published in September of 2018 and not yet available in the states. Proceeds benefit the Hubb Community Kitchen, located in London.

Quoting google, “The Hubb Community Kitchen is a group of women who have come together to prepare fresh food for their local community. After being displaced following the Grenfell tower fire, some of the local women needed a place to cook fresh food for their families.”

About the Author: Chef Mimi

As a self-taught home cook, with many years in the culinary profession, I am passionate about all things food-related. Especially eating!

55 Comments

  1. Kim Bultman August 16, 2019 at 1:19 PM - Reply

    I never thought of adding ginger (or crystallized ginger) to banana bread, Mimi, but it sounds GOOD! (Plus, I have a stash of crytallized ginger languishing in my pantry from Nuts.com… sometimes I eat one just for the palate kick! :) Thanks for sharing HRH recipe with your modifications.

    • chef mimi August 16, 2019 at 3:04 PM - Reply

      It was really good. I don’t think it needed the ground ginger, but I liked the crystallized ginger!

  2. jenniferguerrero1 August 16, 2019 at 7:09 PM - Reply

    This looks lovely, Mimi!

    • chef mimi August 16, 2019 at 7:46 PM - Reply

      It was very good!

  3. sherry August 16, 2019 at 7:40 PM - Reply

    good old meghan. she is wonderful! and i’m sure your loaf was too! cheers sherry

    • chef mimi August 16, 2019 at 7:46 PM - Reply

      Thanks! She is adorable!

  4. Jeff the Chef August 17, 2019 at 8:16 AM - Reply

    Thank you for the “…most of us who’ve been pregnant could have managed all of this and more, but whatever…” line.

    • chef mimi August 17, 2019 at 8:17 AM - Reply

      HAHAHAHAHAHA! Was it a bit insensitive ?

      • Jeff the Chef August 18, 2019 at 7:36 PM

        No, I didn’t think so at all! I kind of thought, you know, a few years ago she was fending for herself, and now all of a sudden it’s remarkable that she whips up a little quickbread? Hahaha.

  5. David Scott Allen August 17, 2019 at 8:19 AM - Reply

    I am with Jeff – that line made me laugh out loud,

    While not. Huge fan of batter breads, this one does pique my interest!

    • chef mimi August 18, 2019 at 8:02 AM - Reply

      She’d feel better whilst preggers if she wouldn’t wear the crazy high heels! It’s a good combination of ingredients. I loved the amount of butter.

  6. Kelly, RD August 17, 2019 at 12:39 PM - Reply

    I’m super curious about the crystallized ginger ingredient! Love your hair!!

    • chef mimi August 18, 2019 at 8:03 AM - Reply

      Yep – going blonde. Or maybe platinum! Thank you! The ingredients made a wonderful flavor.

  7. Fran @ G'day Souffle' August 17, 2019 at 4:53 PM - Reply

    Banana bread is normally sweet enough but adding the ginger would certainly add a nice element. Meghan’s Cookbook looks interesting- maybe we could get Lisa from ‘Lisa is Cooking’ blog to do a review of it!

    • chef mimi August 18, 2019 at 8:04 AM - Reply

      That’s a great idea! Meghan really seems to be kind hearted. I really didn’t want to add fresh ginger, but the bread itself was tasty.

  8. popsiclesociety August 17, 2019 at 8:22 PM - Reply

    I love banana bread! I never heard of Megan’s recipe but I like this touch of ginger in it 😉

    • chef mimi August 18, 2019 at 8:05 AM - Reply

      Well, only my sister had as far as I know! I haven’t asked her how she even discovered it. It was good, but i do love crystallized ginger.

  9. Italian Goodness August 17, 2019 at 9:09 PM - Reply

    Dear Mimi, I for sure fond of Banana bread (which I discovered only when I moved to US – it is not popular at all in Italy), but now that Thank to you I found out there is a “Royal” version, I could I not try it??? Thanks for sharing it! Hugs, Silvia

    • chef mimi August 18, 2019 at 8:06 AM - Reply

      Yes, you must try the royal version!!! Are there even bananas in Italy? This one was good. Children probably wouldn’t like the addition of the ginger, but the other ingredients make a good quick bread.

      • Italian Goodness August 18, 2019 at 8:07 AM

        We do have bananas, only banana’s treats are not so popular. Yes I had the same though but I like ginger very much, so for once I can bake for myself 😉

  10. Denise Browning August 18, 2019 at 6:13 PM - Reply

    It looks delicious, royal or not. Perfect also accompanied by a cup of tea or coffee.

    • chef mimi August 19, 2019 at 7:44 AM - Reply

      I’d choose coffee. I wonder if Meghan is getting used to tea? Hopefully she’s already a tea lover!

  11. Gloria August 18, 2019 at 7:24 PM - Reply

    I love banana bread and this looks delicious !!xo

    • chef mimi August 19, 2019 at 7:44 AM - Reply

      It was a very good quick bread.

  12. Tandy | Lavender and Lime August 19, 2019 at 12:37 AM - Reply

    I have a copy of that recipe book and it is very inspiring. I love the idea of crystallized ginger in a banana bread. I might have to try that sometime :)

    • chef mimi August 19, 2019 at 7:45 AM - Reply

      Meghan seems to be very kind hearted and philanthropic. The book looks wonderful, and the motivation behind it was so tragic.

  13. cookingontheweekends August 19, 2019 at 1:01 AM - Reply

    I haven’t heard about this recipe. Fun! Love the ginger twist!!

    • chef mimi August 19, 2019 at 7:46 AM - Reply

      I think I’d definitely prefer crystallized over fresh ginger in this bread. But there are many variations if you start looking!

  14. neil@neilshealthymeals.com August 19, 2019 at 4:43 AM - Reply

    I do love a slice of banana bread with a cuppa Mimi. I have to admit I hadn’t heard of royal banana bread or of Meghan’s version. Delighted that you’ve made it and highlighted your version of it though. It does look absolutely delicious!! Also laughed at your line “most of us who’ve been pregnant could have managed all of this and more, but whatever…” Hee hee!! Loved that wee dig!!

    • chef mimi August 19, 2019 at 7:48 AM - Reply

      I have no idea how busy the life of a royal is, so perhaps I shouldn’t have made that comment! I certainly am not cutout for that kind of wife – especially meeting people I could care less meeting, and all the while smiling!

  15. David @ Spiced August 19, 2019 at 6:40 AM - Reply

    I can’t say I’ve heard of this royal banana bread either, Mimi. However, I do love banana bread, and I’m really intrigued by the addition of two types of ginger. What a fun twist on the classic flavors of banana bread! Come to think of it, I haven’t made banana bread in a way. This might be a good inspiration to pick up some bananas at the store!

    • chef mimi August 19, 2019 at 7:50 AM - Reply

      I’m sure kids would enjoy the addition of chocolate chips. Not so sure about the ginger… But it was tasty!

  16. Laura August 19, 2019 at 2:37 PM - Reply

    I love a good banana bread, Mimi! The addition if ginger is a fantastic idea! Going to have to give it a try! Maybe with crystallized ginger, since I always have that on hand. Nice recipe!

    • chef mimi August 20, 2019 at 8:07 AM - Reply

      I love the little pieces of crystallized ginger in cookies also. Not that I bake much… The larger pieces make for a nice snack!

  17. Ann Coleman August 19, 2019 at 3:40 PM - Reply

    Wow! That looks delicious!!!

    • chef mimi August 20, 2019 at 8:08 AM - Reply

      Thanks, Ann. I’m not much of a baker, and without kids at home anymore, I don’t even make many quick breads. But I have an almost-5 grand daughter who will be helping me bake more, I imagine!

  18. Katherine | Love In My Oven August 19, 2019 at 10:20 PM - Reply

    Crystallized ginger – that’s an interesting addition! I bet it adds a nice little zing to it though. I love banana bread, I just made a loaf the other day. I would have loved to try this recipe instead!

    • chef mimi August 20, 2019 at 8:09 AM - Reply

      Banana bread sounds so mundane, but it is so good. Especially if you love bananas! The ginger was a lovely addition, plus the chocolate. Taking a bite of it warm with some butter was heavenly.

  19. Tharun Kumar. S August 19, 2019 at 11:52 PM - Reply

    A good post indeed! I shall try this recipe sometime soon. Now, if you’re looking to see some chcolate and relish it, visit my post. Chocolate https://thoughtsoftharun.wordpress.com/2019/08/20/chocolate/

  20. All That I'm Eating August 20, 2019 at 3:04 AM - Reply

    I really like the sound of adding the crystallised ginger!

    • chef mimi August 20, 2019 at 8:06 AM - Reply

      It’s a great addition. Of course, I really like crystallized ginger!

  21. Susan@savoringtimeinthekitchen August 20, 2019 at 1:47 PM - Reply

    I think the crystallized ginger would add another dimension of flavor and sweetness, although it would have to be pulverized well to incorporate it. Sounds delicious! When you have someone else to watch your children for you, I can see how she’d have time to bake :) Funny comment!

    • chef mimi August 20, 2019 at 6:10 PM - Reply

      Yes, there is that aspect of having a full staff, that makes us perhaps less symmpathetic?!!!

  22. Jack & Barbra Donachy August 20, 2019 at 4:49 PM - Reply

    The local store here has been giving us their “vintage” bananas. This recipe sounds like just the thing!

    • chef mimi August 20, 2019 at 6:08 PM - Reply

      Vintage bananas! I’m not sure that sounds very good!!!

  23. Emma @ Bake Then Eat August 20, 2019 at 6:00 PM - Reply

    I love banana bread in all shapes and forms so I know I will love his one, Royal or not!

    • chef mimi August 20, 2019 at 6:09 PM - Reply

      Well, I’m sure you added chocolate to your banana bread before, but the ginger addition was fun!

  24. Kelly | Foodtasia August 21, 2019 at 6:19 AM - Reply

    Oh yum, Mimi! I’m so craving banana bread now after seeing your beautiful loaf! Can’t wait to try it with the ginger!

    • chef mimi August 21, 2019 at 8:58 AM - Reply

      I personally love crystallized ginger, but I hesitated with raw ginger. Maybe that was silly, but I was more worried, I think, about getting it dispersed properly.

  25. Deeksha Pathak August 21, 2019 at 8:36 AM - Reply

    Banana with ginger.. sounds a little bit different combo… but i will try this recipe as it has only two eggs, can easily replace them with thick curd. Thanks Chef Mimi for the recipe 😊

    • chef mimi August 21, 2019 at 8:57 AM - Reply

      You are so welcome!

  26. kitchenriffs August 21, 2019 at 10:12 AM - Reply

    Fun post! I had missed the royal banana bread, so thanks for clueing me in. :-) This does look pretty good — thanks.

    • chef mimi August 21, 2019 at 10:13 AM - Reply

      It’s good. I like the addition of the crystallized ginger. But then, you have to like crystallized ginger.

  27. thatskinnychickcanbake August 23, 2019 at 3:18 AM - Reply

    Ooh, this sounds like a great treat to bake for my kids! They will appreciate the chocolate chips plus they do love ginger!

    • chef mimi August 23, 2019 at 6:25 AM - Reply

      Nice! Kids with good taste! My kids are in their 30’s, one even approaching 40 (why does that seem so weird?!!) so I really haven’t made quick breads for years. But now I have two grand children so I’ll be baking more.

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