Banana Coconut Bread (10 servings) 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup butter - melted and cooled 1/4 cup buttermilk 2 medium bananas - mashed 2 large eggs - beaten 2/3 cup shredded sweetened flake coconut 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup chocolate chips 1/2 cup pecan or walnut pieces (optional) This recipe was submitted by "sweettooth" back in 2005. I finally got around to trying it in December 2012. I've modified the recipe just a little bit after two attempts at making it. Her original recipe called for 1/2 cup vegetable oil. I've changed that to melted butter which added a tremendous amount of flavor. I've also increased the sugar just a touch from 3/4 cup to 1 cup. It was fine with the lesser amount, but tasted a little "health food". If I had one more do-over, I'd use mini-chocolate chips. The bites with chocolate are awesome. The more the chocolate is distributed, the better the overall flavor. Finally, keep your eye on the cooking time. I found a full loaf was finished after 50 minutes and mini-loaves took only 35 minutes. As you can see from the pics, this bread makes great little gifts if you make it as mini-loaves. How To Make Banana Coconut Bread The recipe makes one loaf. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a deep 9x5 bread pan with a generous coating of cooking spray. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. In a separate medium bowl, combine eggs, mashed bananas, melted butter, sugar, milk and vanilla. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just moistened. Fold in the coconut and chocolate chips. Add nuts now if desired. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 50 to 65 minutes - checking the bread every 5 minutes after 45 minutes. If a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out free of batter, the bread is done. It goes without saying... let the bread cool down before serving. Enjoy! (You can also make mini-loaves with this recipe, but I'd start checking if the bread is finished after 30 minutes.) A delightful buttermilk bread with banana, coconut, chocolate chips and optional walnuts or pecans. Mr Breakfast would like to thank sweettooth for this recipe. Recipe number 1598. Submitted 12/12/2005.