1. Preheat and Prepare:

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
• Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan with butter or non-stick spray, or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.

2. Mash and Mix:

• In a large mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork until smooth. Add the melted butter and stir to combine.
• Mix in the granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract until the mixture is well blended.

3. Combine Dry Ingredients:

• In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon (if using). Gradually add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture, folding gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing, as this can make the bread dense.

4. Add Chocolate Chips:

• Fold in the chocolate chips, ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout the batter.

5. Transfer to Pan:

• Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top with a spatula. Sprinkle additional chocolate chips on top for a beautiful finish.

6. Bake:

• Bake in the preheated oven for 55-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean (a few melted chocolate streaks are fine). If the top begins to brown too quickly, tent it with aluminum foil during the last 10-15 minutes of baking.

7. Cool and Serve:

• Let the banana bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely. Slice and enjoy!