Chocolate Study Reveals the Greatest Truth of All |Cooking With Amanda

American Heart Association just made everyone's wildest dreams come true.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Banana Bread Picture

Researchers there recently discovered a link between daily chocolate consumption and heart health, based on findings presented at the association's Epidemiology/Lifestyle 2016 Scientific Sessions.

In other words: Yes, it's true.

You can eat chocolate and still be healthy.

Actually: you SHOULD eat chocolate in order to be healthy.

The study looked into the eating and lifestyle habits of more than 1,100 adults, ages 18 to 69, over the course of two years.

It arrived at the conclusion that consuming chocolate every day actually correlated with lower insulin resistance and liver enzymes, which are indicators of heart disease risk.

Moreover, chocolate eaters are more likely to be younger, more physically active and possess fewer chronic health issues than those who don't partake in this snack/dessert, according to the study.

Which we'll now refer to as The Greatest Study Ever Undertaken.

Last month, a study published in the journal Appetite also concluded that regularly chowing down dark chocolate leads to better cognitive brain function, including stronger working memory, spatial organization and reasoning skills.

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Peanut Butter Chocolate Banana Bread Recipe

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Ingredients

1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup butter
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs, beaten
1 cup reese's peanut butter chocolate spread
3 bananas, mashed
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup walnuts

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Spray a mini loaf pan with non-stick spray. Set aside.
Combine your flour, baking powder and salt in a medium sized bowl. Sift the ingredients one time.
In a separate bowl combine the butter and sugar together, mix until well combined and creamy.
Add the eggs and beat the mixture until fluffy.
Add the Reese's peanut butter chocolate spread, mix well.
Add your dry ingredients into your wet ingredients slowly, about 1/3 at a time. Mix between additions. Add mashed bananas, chocolate chips and walnuts. Use a wooden spoon and mix by hand, (not with a mixer) just until incorporated.
Pour the mixture into your greased mini loaf pan. They should be about 3/4 full.
Place the pan on the middle rack in the oven. Bake for about 35 to 40 minutes. You want the tops to be golden brown.
Remove the pan from the oven and allow to cool for about 5 minutes.
Invert the pan over a cutting board, and remove loaves carefully. Place them, tops up, on a baking rack to cool.
Serve with a big old banana bread loving smile!