1. 1. Prepare Your Baking Pan and Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 350 F (175 C). Lightly grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan with gluten-free flour, or line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the long sides to easily lift the loaf out later. This step ensures your loaf won’t stick.

2. 2. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the gluten-free all-purpose flour blend, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Make sure there are no lumps in the cocoa powder for a smooth batter.

3. 3. Mix Wet Ingredients Separately: In another medium bowl, mash the ripe bananas thoroughly with a fork until mostly smooth. Then, add the granulated sugar, light brown sugar, unsweetened applesauce, vegetable oil, egg, and vanilla extract. Whisk these wet ingredients together until they are well combined and uniform in consistency.

4. 4. Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Pour the wet banana mixture into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Stir gently with a spatula or wooden spoon until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; overmixing can lead to a tough loaf. A few small lumps of flour are perfectly fine.

5. 5. Fold in Chocolate Chips: Gently fold in the chocolate chips until they are evenly distributed throughout the batter. This ensures every slice gets a delightful burst of chocolate.

6. 6. Transfer to Pan and Bake: Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan and spread it evenly. You can sprinkle a few extra chocolate chips on top for a nice visual appeal, if desired. Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.

7. 7. Cool Before Slicing: Once baked, remove the loaf from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 10-15 minutes. This allows the loaf to set and prevents it from crumbling. After this initial cooling, carefully lift the loaf out of the pan using the parchment paper overhang (if used) or invert it onto a wire rack to cool completely before slicing and serving.