Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

Ingredients:

• 1 and 3/4 cups (220g) all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg*
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves*
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup (100g) light or dark brown sugar
• 1 and 1/2 cups (340g) pumpkin puree (canned or fresh)
• 1/2 cup (120ml) vegetable oil, canola oil, or melted coconut oil
• 1/4 cup (60ml) orange juice
• 2/3 cup (120g) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

Adjust the oven rack to the lower third position and preheat the oven to 350F degrees. Spray a 9x5 inch loaf pan with non-stick spray. Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt together until combined. In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until combined. Whisk in the pumpkin, oil, and orange juice. Pour these wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently mix together using a rubber spatula or a wooden spoon. There will be a few lumps. Do not overmix. Gently fold in the chocolate chips.

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake for 60-65 minutes, making sure to loosely cover the bread with aluminum foil halfway through to prevent the top from getting too brown. The bread is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean with only a few small moist crumbs. This may be before or after 60-65 minutes depending on your oven, so begin checking every 5 minutes at the 55 minute mark or so.

Allow the bread to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before removing and slicing.

Recipe from McCall Noel