Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

I just love when two great things go great together. In this case: Chocolate and pumpkin.

Wonder Twin Powers, activate! Form of...

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread!

In this moist, tasty quick bread, the bite of the spices goes perfectly with the sweet creaminess of the chocolate. I highly recommend wrapping this up and saving it for a day before you eat it, so the flavors really develop. I know, I know, easier said than done.

Here's the recipe!

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

Adapted from the Joy of Cooking Pumpkin Bread recipe

Makes one large loaf in a 9 1/4" x 5 1/4 inch pan, or one loaf in a 8" x 4" pan plus a mini loaf (I like this route)

Ingredients:

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup pumpkin puree (canned pumpkin is fine, just don't use the canned pumpkin pie filling!)
• 1/3 milk (you can substitute water)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and grease your loaf pan(s) (I'm a Pam girl, usually)
2. Beat the butter until creamy (approx. 30 seconds).
3. Add the sugars, and beat 3 - 4 minutes until light and creamy.
4. Add eggs one at a time.
5. Add pumpkin puree, blending on low speed just until combined.
6. Mix the milk and vanilla together in a separate bowl.
7. Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and spices over the pumpkin mixture.
8. Mix the flour and pumpkin mixtures together, gradually pouring in the milk and vanilla. Mix just until well blended, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary.
9. Stir in the chocolate chips.
   
   
10. Spread batter into pan(s).
    
    
    
    
11. Large loaves take about 60 minutes to bake. I find the mini loaves take about 45. I suggest starting the checking for little loaves at around 35. They're done when a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. 
    
    
12. Enjoy!

(Packages very well for gifts, too!)