pumpkin choc chip bread

category: baked goods

A simple, easy baked loaf — but make it autumn. This pumpkin bread is the kind of spicy little afternoon‑tea treat that makes the whole house smell like a hug. It has that perfect blend of flavours where everything plays its part: the orange is bright and unmistakable, the chocolate brings just the right amount of sweetness, the ginger and spices warm everything up, and the pumpkin gives it that gorgeous golden colour and soft, tender crumb.

Whenever I make this bread, I can’t control myself. The last time I had this, I sliced it up and put it in the freezer, so I didn’t eat it all in one go. I am lucky if this lasted four days. I love it toasted, either in the toaster or a quick blast in the airfryer, with a generous dollop of salted butter melting into all the little, chocolatey cracks. It’s simple, cosy, and exactly what autumn tastes like.

Ingredients

  • 115g unsalted butter, melted and cooled
  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 1/4 tsps baking powder
  • 1/2 fine sea salt
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 3/4 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
  • 1 cup sugar
  • zest of 1 orange
  • 1 1/2 tsps vanilla extract
  • 3 large eggs at room temperature
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1/2 cup choc chips/choc chunks

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 160 degrees Celsius. Prepare a loaf pan
  2. Combine flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg in a bowl and set aside
  3. In a large bowl, combine the sugar, orange zest and vanilla. The mixture should end up looking like orange sugar. Add the melted butter and combine.
  4. Add one egg at a time and whisk together. Then add the pumpkin puree.
  5. Fold in the flour mixture in two parts. Make sure all the flour is mixed in, but be careful not to overmix.
  6. Add in all but a tablespoon of the chocolate pieces into the mixture.
  7. Transfer the mixture to the loaf pan and sprinkle the rest of the chocolate pieces on the top.
  8. Bake the loaf for between 55 and 70 minutes. You will know the loaf is ready when it’s golden brown, it pulls away from the side of the pan, and when you put a toothpick through the centre, it comes out clean.
  9. Once baked, leave it to slightly cool. Then remove from the pan and allow to cool on a cooling rack.

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