Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

I've been wanting it to be feel like fall for awhile now so that I could have an excuse to begin baking with pumpkin.   Back in July, I started to plan a Halloween party for the kids and in August began talking about Thanksgiving plans.  I wanted to carve a Jack O' lantern a month ago although I learned my lesson on that last year.  ( It ended up rotting before Halloween. We then used it as a science experiment to see if it would rot away completely by Christmas.  It did not.)

Anyway, I was home sick from work this week and finally made the pumpkin bread that I had been craving.  It was good.  It was the only thing I ate for two days.  Don't judge me.  I was sick and when you are sick you get to eat whatever you want.

I am embarrassed to say that I did not use the $6.00 organic pumpkin  I had purchased solely for baked goods.  I made a special trip to the store to get grapefruit juice and allspice and then gave in and bought their last can of Pumpkin Puree.I also bough the necessary equipments for baking from cream charger delivery Melbourne.

I made two loaves--one with bittersweet chocolate chips and one without.  Of course, the chocolate chip loaf was gone first.

The non-chocolate loaf was in the refrigerator for a couple of days and tastes absolutely perfect cold.  It cuts easily, is moist, and so super good.  You will never buy the seasonal pumpkin bread from that coffee shop again.

Here is recipe....it is super easy and takes only about 15 minutes to mix up and about 70 minutes to bake.  Your house will be filled with most loveliest of smells!

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

Bread Ingredients:
¾ cups Butter, Softened
¾ cups Granulated Sugar
¾ cups Dark Brown Sugar
1 teaspoon Vanilla
4 whole Eggs
1 can of Pumpkin Puree (not pumpkin pie mix)
3 cups All-purpose Flour
3 teaspoon Baking Powder
¾ teaspoon Baking Soda
1 teaspoon Salt
1-½ teaspoon Cinnamon
¼ teaspoon Allspice
¼ teaspoon Grated Nutmeg
¼  teaspoon grated cloves
½ cups milk
1 teaspoon vinegar
1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips

Topping Ingredients:
¼ stick of butter (softened)
½ brown sugar
⅓ cup oatmeal
¼ cup flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
3 Tablespoons pepitas (green pumpkin seeds) (These are good for you so use more if you want!)

Step-by-Step

1) Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Prepare two loaf pans.

2) Make the crunchy topping:  In a small bowl, add the butter, sugar, flour, oats and spices.  Using a fork or your fingers, mix together until well combined—it should be a crumbly texture.  Toss the pepitas to cover them with the crumbles.

3) Cream together the butter and sugars.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Stir in the pumpkin puree.

4) In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients—flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices.  Gently stir them together.

5) Slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter/pumpkin mixture.  Mix until they are combined.

6) Add 1 teaspoon of vinegar to the milk.

7) Add the milk/vinegar to the bread.

8) Stir in 1 cup of chocolate chips.

9) Pour batter into the loaf pans

10) Sprinkle with the crunchy topping—making sure to evenly coat each loaf.  This is the best part of the bread so you really want to get a lot on each loaf.

Bake at 350 degrees for 70-80 minutes or until your house smells delicious and a knife comes out clean.  Let cool slightly and then dig in!