Ingredients
Method
Preparation
- Preheat the Oven: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures your bread bakes evenly.
- Prepare the Pan: Spray a 9×5-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray or line it with parchment paper, allowing a bit of overhang for easy removal later.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves until well combined. Set it aside.
- Blend Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, beat together sugar, vegetable oil, eggs, vanilla, molasses, pumpkin, and orange juice using a hand mixer set to medium speed until the mixture is smooth and creamy (about 2 minutes).
- Combine: Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet mixture. Mix on low speed just until combined—don’t overmix! The batter should be thick but smooth.
- Add Chocolate Chips: Using a spatula, gently fold 3/4 cup of chocolate chips into the batter until evenly distributed.
- Pour Batter: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top with a spatula. Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips on top.
Baking
- Bake: Bake for 75 to 85 minutes. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out with a few moist crumbs but no wet batter.
- Cool Down: Once baked, let the bread cool in the pan for about 15 minutes. Then, lift it out using the parchment paper and transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Notes
Keep an eye on the bread during the last 15 minutes of baking; ovens can vary. If the top starts to brown too quickly, cover it loosely with a piece of aluminum foil.
