Fall Fat Kid Friday: Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

Another post for my sweet-toothed "fat kids." This one's for the fall-flavor lovers in all of us and uses the veggie of the season to make a sweet, dense and soft pumpkin chocolate chip bread. You can be the star of your bake sale or your husband's breakfast (trust me) with this truly from scratch treat.

Pro Tip: Pour some batter into a ramekin for a taste test serving before slicing the loaves! 

 

Yes, Libby's has provided God knows how much canned pumpkin for the world. I know I ate my fair share as a kid; and loved it. But preparing your own pumpkin puree is so easy and inexpensive that you can certainly do it yourself. And as a bonus, homemade pumpkin puree is better tasting and better for you than canned, you're eliminating any unknown ingredients or fillers (Clean eating fat kid?).

Processing your own pumpkin really only involves four steps:

1. Remove pumpkin top, slice into quarters and remove seeds/pulp. 
2. Bake on a metal sheet pan, flesh side down, at 350 for 45-60 minutes, until tender. 
3. Scoop out cooled flesh into a food processor, puree until smooth. 
4. Place puree in coffee filter or cheesecloth-lined strainer for 8 hours to drain any extra liquid. 

For more detailed instructions with photos, visit Taste of Home's tutorial here.

You can then store it in airtight containers and can freeze for up to a year. We package 2 c. puree (equivalent to 15 oz. commercial can) in  zip-top freezer bags and lay flat to freeze. They're easily thawed in the fridge over night or in cold water (make sure the bags are sealed and haven't cracked) and you can use them for any recipe calling for canned pumpkin - including pasta sauce, ravioli filling, muffins or this splendid bread!

With store-bought or homemade pumpkin puree this recipe is a breeze and makes for a product that looks much more polished and difficult than it really is. From start to finish, your mixer will do most of the work with the exception of some light whisking and folding in the chocolate chips. Which makes for a wonderful opportunity to bring in your mini-chefs. Loaves of bread are wonderful gifts - for any occasion, and they're freezeable - and imagine the pride your child would have giving their teacher or grandparent a loaf of bread they made!

It bakes up into beautiful burnt orange dotted with gooey chocolate pieces and a shiny sugar crust. The batter isn't doughy and is thin, like a cake batter, but makes for hearty slices of bread that are still soft on the tongue.

And the flavor just screams autumn! Pumpkin, despite being the obsession of the middle class - I mean, pumpkin spice lattes even have their own trending hashtag #PSL - is a very subtle flavor. It has a squash-y undertone that is mild and savory but slightly sweet and can be manipulated in so many ways.

But as we all know from pumpkin pie, when paired with the right spices, pumpkin can sing. Warm, spices like cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg which are also "in season" in winter like hard squashes brighten pumpkin's flavors to a whole new level of comfort and deliciousness. So dotting that warm, spicy bread with semisweet (or even dark chocolate) makes for a great contrast and only adds to the texture. I sprinkle on extra raw sugar before baking (a trick I learned from Martha Stewart) to add a crunch to the top, but in this case it also lends a burst of sweetness.

This bread would be a great feature for dessert and coffee, a staple at day-after-Thanksgiving brunch or as a hearty after school snack. You could even get creative with any leftover slices (if you ever have them) - this would be a great base for a bread pudding with vanilla glaze or dipped in eggs and cereal crumbs for freezer-friendly French toast.

I think I'll go cut myself a slice now!


Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread
Adapted from Our Best Bites 

Ingredients: 

3 c all-purpose flour
2 t ground cinnamon
1/2 t ground nutmeg
1/4 t ground allspice
1 t baking soda
1 1/2 t baking powder
1 t salt
1/2 c brown sugar
1 1/2 c white sugar
6 oz. container plain or vanilla yogurt
3 eggs, slightly beaten
15 oz. canned pumpkin puree or 1 3/4 c homemade puree
1/2 c vegetable oil
1 t vanilla extract (use 1 1/2 if using plain yogurt)
1 c chocolate chips (plus more for tops of loaves)
raw sugar (for tops of loaves)

Method: 

Preheat oven to 350. Spray two loaf pans with non-stick spray.

Combine flour (reserving 1 T), baking soda and powder, salt and spices in small bowl.

Toss chocolate chips in small bowl with 1 T flour; this will prevent them from sinking in the pans.

In a mixing bowl combine sugars and whisk to remove lumps. Add yogurt, eggs, pumpkin, oil and vanilla. Mix until smooth.

Slowly add dry ingredients to wet and mix until just wet - do not overmix. Gently stir in chocolate chips and extra flour.

Divide batter between loaf pans and sprinkle with extra chips and raw sugar.  Bake for 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Allow to cool for 10 minutes on wire racks then run a knife around the edges and flip loaves onto rack.

To freeze: cool completely then store in freezer-safe bags or vacuum seal. Will last for several months in the freezer. Pull to room temperature or microwave lightly to thaw.