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Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread! Made with pumpkin puree and warm fall spices, sprinkled with chocolate chips. Great for an afternoon snack with coffee!

Cindy Rahe
Cindy has over 10 years experience as a recipe blogger and was a contributor at BettyCrocker.com. Cindy began contributing to Simply Recipes in 2017.
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Cindy Rahe
Updated February 16, 2021
Cindy Rahe
Chocolate chip bread with a piece sliced off the loaf and laying in front.
Cindy Rahe

Confession: I am a late bloomer when it comes to my love for pumpkin.

My mom doesn’t really like pumpkin, so the only encounters that I had with it before adulthood were in the form of store-bought pumpkin pies in those crinkly aluminum tins topped with a dollop of partially frozen cool whip. Not exactly the tastiest introduction!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread Sliced
Cindy Rahe
Pumpkin chocolate chip bread sliced on a cutting board.
Cindy Rahe

A Favorite Pumpkin Treat

Maybe it was fate, but I discovered my love of baking around the same time that a certain coffee chain debuted pumpkin spice to the masses. The two things inevitably collided and a late love of pumpkin baked goods was born!

These days, I tend to prefer pumpkin cakes, cookies, and breads over custardy pumpkin treats (too many bad childhood memories!). This chocolate chip pumpkin bread is a favorite.

Mixing chocolate chip pumpkin bread ingredients
Cindy Rahe

Moist Pumpkin Bread Recipe

This is a super moist loaf with a bright orange, not-too-dense crumb. A sprinkle of mini chocolate chips in the batter creates a contrast between the sweet, tender crumb of the bread and almost bitter chocolate.

The barest hint of spice in the batter is amplified by the liberal coating of cinnamon sugar on top of the bread. This does double duty: it adds flavor and it turns into a crackly crust as the bread bakes (My tasters declared that as their favorite part.)

This bread keeps like a dream for at least a few days, wrapped well, on the countertop.

More Great Add-Ins for Pumpkin Bread

Try some of these other ideas instead of -- or in addition to! -- chocolate chips in your pumpkin bread:

  • Toasted, chopped nuts -- walnuts, pecans, or hazelnuts
  • Butterscotch chips or cinnamon chips
  • Grated coconut -- both mixed in and sprinkled over top
  • Chopped, fresh apples
  • Dried cranberries
  • If you love pumpkin spice, try swapping in 1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice blend (or 3/4 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/8 teaspoon cloves, 1/8 teaspoon allspice, and 1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg)

How to Store & Freeze Pumpkin Bread

Wrap up any leftovers with foil or plastic wrap and store on the counter. The bread will keep for several days.

This bread can also be frozen for up to 3 months, just like banana bread (read more here).

Make Mini-Loaves or Pumpkin Muffins!

  • Mini-Loaves: Divide batter between mini-loaf pans and bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick emerges clean from the center.
  • Muffins: Fill muffin cups 3/4 full and bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick emerges clean from the center of a muffin.

Other Pumpkin Treats to Try!

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 60 mins
Total Time 75 mins
Yield 1 loaf

Ingredients

  • For the topping:
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • For the bread:
  • 2 cups (280 g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup (244 g) pumpkin purĂ©e
  • 1 1/4 cups (250 grams) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup (125 ml) whole milk (2% is also fine)
  • 1/2 cup (113 g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips, plus more for topping

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter or spray a 9-x-5-inch loaf pan
  2. Mix the topping:

    Whisk 3 tablespoons of sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon together in a small bowl. Set aside

  3. Mix the dry ingredients:

    Combine the flour, baking powder, kosher salt, and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl.

  4. Make the batter:

    In a separate medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, sugar, eggs, milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract until well combined. Pour the pumpkin mixture into the flour mixture and fold to combine. Fold in the mini chocolate chips.

    Mixing chocolate chip pumpkin bread ingredients
    Cindy Rahe
  5. Transfer the batter into the loaf pan:

    Tap the pan a few times on the counter to remove air bubbles, then smooth the top with a spatula. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and more mini chocolate chips.

    Sugar topped chocolate chip bread batter in a loaf pan.
    Cindy Rahe
  6. Bake the bread:

    Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the bread comes out clean. Remove from the oven and cool in the pan on a cooling rack for 20 minutes before removing and cooling completely.

    Wrap up any leftovers with foil or plastic wrap and store on the counter. The bread will keep for several days.