I really love this time of year even if it can still get up to 100 degrees outside! :( But I love Halloween and the months of October and November when it's cool enough in the evenings to open up the doors and windows and let in the breeze. I love the cute little sugar pumpkins, the butternut and acorn squash, and the many wonderfully comforting meals that Fall brings. I was especially feeling this way on Saturday and I wanted to make something warm and comforting. Around this time of year at Trader Joe's, you can get these chocolate chip pumpkin cookies that are SO good! I really didn't have the time to make cookies so I found a recipe for Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread! (No, I didn't make this recipe up. I know my weaknesses and realize that I'm not much of a baker...but I'm working on it!) This recipe made amazing bread! It was moist and full of pumpkin-y flavor! I only tweaked it a little by adding dark chocolate chips instead of semi-sweet and I also added walnuts because I like them. Anyway, here's the recipe (courtesy of mothermeetstheroad.com)...
-3 cups sugar
-1 15oz can of pumpkin puree
-1 cup vegetable oil
-2/3 cup water
-4 eggs
-3 ½ cups flour
-3 tsp ground cinnamon
-2 tsp ground nutmeg
-2 tsp baking soda
-1 ½ tsp salt
-1 cup dark chocolate chips
-1/2 to 3/4 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
- Heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Spray 2 9x5 loaf pans with nonstick spray.
- In a large bowl, combine sugar, pumpkin, oil, water and eggs. Beat until smooth.
- Blend in flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda and salt.
- Fold in chocolate chips and nuts.
- Bake 1 hour or until a toothpick comes out clean.
This really hit the spot and I will definitely be making this a few more times before the season is over. I even thought that this would be a great treat to make and give to friends over the Thanksgiving holiday!
