Chocolate Chunk Pumpkin Bread

Name: Chocolate Chunk Pumpkin Bread
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 70 min
Total time: 80 min
Ingredients: 3 cups all purpose flour; 2 cups granulated sugar; 2 teaspoon baking powder; 2 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt; 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon; 1 cup vegetable oil; 4 large eggs; 16 ounces pure pumpkin purée (NOT pumpkin pie filling); 1 cup chocolate chunks (or mini chocolate chips)

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This chocolate chunk pumpkin bread is a sweet, cozy way to celebrate the fall season. It’s easy to make, with bits of chocolate in every slice.

A close up image of slices of chocolate chip banana bread shingled on each other.

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Why You’ll Love This Old Fashioned Pumpkin Bread Recipe
Ingredient Information and Substitutions
How To Make Pumpkin And Chocolate Chip Bread
Frequently Asked Questions
Tips For Making Pumpkin Bread With Chocolate Chips
What To Serve With Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread
Other Fall Treats To Try
Chocolate Chunk Pumpkin Bread

Why You’ll Love This Old Fashioned Pumpkin Bread Recipe

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I’m not really a huge pumpkin fan, even in the fall when it seems like everyone else is. It’s grown on me, but I don’t really get the hype. As with most things in life, though, there’s an exception to the rule, and this pumpkin bread is mine. I always thought it was my grandma’s recipe, but it turns out my mom got it from a bake sale.

I like to bake it in loaf pans, so I can tell myself it's just bread for breakfast... because cake for breakfast, duh. My mom let us have it for breakfast once in a while as a treat, so I blame her for my talent for finding excuses. The recipe makes two regular loaves (one to give and one to enjoy!), and the result is super moist and sweet without being jarring. Here’s why you’ll come back to this pumpkin spiced bread:

Soft and tender
Easy to make
Gift-friendly
Fall favorite
Breakfast-worthy

An overhead image of a loaf of pumpkin bread with chocolate chips on top.

Ingredient Information and Substitutions

Pure pumpkin puree- Make sure the can says pure pumpkin purée. This brings earthy fall flavor and keeps the crumb soft and moist. Canned or fresh, cooked pumpkin both work, as long as it’s smooth and plain, with no added sugar or spices.
Chocolate Chunks- Melt into little pockets of chocolate, balancing the earthy pumpkin with something sweet. Mini chocolate chips also work great, as you see in the photos.
Flour- Forms the sturdy base that holds all the pumpkin and chocolate together. This recipe uses all-purpose flour.
Granulated sugar- Sweetens the bread and helps it bake up tender with a golden top.
Vegetable oil- Gives the crumb a tender, rich texture. Canola oil works as a substitute.
Eggs- Bind the batter and give it structure, so the loaves hold together when sliced.
Baking powder- Helps the bread rise so it bakes up light instead of dense.
Baking soda- Works alongside the baking powder for extra lift.
Kosher salt- Balances the sweetness and brings out the pumpkin and chocolate flavors.
Cinnamon- Brings warm spice that pairs naturally with pumpkin. Pumpkin pie spice works as a substitute.

An overhead image of labeled recipe ingredients.

How To Make Pumpkin And Chocolate Chip Bread

Step 1- Preheat and prep the pans.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease 2 loaf pans or a bundt pan.

Step 2- Mix the batter.

Beat together the sugar and oil until well combined, then beat in the eggs. Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon, and mix until just combined.

Sugar and oil in a mixing bowl and then well combined with eggs.

Dry ingredients added to the bowl and them fully mixed in.

Step 3- Add the pumpkin and chocolate chips.

Add the pumpkin puree and chocolate chips, and mix everything until just combined.

Chocolate chips and pumpkin purée added to the bowl and them fully combined into the batter.

Step 4- Pour and bake.

Pour the batter into the loaf pans or bundt pan. Bake uncovered for 1 hour and 10 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean.

Batter in lined loaf pans and then the pans in the oven.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this bread or cake?

It can be whatever you like. I bake it as bread so I can serve it for breakfast or a snack, but you can easily use a bundt pan and serve it as cake.

Do I need a mixer to make this?

No. A stand mixer or hand mixer works, but you only need to mix until everything is just combined. So a sturdy spatula does the job too!

Can I add a glaze or frosting?

Yes, a simple powdered sugar glaze or a swipe of cream cheese frosting turns this into more of a dessert.

A couple slices of pumpkin bread with butter on the front slice.

Tips For Making Pumpkin Bread With Chocolate Chips

Start checking the bread at 50 minutes, since every oven varies.
Overmixing is the usual cause of dense bread, so stir the batter only until everything is just combined.
Sprinkle a few extra chocolate chunks on top before baking for an extra pretty presentation.
Test the bread in the center with a toothpick, since that’s the last part of the loaf to bake through.
Let the loaves cool in the pans for about 10 minutes before turning them out onto cooling racks.
This bread is great for gifting. Once the second loaf has cooled, wrap it in parchment or plastic wrap to have it ready to give away.
Ingredients to prep ahead- Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon together, and measure out the pumpkin puree and chocolate chips.
Leftovers and storage- Store covered at room temperature for up to 3 days, and warm a slice briefly in the microwave if you’d like.

A loaf of pumpkin spice bread with chocolate chips with a couple slices in front of it.

What To Serve With Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

If you’re putting together a breakfast spread, I like a slice of this bread with a bit of butter, plus a mix of savory and sweet dishes on the side. Here are my favorite combos:

Other Fall Treats To Try

Love this recipe? Please leave a 5 star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below ⬇️ and/or a review in the comment section further down. Check out my Amazon Store for all my favorite tools, including those used in this recipe. And follow @thelifejolie on Instagram and TikTok!