Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread with Walnuts

Since receiving my amazing kitchen-aid mixer for V-Day, I have gone baker-insane.

Literally.

I've never been a baker by nature. It's hard for me to comprehend the whole "once it's in the oven it's all over" idea. It honestly terrifies me. In the world of cooking, there is ALWAYS room for improvement, but baking....it's a whole other beast. I have the upmost respect for bakers.

So here I go.

The Wets


1.5 cups Pumpkin ( NOT pumpkin pie mix. Canned pumpkin!)
1 1/3 cups sugar
1/3 cup vegan butter flavored shortening
1/2 cup applesauce
1/3 cup water

The Bone-Dries


1/2 cup vegan dark chocolate chips
1/2 cups crushed walnuts
1 2/3 cups flour of choice
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking power
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cloves
1/8 tsp salt

The Assembly


Throw the pumpkin, sugar, shortening and applesauce into your mixer and let it go until smooth and full incorporated.
While your wets are mixing, sift together your flour, baking soda, baking powder, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and salt separately. Slowly add your Bone-Dries until everything is fully blended together! Now use a spatula to fold in your chocolate chips.
Grease a 9x5 loaf pan and pour in the mix. Sprinkle your walnuts on top liberally and stick it in the preheated over of 350F for approximately 60 minutes. Depending on your oven and your chosen loaf pan, it can take up to 80 minutes!!!

Now, I am being quite serious, this loaf of bread was amazing. I brought one loaf to work and just left it out on the store managers desk and it was gone within one hour AT 5 AM in the morning!!! I told everyone AFTERWORDS that it was vegan and...*gasp*.... They didn't care because it tasted so good!

 I do believe that if I set my mind to it, I can become a baker...or something close to it.

Enjoy

XOXO
V.V.