The best part about this pumpkin chocolate loaf? The surprise inside! This easy delicious pumpkin bread is super moist and is sure to delight!
*Please note* this post was originally published in 2017. I’ve since redone the photos and revised the text; recipe remains the same
So, before I get right into the amazingness of this pumpkin chocolate loaf, I wanted to tell you about the cupcake decorating class I took last night! It was hosted by Crave Cupcakes – they really do have the best cupcakes in the city. They’re one of those companies where the minute someone sees their packaging their response is “oooh, Crave”!! WELL worth the pricey little tag for the cupcake.
I learned how to do a reverse rosette and the signature Crave swirl, using two different colours. Not only was the class fun and informative, but they supplied you with mini cupcakes to keep you going throughout the class. A great way to spend the night!! Although I feel a little sick from an overdose of buttercream, I definitely see more pretty cupcakes in the blog’s future 😉
Now – this pumpkin chocolate loaf!!
How do you make a peekaboo loaf?
The loaf might look like it’s a little tricky to make, but it’s super easy; albeit, a little time consuming. I chose pumpkin for the inside because, well, I had a pumpkin cookie cutter. Plus it’s a pumpkin-y time of year and I figured it was time I jumped on that bandwagon. What better to compliment the pumpkin than chocolate? This chocolate loaf recipe is one of my go-to’s when I’m having serious chocolate cravings and I want to feel a little better about eating it by calling it a “loaf” instead of cake….
Before embarking on this peekaboo baking adventure, be sure to leave yourself enough time to bake two loaves, with the first one needing to completely cool before you can make the cut-outs. It’s kind of a half-day adventure.
Both of the loaves are baked in a standard 9×5 loaf pan. The most important thing to keep in mind for this whole baking journey is to choose a cookie cutter short enough that it will fit nicely inside the loaf – you don’t want to choose a cute pattern and have the top half cut off!
When the pumpkin loaf has totally cooled, cut it into 1″ slices and then prepare your cut-outs. Place the cut-outs on a baking sheet prepared with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat and freeze the cut-outs for about an hour. Get your chocolate loaf batter ready in the mean-time!
When the cut-outs are ready, prepare the loaf pan by lining it with parchment paper and spraying really well with non-stick spray. Place a little bit of chocolate batter in the bottom of the pan, just enough to cover the bottom. Line up the pumpkin cut-outs in a row, leaving about 1 to 2″ at the ends. Pour the remaining batter over the top of the cut-outs and bake!
Do you have to use a pumpkin shape?
You can try this method with any flavour combination of loaves (any recipe designed for a standard 9×5 should work) and any cookie cutter that will fit. I’m thinking a Christmas themed loaf would be really fun too!
If you’re serving this loaf to guests don’t tell them about the surprise inside and slice it right in front of them – not only is the hidden image a fun trick, the two-toned flavour is something special!
Hooray for the weekend ahead of us – I hope you have a lot of excitement planned (and maybe some Netflix watching).
XO
Love pumpkin? You will LOVE my pumpkin cake cookies!
And be sure to check out my other loaves:
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Pumpkin Chocolate Loaf
- Total Time: 4 hours 40 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf 1x
Description
The best part about this pumpkin chocolate loaf? The surprise inside! This easy delicious pumpkin bread is super moist and is sure to delight!
Ingredients
Pumpkin Loaf
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp all-spice
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 3/4 cup oil (canola, grapeseed)
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1 3/4 pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
Chocolate Loaf
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup cocoa powder (not Dutch-processed)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup milk (1%, 2% or non-dairy)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F and line a 9×5″ loaf pan with parchment paper and/or spray with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, all-spice and salt. In another large bowl, lightly beat the eggs, then whisk in the oil, and both sugars. Add the pumpkin puree and stir thoroughly. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet, stirring until just combined. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and place into the pre-heated oven for 50-55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Allow the loaf to cool for 10 minutes in the pan before removing and cooling completely on a wire rack. Once cooled, slice the loaf into 1″ slices. Using your chosen cookie cutter, cut out the shapes and place them on a baking sheet prepared with parchment paper or a silicone baking sheet. Place the shapes in the freezer for 1 hour.
- During the last 15 minutes of freezing time, prepare the chocolate loaf batter. Preheat the oven to 350 F and prepare another 9×5 loaf pan by lining with parchment paper and/or spraying with non-stick spray.
- Combine the dry ingredients together in a mixing bowl. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or using an electric mixer, beat the butter on high until soft and fluffy, about 1 minute. Add in both sugars and beat until fluffy, 1-2 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, and then the vanilla extract, beating in between.
- Add half of the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, with the mixer running on low. Add half of the milk, then the remaining dry ingredients, slowly mixing together. Add the remaining milk and mix on low until well combined.
- Remove the frozen cut-outs from the freezer. Add just enough chocolate batter to the prepared loaf pan to cover the bottom. Line up the frozen cut-outs in the center of the pan, leaving 1 to 2″ at each end of the pan (you may have a few cut-outs leftover). Pour the remaining batter evenly over the top of the cut-outs, ensuring the pumpkin loaf is covered. Place the pan in the oven for 50-55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool the loaf in the pan for 10 minutes, before removing and cooling completely on a wire rack. Slice, and serve.
Loaf will keep at room temperature, in a sealed container for 3-4 days, or 6-7 days in the fridge. The loaf can also be frozen (once cooled) for up to 2 months.
Notes
- Choose a cut-out that is only slightly higher than the height of your loaf pan to ensure it will fit.
- Method from The Itsy Bitsy Kitchen.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: bread
- Method: oven bake
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: easy delicious pumpkin bread // pumpkin and chocolate loaf // peekaboo loaf
Oh my gosh. This is the cutest ever! I’d have trouble sharing :). Chocolate and pumpkin are a little too good together aren’t they? This sounds like just what my weekend needs, Katherine! It’s perfect! Happy Friday, my dear!
This is SO cute Katherine! I’ve never made anything like this and love the idea. Chocolate and pumpkin were meant to be together so I’m loving this loaf!
Thank you Marcie! It was so fun to make and it’s so fun to serve. I’m loving the chocolate and pumpkin together too!
Ooooh this is so adorable 😍 Katherine. It is definitely worth all the time spent making this cake. And the flavours chocolate and pumpkin 💕… absolutely heavenly. I have to try this out.
It was definitely worth it!! If you love baking like I do then it doesn’t feel like too much effort 😉 Thank you so much Ashika!!
Not only yummy, but cute too!! And I like that it looks so difficult but it’s really easy to create!! 🙂
It’s super easy!! Thanks Kelly, have a great weekend 🙂
I used to do this at my coffee shop, such a show stopper! I bet your class was fun. Love playing with frosting and pipping
So neat!! It definitely catches some eyes!! It was so fun, I feel a little more confident around piping tips now!
Love!! That is soooo adorable and looks amazing! Pinning that cuteness!
Thanks Kim!! It is a really fun thing to make!! So many options too! Have a great weekend!
I am so jealous you attended that class ;). This is such an adorable peekaboo cake! Chocolate and pumpkin go so well together! This is perfect!!
It was a great experience!! I will be taking more of their classes for sure. Thank you Deepika!! Hope your week went well!
I’m quite speechless, Katherine! I’ve seen many of similar cakes&loafs, but I have always though that you’re supposed to bake two kinds of batter at the same time. I wondered how do they look so neat and don’t get combined. Well, even though there might be more than one technique, I’m impressed with this one! How cool is that (And how time consuming too)! A Christmas themed loaf sounds great. Also, Canadian maple leaf would be amazing (and appropriate cause it’s a special year). I have a maple leaf cookie cutter so I can ship it to you:) Amazingly looking loaf!
Thanks Ben!! It was definitely time consuming, more so than I would care to admit but I like to think the end result is so worth it!! I love your idea of a maple leaf!! Maybe a red velvet maple leaf? Ship it my way!! Cheers!
Totally adorable Katherine! Bet the kids love the surprise inside. I love the chocolate and pumpkin flavors together too! Delicious work!
They loved it!! It’s such a fun little treat. Thank you Mary Ann!! I’m glad you like it!
these are SO CUTE!!! i saw them on instagram, they are amazing! such a cool idea! you and kelsie are clever cookies…or shall i say bakers! either or this idea is fantastic!
Thank you!! (On behalf of Kelsie and I haha). It is definitely a fun idea! Hope you’re having a great week friend!
How fun is a cake decorating class?! I would love that! I definitely need some work on my decorating skills 🙂 And these loaf? How could you not smile just looking at it, let alone eating it! So fun! Pinned! Have a great week, Katherine! XO
I definitely needed the class!! It was super fun! They have some actual cake decorating ones too and I think that will be my next attempt!! I’m so glad you like the loaf Dawn! Thanks friend!!
Okay, this is ridiculously cute! I absolutely love it and am amazed that it isn’t more complicated to make. Sounds totally delicious too.
I remember thinking it must be super complicated the first time I saw the method too!! Thanks Marissa!! It was fantastic!!
ahhh this is so cute! not sure if you’ve ever seen “howl’s moving castle,” but your pumpkin looks like calcifer (:
Oh my gosh!! Hah it does look just like Calcifer! Thanks for that 😉 Cheers Heather!
Love this idea! And this is the cutest looking cake. I’d be a huge hit with my nephews if I made this for Halloween!
Aw thank you so much Leanne!! I bet they’d love it. Cheers!!
This is so festive! My kiddo would love the surprise inside! Plus I do love the pumpkin and chocolate combo!! Pinned. Take care.
Hooray! Glad you like it Stacey. It’s certainly fun for kids!! Have a great week!
That sounds like such a fun class. In my opinion, there is no better way to learn than with a cupcake in your mouth. haha! This loaf looks delicious as well as adorable!! That pumpkin face is just too cute!
It was so fun, Thao! Hah no worries there, I had a few cupcakes (and buttercream) in my mouth during the class. Thank you so much! Have a great weekend!
YUM! I love that the middle is pumpkin bread! I did this once for Christmas, but I need to perfect the technique! It looks like you hit a home run with your first try 🙂
Thanks Liz!! There are so many cute possibilities for Christmas – you should definitely give it a try again! I bet yours would be wonderful 🙂 Have a great weekend!
Your cake is adorable, perfect for a birthday party 🙂
Thank you!! I could definitely see this being served at a birthday 🙂
Aaaah, I’ve seen and adored this technique in many baking workshops and competitions. It sounded so darn challenging. You have nailed it my friend. This is well worth the effort. Cuteness overload indeed!!!
This recipe might kill me…with cuteness!!!! OMG!
Aww thank you!! So nice of you to say!!
What a fun recipe! So very seasonal and perfect for this time of year.
Thank you!! It was so fun to make 🙂
Such a cute and fun idea for Halloween! I’ve tried a similar recipe to this, but instead with cute bunny shapes and carrot cake filling – it was a hit! I can only imagine this would be an even bigger hit, it’s just too cute to resist!
So cute!! Carrot cake filling sounds divine. Thank you!!
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I loved your idea for freezing the pumpkin portion. This is seriously so adorable… what a totally fun idea!
★★★★★
Thanks Heidi!! Freezing it makes sure that the shape stays in tact 🙂