This tastes like autumn. This bread is moist, perfectly spiced, and oh, so satisfying.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
• 4 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 4 teaspoons homemade pumpkin pie spice (see recipe below)
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Glaze:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1-2 tablespoons milk or whipping cream

Preparation
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add the pumpkin and mix well.
In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and pumpkin pie spice. Add to the pumpkin mixture and stir until just combined. Do not overmix.
Fold in the chocolate chips and walnuts, if desired.
Spread into a well-oiled 12-inch dutch oven.
Cook using 15 briquettes top heat and 8 briquettes bottom heat for 45 minutes, or until a toothpick or knife inserted into the middle comes out clean. Rotate the oven and lid 90 degrees in opposite directions every 10-15 minutes.
Use a spatula to loosen the bread from the sides of the dutch oven. Place a cutting board over the top of the dutch oven and invert. Place serving platter over the up-side-down loaf, and invert again.
In a small bowl, stir the glaze ingredients together until smooth and thin enough to drizzle. Drizzle over the bread. Let the glaze set up for 15-30 minutes before slicing.

Pumpkin Pie Spice

• 3 Tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
• 1/2 Tablespoon ground allspice
• 1/2 Tablespoon ground cloves

Combine all of the spices in a small bowl and mix well to combine. Store in a small jar or spice container.

All-purpose flour unless otherwise specified.