Luscious Chocolate Pecan Loaf: A Decadent Delight
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk (or regular milk with 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar)
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup chopped pecans (plus extra for topping)
How to Make Luscious Chocolate Pecan Loaf
Step 1: Prepare the Oven and Pan
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper.
Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
Step 3: Cream the Butter and Sugar
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then, stir in the vanilla extract.
Step 4: Incorporate Wet Ingredients
- Add Buttermilk: Gradually add the buttermilk to the mixture, mixing until combined.
Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients
- Mix in Dry Ingredients: Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. Be careful not to overmix.
Step 6: Add Chocolate Chips and Pecans
- Fold in Chocolate and Nuts: Gently fold in the chocolate chips and chopped pecans until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
Step 7: Bake the Loaf
- Transfer to Pan: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top with a spatula. Sprinkle additional chopped pecans on top for garnish.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 55-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool: Once baked, remove the loaf from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
