Step 1: Preheat the Oven and Prepare the Pan

1. Preheat the Oven: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures that the oven is at the perfect temperature when you’re ready to bake your bread.
2. Grease and Flour the Pan: Lightly grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan with butter or non-stick spray. Then, lightly dust the inside of the pan with flour, or line it with parchment paper. This will help the bread slide out easily after baking.

Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients

1. Combine the Dry Ingredients: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. These dry ingredients will ensure that the bread rises properly and is full of flavor.
2. Set Aside: Once the dry ingredients are thoroughly combined, set the bowl aside while you work on the wet ingredients.

Step 3: Mix the Wet Ingredients

1. Beat the Eggs: In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs using a hand whisk or an electric mixer until they are well combined.
2. Add the Pumpkin and Sugars: Stir in the canned pumpkin puree, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vegetable oil. Mix until the batter is smooth and the sugars have dissolved into the mixture.
3. Add Vanilla Extract: Stir in the vanilla extract for added flavor.

Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

1. Add the Dry Ingredients to the Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring gently as you go. Mix just until combined—be careful not to overmix, as this can make the bread dense.
2. Fold in the Chocolate Chips: Gently fold in the chocolate chips. If you’re using optional add-ins like nuts or dried fruit, fold them in at this stage as well.

Step 5: Bake the Pumpkin Bread

1. Transfer the Batter to the Pan: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, spreading it out evenly with a spatula.
2. Bake the Bread: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 55-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few crumbs attached. The top of the bread should be golden brown and slightly cracked.
3. Cool the Bread: Once the bread is done baking, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes. After that, transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely. This helps prevent the bread from becoming soggy on the bottom.

Step 6: Serve and Enjoy

1. Slice and Serve: Once the bread has cooled, slice it into 12 even pieces. The bread is incredibly moist, so it will slice easily without crumbling.
2. Store Leftovers: If you have any leftover pumpkin bread (which is unlikely!), store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate it for up to a week.