Finding out right before the winter holidays that my family is not only essentially vegan but also gluten-free because of allergies put a bit of a kink on my holiday baking plans. I experimented, trashed, explored purchased options, and mourned newly unsafe ingredients and old favorites. Then I started building recipes...again. This was the first of my attempts to have a nice, sliceable quick bread to share with friends or enjoy at home with a cup of tea or coffee. My mom used to make dozens of quick breads as gifts and treats, so they are---to me---an essential food all year 'round, but especially at holidays and family gatherings. So, what better place to start than with chocolate? This recipe, I hope, will become the base for many more top-8--free breads in my kitchen and in yours, too. Here's the most successful version yet (the first few tries were a bit too dry to really enjoy without a good fruit spread!).