Preheat the oven to 350℉. Line and grease a 9X5 inch loaf pan and set it aside.
Sift all dry ingredients and set them aside.
3 cups All-purpose flour, 1½ teaspoon Baking soda, ½ teaspoon Baking powder, ½ teaspoon Salt, 2 teaspoon Pumpkin spice
In a larger bowl, whisk the remaining ingredients. No need to use a stand mixer. A hand mixer will do the trick. Mix until the mixture is smooth and homogenous.
4 Eggs, 1 tbs Vanilla extract, ¼ cup Orange juice, 1 teaspoon Orange zest, 1 cup Granulated sugar, ¼ cup Brown sugar, ¾ cup Oil, 1¼ cup Pumpkin puree, 1 tablespoon Molasses
Switch to a rubber spatula, fold the dry ingredients and gently mix.
Add the chopped pecans, if using, and mix.
½ cup Pecans
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Spread the whole pecans all over the top.
¼ cup Pecans
Bake for 45-50 minutes r until an insert comes out clean.
Turn off the oven and let the loaf sit in the oven for 10 minutes. Let it cool down in the pan for 15 minutes, then transfer it to the cooling rack. Let it cool down before serving it.