Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C) and lightly grease two 8x4 inch loaf pans.

Combine cream cheese, ½ cup sugar, 1 tablespoon flour, egg, and orange zest in a medium bowl; beat until smooth. Set aside.

Sift together 1 ⅔ cups flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves, and pumpkin pie spice; set aside.

Place pumpkin puree, vegetable oil, eggs, and 1 ½ cups sugar in a large bowl; beat well.

Stir the pumpkin mixture into the flour mixture just until combined. Fold in the pecans if desired.

Pour ½ of the pumpkin batter into the loaf pans. Spoon cream cheese mixture on top of this layer and then pour on the remaining batter.

Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean, about 60 to 70 minutes.