Pumpkin Bread

November 24, 2010.   2 Comments.   Categories Banana and Nut Breads, By Holiday, Christmas, Desserts, Thanksgiving Dinner.   Tags bread pudding, dessert, easy baking, holiday baking, pumpkin, pumpkin bread pudding, quick bread, snack bread, thanksgiving.

Pumpkin Bread

Be sure all your spices are fresh.  If they are over 6 months old…buy some new spices in the bulk section.  Spices lose their flavor quickly.  Anything you bake with old spices will not be as good as with fresh pungent spices. You don’t want to mess with those wonderful holiday flavors!

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, plus more for greasing
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 8 ounces (scant 1 cup) canned unsweetened pumpkin puree
• 2 large eggs
• 2/3 cup water

Whisk together the flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves in a small bowl.

In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the softened butter, sugar, and oil at high speed until light and fluffy, about 1 minute, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl a few times.

Add the pumpkin puree and mix until combined. Add the eggs, one at a time, and mix until just blended. On a low speed, slowly add the flour mixture and water and mix until just combined. Spread the
batter into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 60 to 75 minutes. Let cool in the pan on a baking rack for at least 20 minutes. If you remove too soon, the bread may fall apart.  Make sure it’s cool enough to gently fall out of the pan. Remove from the pan and let cool completely.