This week, I baked some homemade pumpkin bread for Bosses Day. I’ve had the urge to bake an autumnal treat, but I prefer to do it for others. If I bake for myself, I become a real life Cookie Monster, prone to smashing all the baked goodness over 1-2 days.

This recipe produces a moist, not-too-spicy bread with an added bonus of heartiness: pepitas baked on top. Pepitas are hulled pumpkin seeds. These add a perfect contrast of crunch and nuttiness to the sweet, moist bread. (You can substitute them with other nuts, if desired.)

This recipe is also great because you don’t have to go out and buy all the individual spices—you just need cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice. You also get the bonus of ginger by using the pumpkin pie spice. Mmmm, ginger.

 

Ingredients:

• 1-3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 2 tsp cinnamon

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar (I prefer dark)
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/3 cup water

• 1/4 cup coarsely chopped pepitas

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 350°. Spray the bottom of a 9 x 5 loaf pan.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, and cinnamon. Set aside.
• Combine the sugars and oil in a large bowl, beating on medium speed for 1 minute.
• Add the eggs one at a time, beating on medium for 3o seconds after each egg.
• Add the vanilla and pumpkin puree, beating on medium just until well-blended.
• Slowly add the dry ingredients (flour, spices, etc.), beating on medium just until blended.
• Add the water, beating on low speed, just until it’s fully combined.
• Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle the chopped pepitas on top.
• Bake for 60-70 minutes at 350°. Test the bread for doneness just as you would when baking cakes: insert a toothpick in the middle and stop baking when it comes out clean.

This bread was so delicious I had to bake another loaf the next day to share with my family! And more for myself, of course.

Do you like pumpkin bread? Do you have a go-to pumpkin recipe? Are you sick of everything pumpkin yet?

 

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