Pumpkin Bread

• Difficulty: Easy
• Category: Baked Goods
• Cuisine: American
• Cooking Method: Baking

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 6 tbsp (3/4 stick) unsalted butter (Softened. )
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar (All white sugar can be used in absence of brown sugar.)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup cooked or canned pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped wall nuts or pecans
• 1/3 cup raisins or chopped dates

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Using extra butter, grease a 9x5" loaf pan. Set aside. In a medium bowl whisk together flour and spices. In a small bowl combine milk and vanilla. Coarsely chop nuts and dates (if using).
2. In a large bowl, using a mixer, beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, making sure that they blend well.
3. Add pumpkin purée and lower the speed of the mixer to low or mix it by hand only until blended.
4. Still beating on the low speed or mixing by hand, add in 3 parts flour mixture, alternating it with the milk. Keep mixing until smooth. Fold in nuts and dried fruit.
5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Shake it until it all spreads evenly. Bake for one hour or until toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean. Let cool for 5-10 minutes before unmolding.