Pumpkin Loaf

Thanksgiving holiday is all about spending happy time with family and friends and enjoying delicious meal together. But 2020 Thanksgiving is different and it is extremely hard for so many people. This year we are grateful for being alive and staying home to protect ourselves and others. We are keeping this Thanksgiving very simple to enjoy small blessings! Today I bring you one of the all time favorite Thanksgiving treats "Pumpkin Loaf ". Who doesn't love a slice of a fresh Pumpkin Spiced loaf made with fresh deep orange colored pumpkin puree with a hot drink on chilly nights to warm up!

Pumpkin is a year round vegetables used in savory Bengali dishes in my kitchen. During the fall-winter season, savory pumpkin and signature pumpkin spiced sweet specialties are in full swing, be it soup, dinner roll, drinks and  endless desserts. I made a big batch of pumpkin puree from a fresh fairytale pumpkin last week. Yesterday, I baked an elegant Pumpkin Loaf, that is wonderfully moist,  easy to prepare, not too spicy or overly sweet either. You can add nuts, raisins or dries cranberries and dust with confectioner's sugar on top. This beautiful pumpkin loaf is great as is or it can be perfectly paired with a cup of tea, hot coco or pumpkin ice cream. 

Ingredients~

(US customary units) 

1 1/2 cup sifted all purpose or bread flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 or 1-1/4 cups brown sugar

2 extra large eggs

1/2 cup softened unsalted butter

1/2 tsp -3/4 tsp. pumpkin spice as taste taste

1/2 tsp lemon or vanilla extract

1 cup thick pumpkin puree, homemade or store bought

1/4 cup whole or 2% milk at room temperature

Method~

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and butter a 9x5 loaf pan or a 6 cups bundt pan. Shift together flour, salt, pumpkin spice, baking powder and baking soda in a bowl. Whisk together the sugar and butter until combined, then add in pumpkin puree and lemon extract. Whisk together well. Beat in eggs one at a time until blended. Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixtures and stir well until thoroughly mixed. Pour batter into the buttered pan and bake for 30-35 mins or until a toothpick comes out clean. Leave the pan on a wired rack for 20 mins, then remove from the pan and cool completely on a wire rack. Cut into thick slices and serve! Happy Thanksgiving from our home to yours!

Happy Baking!