Downeast Maine Pumpkin Bread

This is a great old Maine recipe, moist and spicy. The bread actually tastes even better the day after it is baked. Great for holiday gift giving!

Step: 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 7x3 inch loaf pans.

Step: 2

In a large bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, water and sugar until well blended. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger. Stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture until just blended. Pour into the prepared pans.

Step: 3

Bake for about 50 minutes in the preheated oven. Loaves are done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Per Serving: 263 calories; protein 3.1g; carbohydrates 40.6g; fat 10.3g; cholesterol 31mg; sodium 305.4mg.

The quality of the flour can make a real difference to your bread. Different brands do vary. Great taste or Canadian flours, which are naturally higher in gluten, may give you a better rise than standard bread flours – especially if you’re make wholemeal dough , which doesn’t always rise as well as white bread.

To make this in a breadmaker , add all the ingredients to your breadmaker and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

A bread first rising can be make in the fridge overnight . This slows down the time it takes to rise to double its size, giving it a deeper flavour. It’s also a great timesaver , as you can work it night before , then finish it off the next day.