Pumpkin Molasses Bread

Submitted by: Cathy Salter

This Thanksgiving, organizations around the world remind us of the need to share with those experiencing food insecurity.  For more than eight months, chef José Andrés and his World Central Kitchen teams have been supporting Ukrainians by serving more than 175 million meals.  Donations to help Ukrainians get through the winter can be made online (www.donate.wck.org). WCK is also preparing meals in Florida right now following rare November hurricanes Ian and Nicole. In communities across America, there are organizations helping to feed those in need this Thanksgiving. 

Feeding America (www.FeedingAmerica.org) donation letters include Thanksgiving recipe cards for Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip, Garlic Herbed Mashed Potatoes, and Pumpkin Molasses Bread.  I’ve already made three loaves of the pumpkin molasses bread and shared two of them with our daughter Heidi and neighbors Carol and Jim Lee. I’ve also submitted one of Feeding America’s recipes with the Common Ingredient—a recipe sharing website based in Columbia, MO and its “new” River Valley TCI chapter just launched in Blacksburg, VA.  This holiday, share one of your family’s Thanksgiving recipes, along with a picture of the dish and a few sentences about its place in your family’s story. www.thecommoningredient.com.  Happy Thanksgiving, readers!

Pumpkin Molasses Bread

Ingredients:

• 1 15-oz can pumpkin purée

• 2 large eggs

• 1/3 cup cooking oil

• ¼ cup molasses

• ¾ cup sugar

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• ½ teaspoon ground ginger

• ½ teaspoon nutmeg

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder

• 1 teaspoon butter

• (Optional:  add ½ to 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans, or add golden raisins)

Instructions:

Step 1.  Preheat the oven to 350° F. 

Step 2.  In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin purée, eggs, oil, molasses, and sugar.

Step 3. In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, three spices, salt, and baking powder.

Step 4.  Pour dry ingredients into the bowl of wet ingredients, stir together until just combined.

Step 5.  Coat inside of a loaf pan with butter.  Pour batter into loaf pan and smooth the top.

Step 6.  Bake about one hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Step 7.  Cool on a wire rack, then slice and serve. Delicious with cream cheese!