Pumpkin Bread

pumpkin bread, originally uploaded by ModernJune.

This bread is so good and sweet one might want to call it pumpkin cake! I've been making this for 10 years now--the recipe makes a lot of bread and is perfect for pot luck dinners. This go round I made a big batch of mini-muffins and a loaf.

1 15 oz can of pumpkin
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup of oil
2 1/2 of all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons of baking soda
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1/2 cup of raisins or dates, optional

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease two 9 x 5 inch loaf pans.
2. In a large bowl, combine the pumpkin, sugar, brown sugar, and oil: mix well. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, spice and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix just until they dry ingredients are moistened. Fold in dry fruit.
3. Pour half the batter into each pan. Place the loaves in the oven and bake until a cake tester inserted in the center come out clean, about 1 hour.
4. Remove the loaves from the oven and immediately turn them out onto a wire rack. Allow to cool before slicing.

When we made this all the time, I used to cut the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour, 50/50. It was hearty and still a special treat!