The bestest Pumpkin Bread

With Halloween fast approaching, who doesn't enjoy a nice slice of pumpkin bread with a nice slab of butter brushed across it? Whether you enjoy this favorite fall treat alone, with butter(wink, wink) or in a bread pudding...it's sure to be a hit!

I just made this at a cooking class in Houston and was happy to hear that some people will be making this for their neighbors. Do any of us even know our neighbors, let alone bake for them? It makes me mushy all inside just thinking about it =)

So instead of giving your kids those nasty, sugar filled, rot your teeth, hurt your tummy candies that are artificially made to resemble Halloween colors, make them something wholesome and delicious. Of course, I mean my pumpkin bread.  I'm sharing my recipe, so enjoy. 

1 1/4 cup finely granulated sugar

1 cup turbinado sugar

3 tablespoons of molasses

1 cup of organic canola oil

3 large brown eggs

1 lb of freshly roasted pumpkin, mashed

1 teaspoon each of mace, allspice, nutmeg & cinnamon

1 teaspoon of baking soda

1/2 teaspoon of baking powder

1/2 teaspoon of sea salt

Optional:dried apricots or cranberries and/or walnuts or pecans

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.

2. Mix all your sifted dry ingredients and spices together.

3. Mix eggs, molasses and pumpkin thoroughly in a separate bowl.

4. Combine dry and wet ingredients together.

5. Add dried fruit and/or nuts at the end.

6. Divide batter into 2 regular side loaf pans that have been buttered and floured.

7. Bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes or until a toothpick come clean from the center.

8. Turn loaves on a cooling rack and allow to cool for 10 minutes.

9. Enjoy ...yes, that is an actual step!