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–+ servings
closeup shot of pumpkin machine bread on a table before slicing.

Bread Maker Pumpkin Spice Yeast Bread

This seasonal pumpkin loaf is somewhat dense and pretty moist, like a quick bread but without all the sugar! Perfect for toasting and slathering with butter.
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 5 minutes
Course Bread
Cuisine American
Servings 12
Calories 208 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 113 g Warm Water ½ cup; 4 ounces
  • 10 g Active Dry Yeast 2 ½ teaspoons; or sub instant/bread machine yeast, but add with dry ingredients
  • 9 g Sugar 2 teaspoons; or sub brown sugar, honey, agave, or maple syrup
  • 20 g Neutral Oil 1 ½ Tablespoons; avocado, grapeseed, canola, etc.
  • 40 g Unsulfured Molasses 2 Tablespoons
  • 255 g Pumpkin Purée 1 cup; 9 ounces
  • 240 g Bread Flour 2 cups; or sub 240g/2 cups of whole wheat flour + 3 Tablespoons powdered whey + 2 Tablespoons vital wheat gluten
  • 120 g Whole Wheat Flour 1 cup; or sub white whole wheat flour, whole wheat pastry flour, or spelt flour
  • 10 g Cornstarch 1 Tablespoon; or sub equal amount of potato starch, tapioca flour, or arrowroot flour
  • 1 g Xanthan Gum ½ teaspoon; or sub gellan gum, or use ½ teaspoon liquid lecithin with liquid ingredients
  • 10 g Pumpkin Pie Spice 1 Tablespoon; or warming spice blend of your choice (e.g. cinnamon/ginger, chai masala, haiwaj)
  • 7 g Fine Sea Salt 1 teaspoon; or equal weight of kosher salt, approx 1.25 teaspoons
  • 50 g Hulled Pumpkin Seeds, Toasted ⅓ cup; or sub sunflower seeds
  • 50 g Dried Cranberries ⅓ cup; or sub raisins or sultanas
  • 40 g Chopped Walnuts, Toasted ⅓ cup; or sub pecans

Instructions
 

  • Mix 113 g Warm Water, 10 g Active Dry Yeast, and 9 g Sugar in the base of a bread machine to proof.
  • Add remaining wet ingredients: 20 g Neutral Oil, 40 g Molasses, and 255 g Pumpkin Purée.
  • Top with dry ingredients: 240 g Bread Flour, 120 g Whole Wheat Flour, 10 g Cornstarch, 1 g Xanthan Gum, 10 g Pumpkin Pie Spice, and 7 g Fine Sea Salt.
  • Set bread machine to "sweet" or "fruit & nut" loaf setting. Press start.
  • When bread machine beeps during the kneading step (about 12-15 minutes after starting), tip in the inclusions: 50 g Hulled Pumpkin Seeds, Toasted, 50 g Dried Cranberries, 40 g Chopped Walnuts, Toasted. If needed, use a silicone spatula to scrape down the sides of the bread machine insert.
    NOTE: The dough will be a bit sticky; you may add a tablespoon of bread flour at a time if it is too wet. You shouldn't need more than 1-2 tablespoons.
  • After the last "punch down" before the final rise, remove the insert, dump out the bread dough onto a floured surface, and remove the paddle. Shape the dough into a rough log shape using lightly floured hands, then place back in the insert, replace the insert in the machine, and close the lid for the remainder of the cycle.
    NOTE: This is an optional step, but will help ensure a prettier loaf with a smaller hole in the bottom.
  • When the pumpkin bread is done baking, remove from the bread machine to a cooling rack. Wait 1 hour before slicing. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Xanthan gum, gellan gum, or liquid lecithin are all suitable dough enhancements. They help to provide additional structure to the dough, even with a large amount of whole-grain flour, and help maintain moisture. If you don't have any of these available, you may omit them, but the bread will be slightly denser. Alternatively, add an egg with the liquid ingredients but don't use the delay timer if you do.
  • For a lighter loaf with a more open crumb, use all bread flour (no whole wheat) ~OR~ add 2 tablespoons of vital wheat gluten and 3 tablespoons of powdered whey.
  • You are welcome to use the "dough" setting on the bread machine then bake in a loaf tin or separate into rolls on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a conventional oven at 350ºF.
  • Pumpkin bread keeps well in a zip-top bag at room temperature for 4-5 days. For longer storage, pre-slice it and pop in the freezer for up to 6 weeks. 
  • NUT & SEED-FREE - Feel free to omit the walnuts and pepitas. You may replace them with other inclusions (e.g. raisins, craisins, dried apple bits, dried banana bits, chocolate chips) if you like. 
  • Optional Add-Ins - You can add the zest of an orange for brightness or chocolate chips for richness. You may also want to add a simple milk/powdered sugar glaze for added sweetness. 

Nutrition

Calories: 208kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 6gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.01gSodium: 244mgPotassium: 212mgFiber: 3gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 3312IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 31mgIron: 2mg
Keyword Cheap, Comforting, DIY, Easy, Fall, Fast, Fruit, Winter
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