Spiced whole wheat pumpkin loaf

1 loaf

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
1cupUnsifted all-purpose flour
½cupUnsifted whole wheat flour
½teaspoonBaking soda
½teaspoonBaking powder
¼teaspoonSalt
1teaspoonGround cinnamon
½teaspoonGround ginger
½teaspoonFreshly grated nutmeg
¾cupDark raisins
¾cupChopped, pitted dates
½cupChopped walnuts
8tablespoonsUnsalted butter; softened
¾cupLight brown sugar
teaspoonPure vanilla extract
2Extra-large eggs
¾cupCanned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350F. Butter and flour a 8x4x3-inch loaf pan.

Sift together the all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. Toss the raisins, dates and walnuts with 1 tablespoon of the sifted mixture.

Cream the butter in the large bowl of an electric mixer on moderate speed for 5 minutes. Add the sugar and beat on moderately high speed for 2 minutes. Blend in the vanilla extract. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, blending well after each addition. Beat in the pumpkin.

The mixture will look curdled. On low speed, add the sifted ingredients, mixing until the particles of flour are absorbed. Stir in the raisin-date-walnut mixture.

Pour and scrape the batter into the prepared pan. Bake the loaf for 50 to 55 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted into each loaf emerges clean and dry. The baked loaf will pull away slightly from the sides of the pan.

Cool the loaf in the pan on a rack for 3 to 4 minutes, invert onto another rack and turn rightside up. Cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

from Baking for Gift-Giving by Lisa Yockelson typed by Tiffany Hall-Graham Submitted By TIFFANY HALL-GRAHAM On 03-25-95