Purfect Pumpkin Bread

stephanierndos's Note:

Found the base for this Pumpkin Bread Recipe in an old Southern Living Cookbook. My 'Mom's Banana Bread' Recipe has a little 'secret' tip to making it so great - (seperating the eggs and beating the whites...). So, I put 2 and 2 together, and oila! Also, I like the rich spiciness that should accompany pumpkin dishes - thus I added the chinese 5 spice, makes it that much better! This is a great Fall / Holiday Bread -- I think you'll agree.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 15 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs

Ingredients:

Serves: 4-6

Yield: 2.0 Loaves

• 2⁄3; cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 4 eggs , separated
• 2 cups pumpkin , canned
• 1⁄3; cup milk
• 1⁄3; cup water
• 3 1⁄3; cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon Chinese five spice powder
• 1 teaspoon flax seed
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2⁄3; cup pecans (optional) or 2⁄3; cup walnuts , chopped (optional)
• 2⁄3; cup dried cranberries (optional) or 2⁄3; cup raisins (optional)

Directions:

1. *Cream together oil & sugars at medium speed with an electric hand mixer.
2. *Add egg yolks - one at a time, beating after each addition.
3. *Stir in canned pumpkin, water, & milk.
4. *Combine flour & the next 5 ingredients in a separate mixing bowl, and add to the creamed mixture, a little at a time – mixing well.
5. *Add in Vanilla and the flax seed, - blend.
6. *Meanwhile, beat the egg whites with hand mixer until stiff, (make sure to use clean beaters), whites will form meringue peaks.
7. *Next, gently stir in dried raisins or cranberries, and nuts into the batter.
8. *Fold the meringue gently into the pumpkin bread batter.
9. *Spoon batter into greased & floured loaf pans.
10. *Bake at 350° for 1 hour, or until a toothpick when inserted in the center of the loaves, comes out clean.
11. *Cool loaves on wire racks.

Reviews

[Mikekey]

The beaten egg whites do keep this light and I really liked the 5-spice powder-I even think I would add more of that and less cinnamon! Made with pecans. I omitted the flax seed, as I was out, but it think it would be a nice addition. I used dried cranberries. Very tasty and moist bread.