Pumpkin Bread Recipe

Enjoy the aroma of pumpkin pie all year long with this delightfully rich and hearty quick bread. Pour a glass of low-fat milk to enjoy with a slice at breakfast — or enjoy this bread as a sweet dessert.

Ingredients

Vegetable oil or cooking spray
2⅔ cups sugar
⅓ cup canola oil
⅓ cups unsweetened applesauce
1 15-ounce can pumpkin
4 eggs
⅔ cup nonfat plain yogurt
2⅔ cups all-purpose flour
⅔ cup toasted wheat germ
1½ teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
1½ teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1½ cups raisins

Directions

Before you begin: Wash your hands.

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray two 8 ½-by-4½-by 2½-inch loaf pans or 24-cup muffin tins with cooking spray.
2. Cream together sugar, canola oil, applesauce, pumpkin, eggs and yogurt until smooth.
3. Stir together flour, wheat germ, salt, baking soda, baking powder, cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg.
4. Combine the dry mixture with the wet mixture; stir until well combined. Fold in raisins.
5. Pour into prepared pans (fill muffin tins ⅔ full). Bake for 50 minutes (loaves) or 25 minutes (muffins).

Cooking Note

Instead of raisins, substitute sweetened dried cranberries, which lend a tangy taste.

This recipe freezes well as muffins or bread for up to three months. Thaw at room temperature or in the microwave (about 15 seconds per muffin or slice). Slices also can be placed directly into the toaster.

Nutrition Information

1/12 of one loaf or one muffin

Calories: 240; Total Fat: 4.5g; Saturated Fat: 0.5g; Cholesterol: 35mg; Sodium: 300mg; Total Carbohydrate: 46g; Dietary Fiber: 2g; Protein: 4g.