Imbued with traditional fall flavors, we have a feeling this bread could become a new Thanksgiving tradition!
During our annual shopping in July, we picked up several acorn and butternut squashes – favorite centerpieces in many of our recipes. There is also a practical side to squashes when living in the bush… they ship well and last a long time in a cool, dry location. Up in Point Hope, we used to keep squash and potatoes for months in our mudroom. Here in Chignik Lake, a much more damp location, the fridge serves as our long-term storage area.
Recently, after oven-roasting a butternut squash in olive oil and garlic, I decided to try something new. I have a time-tested base recipe for fruit bread, but instead of the usual pears or other fruit, I used the roasted squash. Even the raw dough was quite tasty! (I know, I know, I’m not supposed to eat raw dough…but I always do). The squash helps to make the bread moist and satisfying and pumpkin pie spices give it a sense of holiday seasons. Pecans add a layer of flavor and a hearty crunch. This would be a perfect Thanksgiving bread!
Roasted Butternut Squash Pecan Bread
Ingredients
- 2 cups mashed roasted butternut squash (any roasted squash will work)
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 4 large eggs, beaten
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 tsp galangal (or ground ginger)
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 3 ½ cups all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup chopped pecans
Directions
- Grease two 8 in. x 4 in. x 2 in. loaf pans. Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- In a large bowl mix together squash, oil, butter.
- Mix in eggs and vanilla.
- Mix in sugar.
- Sift in spices, flour, baking powder and salt.
- Mix well, but do not over mix.
- Fold in pecans.
- Pour batter into two prepared pans.
- Bake for 60 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted into center of loaf comes out clean.
- Top should be lightly browned.
- Cool for a few minutes in pans. Remove loaves and finish cooling on wire racks.