We used apple juice to sweeten the bread, but this recipe is equally tasty made with orange juice or cranberry juice.
Recipe information
Yield
makes one 9-inch loaf
Ingredients
Pumpkin Puree
Preparation
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter and flour a 5 × 9-inch loaf pan; set aside. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
Step 2
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the molasses, sugar, oil, eggs, pumpkin, and apple juice. Add the flour mixture; mix until combined. Fold in cranberries and walnuts. Spoon mixture into prepared pan, and bake until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Let the bread sit for about 10 minutes, and then turn the bread out of the pan onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Step 3
While the bread cools, make the frosting. Combine the cream cheese and honey in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; beat until smooth and well combined. Once the bread is completely cooled, spread the top with frosting. Serve.
Pumpkin Puree
Step 4
Preheat the oven to 425°F. Place the pumpkin cut side down on a baking pan; roast until tender, 50 to 60 minutes. Remove from the oven; let cool. Using a large spoon, scrape out and discard seeds. Remove the flesh; transfer to the bowl of a food processor. Process until completely pureed without any solid pieces, about 1 minute. Transfer to a bowl. Refrigerate up to several days or freeze up to 1 month.
