Pumpkin bread loaded with dates and lightly spiced with ginger. Drizzle Ginger Glaze over the top for added spicy sweetness.

Ginger Date Pumpkin Loaves

Ingredients:

Batter:

3 cups all-purpose flour

1½ teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoons ground cinnamon

¾ teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 tablespoon finely chopped crystallized ginger

1 15-oz can pumpkin (2 cups)

2 1/3 cups granulated sugar

4 large eggs

1 cup vegetable oil

1 cup pitted dates, coarsely chopped

Ginger Glaze

½ cup confectioner’s (powdered) sugar

1/8 teaspoon ground ginger

½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 to 3 teaspoons water

Tip: Use standard measuring cups and spoons or scales for accurate measuring.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Prepare two 9x5x2¾ inch loaf pans; lightly grease the pans with shortening. Tip: to make baked bread easier to remove from pan, lightly grease the pan, line with parchment paper, and then lightly grease the top of the parchment paper.
   
   Batter:
2. In a medium mixing bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and crystallized ginger; whisk together to mix. Set aside.
   
   
3. In a large bowl, combine pumpkin, sugar, eggs, and oil; whisk together until well blended. Add flour mixture; stir just until blended. Add dates; lightly stir to mix in.
   
   Bake:
4. Pour batter into the loaf pans, dividing the batter evenly between the 2 pans. Bake 55 to 65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove pans from oven and let cool about 15 minutes. Remove bread from pans and place on a wire cooling rack to finish cooling.
   
   Ginger Glaze:
5. In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar, ginger, vanilla, and 2 teaspoons water; beat together until mixture is smooth. Add additional water if necessary to make a soft consistency. The glaze should be partially thick, but thin enough that it will run down over the sides of the bread. Add additional powdered sugar if too thin or a little more water if it seems too thick.
   
   Makes 2 loaves
   
   TheBakingPan.com
   ___________________________________________________
   

          TheBakingPan
        Kitchen and Baking Storeg Store
Click Here - Easy on-line shopping for all your kitchen, baking, and home needs. Bakeware, Cookware, Kitchen Tools, Books, Cookbooks, Electrics, Food, Gifts, Coffee, and more....