Pumpkin Gingerbread

This pumpkin gingerbread is a delicious breakfast treat served warm with a smear of cream cheese and a drizzle of honey.

Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 1 cup applesauce
• 1/2 cup blackstrap molasses
• 4 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 15-ounce can pumpkin puree
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease two 9 x 5 inch loaf pans.
2. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the spices, salt, baking soda, baking powder and flours.
3. In a second large mixing bowl, whisk together the sugar, oil, applesauce, molasses, eggs, vanilla, water, and pumpkin until smooth and well blended. Add the flour mix to the wet ingredients and blend well, then pour the batter evenly into the loaf pans.
4. Bake for 45-50 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean, being careful not to over-bake. Let cool for 15 minutes before removing from the pan.

Serving Suggestion

Pumpkin bread is a delicious breakfast treat served warm with a smear of cream cheese and a drizzle of honey.

Gingerbread Cupcakes

Gingerbread is already a celebration of spices and deep, sweet molasses, and when you make it into a cupcake and add delicious cinnamon frosting, gingerbread becomes even more celebratory. The creamy frosting is a perfect foil for the dense, rich cupcakes.

Ingredients

Cupcakes

• 1 stick butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 large eggs
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 1 1/2 cups unbleached flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground clove
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 cup hot coffee or black tea

Frosting

• 8 ounces cream cheese
• 1/2 stick butter, softened
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Prepare a 12 cupcake pan with paper liners, and butter the top of the pan as well. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Beat in the egg, then the molasses and honey. Beat until smooth.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the pastry and unbleached flours, soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, clove and black pepper. Stir to mix, then beat into the butter mixture. Pour in the hot coffee or tea and stir to mix well.
3. Portion into the 12 cupcake tins and bake for 25-30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out dry.
4. For frosting, cream the butter and cream cheese, scraping down and beating until smooth. Add the cinnamon and powdered sugar and beat until smooth, drizzle in the vanilla and beat until smooth. Spread or pipe a 2 tablespoon portion of frosting on each cupcake.