Pumpkin Bread from America's Test Kitchen

Pumpkin Bread

Makes 2 loaves

The test kitchen’s preferred loaf pan measures 8 1/2 by 4 1/2 inches; if using a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan, start checking for doneness five minutes early.

Ingredients

Topping

• 5tablespoons packed (2 1/4 ounces) light brown sugar
• 1tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
• 1teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8teaspoon salt

Bread

• 2cups (10 ounces) all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2teaspoon baking soda
• 1(15-ounce) can unsweetened pumpkin puree
• 1teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/8teaspoon ground cloves
• 1cup (7 ounces) granulated sugar
• 1cup packed (7 ounces) light brown sugar
• 1/2cup vegetable oil
• 4ounces cream cheese, cut into 12 pieces
• 4 large eggs
• 1/4cup buttermilk
• 1cup walnuts, toasted and chopped fine

Instructions

• 1. FOR THE TOPPING: Using fingers, mix all ingredients together in bowl until well combined and topping resembles wet sand; set aside.
• 2. FOR THE BREAD: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease two 8 1/2 by 4 1/2-inch loaf pans. Whisk flour, baking powder, and baking soda together in bowl.
• 3. Combine pumpkin puree, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves in large saucepan over medium heat. Cook mixture, stirring constantly, until reduced to 1½ cups, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove pot from heat; stir in granulated sugar, brown sugar, oil, and cream cheese until combined. Let mixture stand for 5 minutes. Whisk until no visible pieces of cream cheese remain and mixture is homogeneous.
• 4. Whisk together eggs and buttermilk. Add egg mixture to pumpkin mixture and whisk to combine. Fold flour mixture into pumpkin mixture until combined (some small lumps of flour are OK). Fold walnuts into batter. Scrape batter into prepared pans. Sprinkle topping evenly over top of each loaf. Bake until skewer inserted in center of loaf comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Let breads cool in pans on wire rack for 20 minutes. Remove breads from pans and let cool for at least 1½ hours. Serve warm or at room temperature.