Healthier Downeast Maine Pumpkin Bread

We updated this great old Maine recipe to be healthier by using white whole wheat flour, less sugar, and butter instead of oil. We also added pumpkin seeds and raisins. It's still moist and spicy, and wonderful for healthy holiday gift giving as bread or muffins!

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 50 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins
• Calories: 209 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 ½ cups packed brown sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• ⅔ cup raisins
• ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
• ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
• 2 cups white whole wheat flour
• ⅔ cup pumpkin seeds
• 1 ½ cups low-fat buttermilk
• 1 tablespoon raw sugar for sprinkling on top (Optional)

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 7x3-inch loaf pans.

Step 2

Mix together pumpkin puree, eggs, butter, buttermilk, and brown sugar in a large bowl until well blended. Combine whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger in a small bowl. Fold flour mixture into pumpkin mixture until just blended. Gently stir in raisins and pumpkin seeds. Pour into prepared pans or muffin cups. Lightly sprinkle tops with raw sugar.

Step 3

Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean; about 50 minutes.