Orange Molasses Pumpkin Bread

Pumpkin is one of those aromas that most of us only smell once a year between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Mixed with cinnamon and cloves, and in The Cocktail Chef's kitchen, Grand Marnier and you have a tasty Pumpkin Bread that your friends and family will look forward to year after year!

Too bad we do not have smell-a-screen computers because if we did you would have been able to inhale the spicy scent as the knife slid through the first moist slice! 

To further tantalize your senses here's a taste with orange liqueur flavored cream cheese.

Orange Molasses Pumpkin Bread 

Ingredients

3/4 C. butter (room temperature)                 

2 C. sugar                                                

4 eggs                                                     

2 Tbsp. molasses                                       

1/2 C. orange juice concentrate                   

1 C. Grand Marnier                                     

1/2 C. water

2 C. canned or cooked mashed pumpkin

3 1/3 C. all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1 1/4 tsp.salt

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. ground cloves

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 C. chopped pecans

Directions

Combine orange juice concentrate, Grand Marnier, and water. Shake well and set aside. Beat butter on medium speed until light and fluffy. Gradually add sugar. Cream well together. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Add molasses, orange juice, and mashed pumpkin.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine flour and next 5 ingredients. Add to butter and sugar mixture, mixing just until blended. Stir in vanilla extract and pecans.

Grease and flour 2-9x5 loaf pans. Distribute batter evenly between the two. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes. Remove from pans and allow to cool completely on a wire rack.

I lower the rack on my oven down from the center and cover with aluminum foil for the last 10 minutes to keep the top from browning too much. Ovens vary so just check for the center to be done.

Pumpkin bread makes a scrumptious addition to your Holiday spread, breakfast on Christmas morning, or afternoon snack with a cup of autumn spice java. Need a gift idea? Wrap it and arrange it in a basket with some packages of tea or coffee, and  cream cheese!

What's irresistible on your Holiday menu this year?

Comments

[Jennifer]

Never tried this as muffins but suppose it could work. And yes the orange liqueur is perfect with the other spices. Thanks for the pecan suggestion!

[english breakfast tee]

This bread is fantastic! Incredibly moist…the pumpkin flavor is well-complemented by the warm spices and molasses. I'd recommend at least 3/4 cups of pecans (if you're using them) as they seemed a little sparse in the muffins. Also, make sure you use good cinnamon…it makes all the difference! The glaze was very lightly flavored, with the orange acting as a perfect complement to the flavors of this bread.