Pumpkin Cranberry Bread

I was making my standard pumpkin bread the other day and remembered that I had a bag of fresh cranberries leftover in the fridge. I decided to add them to the bread batter to see what would happen and fortunately it turned out great! I added 1 cup whole cranberries and 1 cup chopped cranberries, the results are delicious and made the bread even more perfect for neighbor Christmas gifts - this will be a go-to addition around the holidays in the future. 

Here's the pumpkin bread recipe I have been making for years and years:

I have been making this exact pumpkin bread recipe since I was a kid, I still use the recipe card that I wrote it out on from when I was young - judging by the handwriting I'd say I was 10ish!  Simple quick bread, makes 3 loaves which is nice if you want a big batch recipe (I kept one and gave away two; or wrap the extras tightly in a layer of plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, and seal in a gallon size freezer bag). The only thing I do differently from the recipe is to bake for about 10 minutes less, add a little more spice*, and sometimes I top with natural coarse sugar before baking.

3 cups white sugar (plus extra for topping if desired)
1 cup oil (my recipe is so old it calls for "salad oil")
4 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon *
1 teaspoon nutmeg
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 cups pumpkin
2/3 cup water
3 1/2 cups flour

coarse sugar for topping, optional 

Mix all in a big bowl until blended. Divide into 3 greased bread pans. Sprinkle with coarse sugar if you want. Bake 350' for approx. 50 minutes until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out pretty clean.

I gave some to Janis and Patty; Patty called me the next morning and said hers was gone and she loved it, and to "never change the recipe". I didn't tell her that I've been making this for 40 years and am not going to change it now hahaha!!

*I've been upping the spice amounts - 2 1/2 t. cinnamon, 2 1/2 t. nutmeg, 1/2 t. ground ginger; and white granulated sugar on top is also good, it makes the top crackly. 

1.7.25: TT prepping brussels sprouts 

1.7.24: 🔥 week 1

1.7.23: poke brownies

1.7.22: cauliflower pizza

1.7.21: no bake cookie bars by Brooke 

1.7.20: Tip-sy Tuesday: wrapping paper filler

1.7.19: the short-lived segment of Man-day Monday

1.7.18: breakfast egg muffins

1.7.17: grocery store bouquet

1.7.17: fruitcake squares (don't be afraid, they're good!)