After years of research and combining recipes and techniques, I'm pleased to bring you the (World's) Best Pumpkin Bread Recipe (in the World!), using fresh pumpkin! (opt)

There are so many ways you can customize this basic pumpkin bread recipe to highlight your own personal style, that you'll want to make multiple loaves just to experiment.

Remember, pumpkin bread freezes well, and makes great gifts for the holidays!

Step 1: Ingredients

Materials

Spice grater - I love this one, but it's this attachment that makes using whole nutmegs a breeze!
Roasting pan (for fresh pumpkin)
Immersion blender
Mixing Bowls
Bread pan

Ingredients

5 oz. pumpkin puree - I used a fresh pumpkin, but you can buy a can* - I won't tell.
1 egg
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 1/4 cup flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger

Best if you can get fresh spices and grind them yourselves. Yum!

Optional stir-ins

Nuts
Raisins
Dried Cranberries
Chocolate Chips

* If you buy canned pumpkin, either increase the recipe to make multiple loaves or store the extra pumpkin puree for other yummy recipes!

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Step 2: Bake Pumpkin

If you're using a fresh pumpkin, you'll need to cook, peel it, and mash it first!

Here are three great methods to choose from:

Baking Method

Cut the pumpkin in half and discard the stem section and stringy pulp. Save the seeds to dry and roast.
In a shallow baking dish, place the two halves face down and cover with foil.
Bake in a preheated 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) oven for about 1½ hours for a medium-sized sugar pumpkin, or until tender.
Once the baked pumpkin has cooled, scoop out the flesh or just peel off the rind, and puree or mash it.

Boiling Method

Cut the pumpkin in half, discarding the stringy insides.
Peel the pumpkin and cut it into chunks.
Place in a saucepan and cover with water.
Bring to a boil and cook until the pumpkin chunks are tender.
Let the chunks cool, and then puree or mash.

Microwave Method

Cut the pumpkin in half, discarding the stringy insides.
Microwave on high power for seven minutes per pound, turning pieces every few minutes to promote even cooking. Puree or mash.

You can refrigerate your fresh pumpkin puree for up to three days, or store it in the freezer up to six months.

Step 3: Prep

Preheat your ovens to 350^oF (180^oC)

Grease and flour a loaf pan. Meaning, rub some butter on all the sides, then dump in some flour and shake it around until it sticks to all the butter, and dump the rest of the flour out of the pan.

My flour didn't take evenly, but the resulting loaf came out just great!

Step 4: Liquids

Combine the pumpkin puree, egg, vegetable oil, water, and sugar.

Blend!

Step 5: Dry-s

Combine carefully measured flour, baking soda, salt and ground spices. Adjust to suit your own tastes.

Whisk together!

Step 6: Combine

Slowly stir the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredient mixture.

Oh boy it should smell good by now!

Pour into the prepared (greased and floured) loaf pan.

Step 7: Bake

Bake for 40-50 minutes.

Bread is done when a toothpick or skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.

You won't believe how light and moist this pumpkin loaf turns out. You'll never be able to eat that dense sticky stuff again. And once your friend's try it, you'll be getting requests every week! So share responsibly :D