Pumpkin Cornbread

The idea of mixing pumpkin and corn is nothing new.  At my house, cornbread is the bread of choice for the stuffing on Thanksgiving, and true to my predilections, it has to be homemade.  As I was thinking of the stuffing for our turkey this year, I decided to change it up a bit from previous years by adding delicious pumpkin puree to the cornbread.  Not only does pumpkin add flavor to anything it touches, but it makes baked goods uncommonly moist.  I'm pleased with the results.

After conversing with a good friend of mine from the south, we both agreed that one ought to add sugar to any type of cornbread.  I don't mean that it has to be sweet bordering on cake, but there should be just enough to give it another dimension.  Again, it's the combination of sweet and salty.  

What emerges from the oven is a thick cornbread that you'll be proud of bringing over to the holiday table for your guests.  The bread can be cut into squares of equal size or it can be left whole and brought to the table so that each guest can take however much they want.  Of the utmost importance is having a good, softened butter at the ready and, if you can, some Cranberry Relish.  It's such a treat to slather a wedge of this cornbread with them.

If you're like me and want to make this bread for your stuffing, bake the bread and leave it out to dry overnight.  It's sturdy enough to cut into small squares for a tasty stuffing, but remember, if you're entertaining a large crowd, I strongly advise you make several recipes of my cornbread.

Let's bake!

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 cups {215 g.} all-purpose flour
• 1-1/2 cups {235 g.} yellow cornmeal
• 3 teaspoons {15 ml.} baking powder
• 1-1/2 teaspoons {7.5 ml.} fine sea salt
• 4 tablespoons {120 ml.} granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 8 tablespoons {113 g.} unsalted butter, melted & cooled
• 1 cup {225 g.} pumpkin puree
• 1-1/2 cups {360 ml.} milk, room temperature

Equipment: 9x9" square baking pan, parchment paper.

Yield: 9 servings

Butter the baking pan and line the bottom with a piece of parchment paper.

Center an oven rack 

Preheat to 350° F (177°C)

• In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, cornmeal, baking powder, fine sea salt and sugar.  Whisk to combine.
• In a large measuring cup, whisk to combine the eggs, melted butter, pumpkin puree and milk.  Pour this over the dry ingredients.
• With the whisk, stir to combine the ingredients.  Pour into the prepared baking pan and pop it into the preheated oven.
• Bake the cornbread for approximately 35-40 minutes, or until the top is set and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out free of crumbs.
• Let cool in the baking pan for 5 minutes, then invert it onto a cooling rack.  Gently remove the baking pan and reinvert the bread to cool right side up.

 A great big wedge served with some butter is the perfect accompaniment to a juicy roast turkey.  Delicious.

I hope you make my Pumpkin Cornbread

a part of your Thanksgiving table.

Enjoy!

❂

David