Pumpkin Fudge and Pumpkin Bread

Celebrate the holidays with the ever-present pumpkin, full of vitamins and flavor. Make pumpkin fudge and pumpkin bread, perfect party food.

Baking with pumpkin allows for a wide variety of end products, from bread to sweet or savory pumpkin seeds, pumpkin fudge, or pumpkin pies. It’s all good!

Versatile and nutritious, pumpkin is a good source of minerals and fiber, high in essential fatty acids (EFAs) which help reduce cholesterol levels, aiding the health of blood vessels and nerves. You can make these recipes with fresh-cut pumpkin or canned pumpkin, the choice is yours.

How to Make Pumpkin Fudge

Ingredients for fudge:

• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
• 2/3 cup evaporated milk
• 3/4 cup butter
• 3 cups sugar
• 1/2 tsp of cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1 package (12 oz) butterscotch or white chocolate chips
• 1 jar (7 oz) marshmallow creme
• 1 cup chopped or sliced pecans
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions for Pumpkin Fudge:

1. Lightly grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. In medium saucepan, combine sugar, butter, evaporated milk, pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg together over med-high heat. Bring mixture to a boil while stirring constantly. Reduce heat.
2. Boil over medium heat for 20-25 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add butterscotch (or white chocolate) chips. Let them melt completely.
3. Add in the pecans, vanilla extract and marshmallow creme, mix until well-blended.
4. Pour mixture into the greased baking dish, spreading evenly. Cool at room temperature while covered in plastic wrap or plastic lid. After dish has cooled completely, cut into squares and store in refrigerator.

How to Make Pumpkin Bread

Ingredients for Pumpkin Bread:

• 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2/3 cup water
• 4 eggs
• 3 cups sugar
• 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1-1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger

Directions for Pumpkin Bread:

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly grease and flour two loaf pans (9 x 5-inch).
2. In medium bowl, mix together pumpkin, eggs, oil, water, sugar until well-blended.
3. In large bowl, blend together baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, flour, ginger, salt, nutmeg. Add all dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture and stir until blended together. Pour evenly into both loaf pans and bake for 55-60 minutes. Makes two loaves of pumpkin bread. Cut 1-inch slices after cooled.

Both the pumpkin fudge and pumpkin bread can be brought to a party as hostess gifts. The bread can be served at breakfast or for a snack with easy, homemade honey-butter. With its mild flavor, pumpkin fudge is a perfect holiday gift. Add a tag to the gift box with the recipe and directions. And don’t forget to save some for mom!