Super moist Butternut Squash Bread

 

This is a sweet, super moist squash bread that uses sour cream and half and half to make it richer. So, it's not a diet bread, it's the real deal! If you are worried about calories and fat, this is not the bread for you! It does require some elbow grease to grate the squash (made easier if you have a fine disc on your food processor). If not, the old fashioned way using a fine grater gives you a good workout! It freezes well.

1/2 cup granulated sugar

¼ cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon maple syrup

1/2 cup oil

2 eggs

1 1/4 cups finely grated Butternut Squash or pumpkin, firmly packed

1/2 cup sour cream

¼ cup half and half

1 teaspoon orange flavoring (or the zest of an orange)

1 cup flour

½ cup oat bran

¼ cup whole wheat flour

1 Tablespoon Arrowroot flour. Optional (this improves the texture. Cornstarch may be substituted)

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon allspice

½ teaspoon grated nutmeg

1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger root

Juice of half a lemon

1/2 teaspoon salt

¼ cup chopped pecans

1/3 cup dried cranberries

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Grease and flour the sides of a 9X5-inch loaf pan. Line the bottom with parchment paper
3. Mix Flours, spices, chopped pecans, oat bran, salt, baking powder and soda in a small bowl and set aside.
4. Grate the butternut squash and add the cranberries, ginger, lemon juice and maple syrup to it. Set aside.
5. In a large bowl, whisk together the sugars, half and half, eggs, and oil. Add the sour cream and orange extract; whisk until pale in color.
6. Mix in the grated squash mixture
7. Add the dry ingredients all at once; stir just until dry ingredients are moistened (it will look grainy due to the oat bran). Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
8. Bake for 50-60 minutes until toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean.
9. Cool for five minutes in the pan. Gently turn out onto a cooling rack and cool completely. Store covered at room temperature (the bread also freezes well).