A bronzed, glossy loaf adorned with thinly sliced delicata squash, creating a crown pattern on top. The crumb reveals vibrant specks of orange squash and contrasting dark pecans.

Delicata Squash Harvest Loaf

Category Brunch
Prep 20 minutes
Cook 60 minutes
Style American
Technique Baking
Diet Friendly Vegetarian

Daily Recipe: November 05, 2023

This innovative recipe takes a comforting classic, the all-American bread, and brings in a sweet & slightly nutty delicacy of the season - the Delicata Squash. This bread brings out the rich, earthy flavors of autumn, making it the perfect treat to celebrate the sunny yet cool weather.

Ingredients (for 4)

Preparation

  1. Step 1 - 🔥🍞🔜
    Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Meanwhile, grease a loaf pan to prevent your batter from sticking.
  2. Step 2 - 🍚🍬🥄🧂
    In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and all the spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves, and ground ginger).
  3. Step 3 - 🥚🍈🥣
    In a separate bowl, whisk together the purée of roasted, seeded delicata squash, eggs, and olive oil.
  4. Step 4 - 💧🌰🥣
    Gently fold the wet ingredients into the dry, until the batter is just combined. Stir in the chopped pecans at this stage.
  5. Step 5 - 🥣🌰🍞
    Pour the batter mixture into the greased pan. Ensure a few thin slices of delicata squash are placed on top of the batter for garnish and added flavor during baking.
  6. Step 6 - ⏰🔥🍞
    Bake the batter for about 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the loaf comes out clean. Make sure to monitor closely to prevent overbaking.
  7. Step 7 - ⛔🔪🍞
    Once baked, let the loaf cool before proceeding to slice. This will ensure smoother, more uniform slices.

Additional

This loaf can be made ahead and freezes well. To involve kids, let them help with the mixing and laying out the squash slices. For a fun twist, consider adding chocolate chips or swapping pecans for walnuts.