This Squash Harvest Loaf recipe comes from a local bakery here in the Seattle area. It’s perfect for a fall afternoon with a cup of tea.
So the calender says Summer should be coming, but apparently Mother Nature didn’t get the memo.
As I sit here and type this out I am wearing sweatpants and a long sleeve shirt and am seriously considering getting a sweatshirt to put on as well.
It’s says it’s 61 outside, but it’s damp and cold.
We had down pouring-sideways rain when I got up early this morning to go to stick and puck (hockey) which I ended up ditching since there was down pouring-sideways rain…and it was 5am.
Though don’t get me wrong, I am loving that Mother Nature is forgetting about Summer.
I’m all for it.
I just hope she doesn’t make up for it by extending the Summer. 🙂
Now for a bit I tried to embrace the coming Summer.
I tried to make a more Summery based dessert and I had an epic fail.
I mean epic.
I’ve never even seen food have the texture I got with my baking fail.
And so I figured if Mother Nature wasn’t ready to move on, then neither should I.
I should just pretend it is my favorite time of year, Fall, and make something that reminds me of that season.
So I did.
This Squash Harvest Loaf recipe comes from Macrina which is a local bakery here in Seattle.
They wrote a cookbook.
It’s my go to one for bread.
If you don’t own it, I seriously recommend it for you.
This bread calls for fresh butternut squash (which I used,) but you can use canned pumpkin if you would prefer for time saving purposes.
But as always, fresh is better.
The original also uses ½ cup of walnuts and ½ cup of pecans.
I’m out of pecans so I used a whole cup of walnuts.
I hope you all are getting the type of weather you are wanting…I know I am. 😀
P.S. It’s a great day to buy my cookbook.Â
Want More Fall Recipes?
Glazed Pecan Butterscotch Apple Bundt Cake
Cinnamon Sugar Apple Babka Buns
Squash Harvest Loaf
Ingredients
- 2 cups roasted butternut squash purée* (or canned pumpkin if you prefer)
- 1 cup walnut halves
- 1 cup pumpkin seeds
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups light brown sugar
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 4 eggs
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- 1 ½ tsp cinnamon
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup canola oil
- ¾ cup buttermilk
- *Use about 1 lb 1/2 for 2 cups of roasted butternut squash, a medium-sized squash.
Instructions
- Roasting the butternut squash.
- Wash and cut the squash in two halves, remove the seeds and place the halves in a rimmed baking sheet, face up, with 1 cup water in the pan. Cook in a preheated oven at 375 F for 1 hour minimum, until the flesh is fork tender.
- Remove and let cool down before scooping the squash out.
- Place in a food processor and mix smoothly.
- Let cool down and use 2 cups for 2 loaves. Keep the rest in the fridge for 3 days max, or freeze it for future times.
- Making the loaves
- Place the nuts and seeds on a rimmed baking sheet and toast for 15 minutes (at 375F. If you roasted the squash your oven is already at this. If you used can pumpkin, you need to preheat to 375F). Remove from the oven and let cool down before grinding them, medium. Keep ¼ cup on the side, for the decoration.Turn the oven temperature down to 325 F.
- Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in a bowl.
- Add the seeds, minus 1/4 cup. Mix with a wooden spoon.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the oil and two types of sugar and use the paddle attachment to mix on medium speed, for 4 minutes.
- Add the roasted butternut squash and continue to mix for 2 minutes.
- Then, add one egg at a time.
- Remove the bowl from the stand mixer and add the flour and the buttermilk alternatively, until the liquid is absorb each time.
- Transfer the preparation in 2 oiled loaf pans measuring 9 x 5 x 3″, 2/3 to the top.
- Sprinkle with the reserved seeds.
- Bake in the oven for 1 hour, or until a skewer comes out dry once inserted in the loaf. Remove and let cool for 20 minutes before unmolding on a cooling rack.
Notes
Source: Macrina Bakery and Cafe Cookbook by Leslie Mackie
Kamaile says
I’ll trade you our 100 degree temps in Texas for your 61 degrees! This bread looks yummy!
Lydia says
Well, we’re having record temps of 90 degrees here in Flagstaff! And you know it’s hotter because we’re closer to the sun up here! Can’t even dream of baking right now…I need to come up with some recipes for desserts on the grill…!
Magic of Spice says
This looks and sounds so amazing!
Dana says
I love that cookbook too but have had some fails with it. When things turn out, they are extraordinary (like the above bread) but when they don’t – they don’t. 🙂
Peabody says
Interesting. I have yet to have a fail, but I have only made their breads, none of the breakfast or desserts. What failed on you?
Rosa says
A splendid loaf!
Cheers,
Rosa
ErinsFoodFiles says
Come on down to Tennessee. We’ve got all the heat and humidity you can ask for. For 2 weeks I’ve already been saying “I hate summer.” And it’s technically still spring.
bellini valli says
I love a good loaf with what I call autumn flavours. I like the sprinkling of seeds too.
Hannah says
Lovely loaf! I may just save this one for fall, but I do really like the look of those pumpkin seeds on top- It’s a shame fewer people bake with them.
Mimi says
We have June gloom. I love it.
Beautiful pictures as usual Peabody!
Joanne says
I’m totally a summer girl. Maybe you could shift your summer weather over here if you get more of it than you want. I could always use some extra. I’ll accept fall, though, if it means I get to eat this bread! I love pumpkin. Year round.
Rachel says
winter squash are my favorite! While I was hoping to see a bit more sunshine, and not the winter we never had, I think your attitude towards the current weather is the way to go. I think I’ll make some nice, warm soup for dinner 🙂
Erin says
Oh dear gods no! I’m one step away from putting my underwear in the freezer! And I live in Colorado Springs, CO which is generally cooler than the rest of the towns around.
I’m dying here. I’m debating if I can get away with only eating ice cream till this weather breaks because I’m too heat exhausted to actually eat, let alone cook.
The bread looks yummy though. I am jealous of your gloomy rainy weather.
Cakelaw says
This looks delish! I also own the book already, so I am on my way to making it. I am not getting the weather I want – I am a summer girl, and we are in winter, and it is freezing.
Emily says
How appropriate as I’m sitting here in North Seattle in lots of warm clothes waiting for my husbands hockey game to start! And boy is it cold! That bread looks incredible. Butternut squash is one of my all time favorite foods and I’ll definitely be add the paperback version of the cookbook to my b-day list!
Kerstin says
What a hearty loaf of bread – I wish I had a thick slice right now!
Allison says
I’m bookmarking this recipe to try in the fall. I love fall weather too, but I’m loving the warm weather and great fruit we are finally having here.
Julie says
Glad to see this recipe. My husband is growing butternut squash and I have no idea what to do with it!
wendyywy says
I made Jamie Oliver’s butternut squash muffins the other day and they taste fabulous.
Am going to try this out one of these days.
Helen says
This bread is perfect for the non-summery weather we are having here too! When is summer going to get here and STAY??
clumbsycookie says
Mother Nature is a bit confused arround here too (Portugal). After some gorgeous summer days, we’re back to autumn today. So I guees I’ll take a slice of you bread, sounds perfect for today 🙂
Emily says
PS. My mom has made both the morning glory muffins and Sour Cherry Coffee Cake out of that cookbook and both were bit hits!
CookiePie says
MMmmmmm! I never met a winter squash I didn’t like. And I eat pumpkin all year! Love this bread!!!
Livin Local says
Pumpkin / squash bread, its not just for November any more. You’re my type of gal!
Mrs. L says
I just want the weather to make up it’s mind. Cold. Rain. Spring. Summer heat. Just figure it out already!
Natalie says
Mmmm this squash bread looks delicious, i agree about how summer should hurry up, it was pouring it down with rainhere in the UK yesterday it was more like winter than summer!!
Melissa says
Dallas is plenty warm. That bread looks delicious – I usually have leftover squash since there’s only 2 of us. Yum!
Kiwi says
I know the feeling with the “summer/fall which one is it?” thing-up here in Alaska it’s been in the 50s, cold and cloudy. Makes me want to open up a jar of Maple Pumpkin Butter that has been staring at me. Maybe I should just take the googly eyes off the jar, or made this bread and use it instead!
Cara says
I don’t care what the calendar says, I’ll eat pumpkin any time of year! In fact even on the vacation I just took to Greece, I ate lobster and pumpkin risotto one night. So glad those Greeks are on my wavelength too!
Inspired2Cook says
The weather has been goofy out here (I live in Portland). I agree with you on not having an extended Summer (Fall is my fave, too). Your squash bread looks great!