Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup pumpkin puree, preferably from a roasted sugar pumpkin

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 cup dark brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1 stick butter, softened but not melted

2 eggs

1/4 cup water

1/2 cup dried blueberries

1/2 cup shelled pistachios, crushed

Flour for dusting blueberries and pistachios

Preparation

  • Preheat an oven to 350 degrees.
    • Grease a loaf or bundt pan and dust with flour.
    • Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and spices in a medium bowl.
    • In a large bowl, beat butter until light yellow. Add the sugars in four additions, beating thoroughly between additions. Add the eggs one at a time, again mixing thoroughly after each one. Beat in vanilla, then the water (or pumpkin liquid). Stir in the cup of pumpkin puree.
    • Add the bowl of dry ingredients into the wet ingredients by thirds, mixing thoroughly with a spoon between additions.
    • Dust the dried blueberries and crushed pistachio nuts with flour, shaking off the excess. Stir into the batter.
    • Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and bake for 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes, or until nicely browned and a toothpick inserted into the bread comes out clean.
    • Allow the bread to cool in the pan for several minutes, then invert to remove onto a cooling rack. Sprinkle the top with a little sugar if you’d like. Allow the bread to cool to room temperature before cutting. Serve alone, toasted, or spread with butter or cream cheese.