Pumpkin Cinnamon Swirl Bread

Pumpkin Cinnamon Swirl Bread is an irresistible golden-orange hued, soft, fine-crumbed bread with a decadent swirl of molten buttery cinnamon sugar. Eaten thickly sliced and warm it is divine.

Ingredients

For the Pumpkin Dough:

27 1/2 ounces (by weight: 1 pound 11.5 ounces, or 6.5 cups) all-purpose flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons active dry or instant yeast
2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree
1/2 cup lukewarm milk
2 large eggs

For the Cinnamon Swirl:

1 cup butter, softened divided
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
nonstick cooking spray, preferably coconut oil

Instructions

Add the flour, brown sugar, yeast, salt, ground ginger, and ground cardamom to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook or in a large mixing bowl. Quickly stir them together. Add the pumpkin puree, milk, and eggs to the bowl and beat on low or by hand until a dough forms. Knead with the dough hook or by hand on a lightly floured surface until the dough is smooth and cohesive. Cover with a clean tea towel and let rise in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in bulk, about an hour and a half.

Gently turn the dough out onto a lightly floured silicone baking mat or counter. Using a bench knife, divide the dough into two equal sized portions. Roll each into a ball. Working with one piece at a time, roll the dough into a 12-inch by 16-inch rectangle. Spread half of the softened butter over the surface of the rectangle, leaving a 2-inch strip butter-free across the top of the rectangle. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, cinnamon, and cardamom until even in colour. Sprinkle half of it over the soft butter and gently press into place.

Roll the dough into a log the long way, starting at the edge closest to you and ending with the butter-free strip. Gently pinch the dough together to seal the seams. Fold the log in half, seam side up, and fold the ends together so you have an oval. Gently turn it over and place it seam side down in a prepared loaf pan. Repeat with the remaining dough, butter, and cinnamon sugar. Place the loaf pans on a half sheet pan, several inches apart, and place a tea towel over them. Let them rise in a warm, draft-free place until puffy, about 30 minutes. Near the end of the rising time, begin preheating your oven to 350°F.

Remove the towel and slide the loaf pans (still on the half sheet pan) into the oven. Bake for about 25-30 minutes, or until deep golden brown and some cinnamon sugar is bubbling out around the edges. Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes before turning out onto a rack to finish cooling completely before slicing.

Store the completely cooled bread well wrapped at room temperature for up to 4 days. For storage beyond that, wrap in a double thickness of plastic wrap, then a double layer of foil before freezing.