Pull-Apart Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Bread with Buttered Rum Glaze


 
On Halloween we often forget pumpkins are great for more than carving, they're also great for baking. With another Halloween in the books, don't throw your pumpkin away - find some recipes and get creative!

Kendra's got one to get you started! It's a lot of steps, but don't worry - it's worth it!

Ingredients:

Bread
  • 2 Tbsp Unsalted Butter
  • 1/2 cup Milk (room temperature)
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons (1 envelope) active dry yeast
  • 3/4 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1/4 cup white sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 1/2 cups bread flour
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp fresh ground nutmeg
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter

Buttered Rum Glaze
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1/8 cup brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 tbsp milk
  • 3/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tbsp rum (can sub for 1 tbsp vanilla extract)

Directions:
  • Brown 2 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat - don't burn!
  • Once browned, remove the pan from the heat and carefully add the milk
  • Return to stove and heat through
  • Pour the milk and butter into the bowl of standing mixer (fitted with a dough hook)
  • Allow to cool so it is no longer hot but also not cool (about 100-110 degrees F).
  • Once it has reached a warm but not hot temperature add the yeast and 1/4 cup of sugar and allow to proof (this can take up to 8 minutes, the top will look foamy and the liquid cloudy).
  • Add the pumpkin, salt, and 1 cup of flour. Stir until combined then add the rest of the flour 1/2 at a time
  • Knead for 6 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic and just slightly sticky. If the dough is too moist, add extra flour 1 tablespoon at a time.
  • Move dough to a lightly oiled bowl and cover with a clean towel. Allow to rise in a warm place for 60-90 minutes or until doubled in size.
  • While dough is rising, brown another 2 tablespoons of butter.
  • Add the sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg and mix well, making sure sugar evenly absorbs the butter. Set aside.
  • Grease and flour a 9x5 loaf pan and set aside.
  • When the dough has doubled in size, punch it down and flip out onto a clean floured surface and knead with hands for 1-2 minutes.
  • Roll dough into a 20x12 inch rectangle (if dough is difficult to roll out, cover with a towel and allow to relax for a few minutes then try again).
  • Evenly sprinkle the dough with the cinnamon sugar mixture and press into dough with palms of the hand. Cut the rectangle into 6 strips.
  • Lay strips on top of each other and cut each strip into 6 even squares (cut in half then each half into thirds).
  • Stack strips vertically into the loaf pan. Cover the pan with a clean towel and let rise for 30-45 minutes.
  • In the meantime preheat an oven to 350 degrees. After rising in the pan bake for 30-40 minutes or until top is a very deep golden brown.

To prepare the glaze, heat the butter, milk, and 1/2 brown sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to boil then immediately remove the pan from the heat and stir in the rum (or vanilla) and powdered sugar. Glaze top of loaf and sprinkle on remaining half of the brown sugar.

This recipe is adapted from Willow Bird Baking