The idea of another pumpkin loaf either makes you excited or makes your eyes roll out of your head. If you're in the latter camp, I implore you to give my iteration a shot.
Because I like the idea of pumpkin spice things but not their execution, I developed this loaf to be about all the good qualities of the flavor _ cloying lattes notwithstanding. I take real pumpkin and roast it with olive oil, salt and pepper to give the puree an umami edge.
The loaf gets a crown of salty bread crumbs, perfumed with the usual "spice" suspects; it's the ideal contrast to the tender loaf cake. Freshly ground spices do make a difference, but use the pre-ground kind if that's what you have (but please don't use pre-ground nutmeg; the flavor is acrid and bitter).
It's a lightly sweet, kinda savory loaf, at home with butter slathered over the side with a drizzle of honey or with a thwack of ricotta and some chopped thyme. Best part: It's the type of "PSL" treat where the spices accent the pumpkin flavor, not overwhelm it.
