I know, at least in my part of the world we are about as far away from pumpkin spice season as you can get. Before we step fully into spring and away from the seasons of coziness and sweaters, let’s give pumpkin one more chance to shine.

Makes 1 loaf

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups AP flour
• 1/4 cup wheat germ (see note)
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup butter, room temperature
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 1 cup canned pumpkin (or pumpkin puree)
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 cup chopped dates
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees f
2. Butter or oil a loaf pan
3. Stir together the flour (1 1/2 cups), wheat germ (1/4 cup), baking soda (1 tsp), baking powder (1/2 tsp), and cinnamon (1/2 tsp) in a medium bowl
4. In the bowl of a mixer, combine sugar (1 cup) and butter (1/3 cup) and cream together
5. Add eggs (2) one at a time to the butter and sugar and mix in
6. Add pumpkin (1 cup) and vanilla (1 tsp) to the butter and sugar mixture and mix well
7. Add chopped dates (1/2 cup) and chopped walnuts (1/2 cup) to dry ingredients and stir together
8. Add dry ingredients to wet and mix just until combined
9. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan, it will be thick
10. Bake 50-60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean
11. Let cool before removing from loaf pan

Notes:

• Wait, isn’t wheat germ health food? It does come from the health food part of the store but don’t worry about it, it is delicious and adds a really nice texture to this loaf. Don’t trust me? That’s ok, you can also just add an extra 1/4 cup of AP flour.