I crossed two things off of my Fall Bucket List yesterday. One was trying the new Iced Caramel Apple Macchiato from Starbucks, the other to do some fall baking. I've always loved the process and preciseness of baking from scratch, however I can also get down with a yummy box mix. Sometimes quick, easy + less mess is the way to go. Pumpkin bread is also one of my favorite fall classics-- I like it sweet, moist and not too spicy. I found a box of the Trader Joe's Pumpkin Bread + Muffin Mix in my pantry that I'd purchased last year but never ended up trying. I figured now was the perfect time to whip it up and see whether it's worth repurchasing again this year! Also a quick FYI-- if you don't live near a TJ's, the mix is available here on Amazon! It's a little pricey but easy to order if you can't get it otherwise :)
+MAKE & BAKE
Whether you make it from scratch or out of a box, pumpkin bread is pretty straightforward. The TJ's mix only required water, eggs + vegetable oil. To make things a little bit healthier, I swapped the veg out for coconut oil which worked great. I followed the rest of the box instructions to a tee which is like most cake/bread recipes-- mix liquids + combine with dry until smooth. The entire process was a breeze and cook time was pretty accurate too. I have a gas oven which tends to cook things faster so I took mine out about five minutes early + it came out perfect!
+TASTE & TEXTURE
The texture was great too-- the perfect balance between bread and cake. The outside had a bit of a crust with a soft and moist inside like a loaf should be. It wasn't sticky or dry and I really enjoyed the flavor. The pumpkin is very subtle with a noticeable spice element, however I didn't find it to be too much or overkill. Delicious warmed with a little butter! If you do like a strong pumpkin flavor, adding pumpkin puree into the batter would be an easy addition. I also think throwing some chocolate chips or pumpkin seeds in would be yummy too.
What should I try out next??
