CRANBERRY, MEET PUMPKIN
By: Clemence & Hadley
It’s Fall; a perfect time for baking! Dust off your inner Julia Child and try this recipe and quickbread technique from our friends at the Gourmandise School of Sweets and Savories…
If your baking skills lie somewhere between making pancakes and reheating you neighbor’s pies, (notice there are no references to box mixes; those are fighting words here), then this is the recipe for you. If you’re a pro, then consider this an easy favorite to add to your repertoire.
Loaf breads, or quickbreads, employ a technique known as the Muffin Method. You’ll want to adopt this technique for any recipe that has a higher ratio of flour; all it asks is that you use two bowls- one for wet ingredients and the other for dry. Once both are well-whisked, simply add one to the other and mix until just combined. This last tip is the key to light and moist baked goods, because the more you stir, the more gluten proteins develop. Once the gluten proteins develop, or bind together, too much, there isn’t enough strength for the steam to push through the tight binds and make your goodies rise (read: hockey-puck muffins out; light and fluffy muffins in).
Cranberry Pumpkin Bread
You can make this into muffins as well- this recipe makes 18-24 muffins and bake for about 20-25 minutes to do so.
1- 2/3 cups flour
1 tsps baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp orange zest
1 tsp ground ginger (we actually prefer 1/4 tsp fresh grated ginger)
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 cup vegetable oil (we like grapeseed)
1- 1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
1) Measure out all of your ingredients.
2) Whisk together the flour, salt, zest, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and ginger.
3) In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, oil and sugar.
4) Add the eggs one at a time and beat until smooth.
5) Carefully fold in the dry ingredients and mix until just barely combined.
6) Pour into cupcake liners or small loaf pans and cover with cranberries, sugar and zest. Bake at 325 for about 25 minutes.
The Gourmandise School is a hands-on culinary school with a focus on teaching classic techniques using seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. Their delicious kitchens teach adults and children alike, with three and four-hour classes, private events and corporate team building. The Gourmandise School is located in The Market at Santa Monica Place. For more information, call 310.656.8800, email classes@thegourmandiseschool.com or visit them at 395 Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica CA 90401.
