LOOKING for a creative way to use up your pumpkins over Halloween? This delicious pumpkin bread recipe tastes great with pumpkin soup and a slice of cheese. Here’s the recipe.

PUMPKIN BREAD

Ingredients to make one medium loaf

100g pumpkin seeds Oil, to grease

100–150ml tepid water

20g fresh yeast

1 tsp caster sugar

450g strong white flour, plus extra to dust

2 tsp salt

1 egg, beaten

200g tin pumpkin puree

2 tbsp runny honey

Method

1 Heat a dry frying pan over a medium heat and lightly toast the pumpkin seeds, then transfer them to a plate to cool. Lightly oil a large baking sheet.

2 In a small bowl, mix 2 tbsp of the tepid water with the yeast to create a loose paste. Mix in the sugar.

3 Sift the flour and salt into a large bowl. Make a well in the centre and add the egg, yeast mixture and pumpkin puree.

Add enough of the remaining water (start with three quarters) to mix to a soft dough, using a little to swill out the yeast bowl to make sure none is left behind.

4 Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, up to ten minutes.

Place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with oiled cling film and leave to rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 45–60 minutes.

5 Tip the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and flatten it out with your hands.

Sprinkle over the seeds and knead again until it is smooth and the seeds are evenly distributed.

6 Shape into a domed circle and place on the oiled baking sheet. Cover with oiled cling film and leave to prove for about 30 minutes, or until increased in size by half.

Meanwhile, heat the oven to 220°C/gas mark 7.

7 Slash the top of the bread using a large knife and bake for 30–45 minutes, turning the oven setting down slightly to 200C/gas mark 6 after five minutes. It is ready when the crust is well browned, and the loaf feels light for its size and sounds hollowwhen tapped on the underside.

8 Transfer the loaf to a wire rack, brush with the honey while still warm and leave to cool a little before serving.

Recipe from How to Cook Bread by Leiths School of Food and Wine