MAPLE APPLE PUMPKIN LOAF

1 loaf (8-10 slices), 1 hour (mostly bake time, hands off)

INGREDIENTS

Wet Ingredients

• 1 cup pumpkin purée (unsweetened)

• 1 cup apple, grated (red juicy variety like Honeycrisp, Gala, or Fuji)

• 1/2 cup plant milk (almond, coconut, oat milk, whatever you have around)

• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup

• 1/4 cup ghee (or coconut oil)

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Dry Ingredients

• 2 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour blend (bobs red mill or trader joes brand works fine)

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 2 tsp pumpkin spice mix (to taste)

Optional add-ins

• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

• 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips

• 2 tbsp raisins or dates, chopped

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9x5 loaf pan with parchment.

2. Mix wet ingredients: Whisk pumpkin, grated apple, milk, maple syrup, ghee, vanilla until smooth.

3. Mix dry: In another bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and pumpkin spice.

4. Combine: Fold dry into wet gently, don’t overmix.

5. Add any optional add-ins (nuts/ chocolate chips/ raisins) if using.

6. Bake: Pour into prepared loaf pan. Bake 50-60 min at 350°F, or until poked with knife or toothpick at the center and it comes out clean and smooth. Check at the 45 minute mark.

7. Cool fully before slicing. Super yummy when served warm with a schmear of ghee. Enjoy!

#kidfriendly #breakfast #dessert #snack #fall #winter #vata #kapha #pitta

Notes

• A delicious and grounding fall snack, breakfast, or simple sweet treat. Made with subtle notes of maple, apple, and pumpkin, and not overly sweet like other pumpkin loaves that send your digestive system to the trash! The balanced qualities, ingredients, and spices in this loaf actually strengthen your digestion and give you more energy, while being utterly delicious and making you feel like you are in a cozy bookstore in fall.

• For kapha: reduce the ghee to 2 tbsp, go heavier on the spice, and use a lighter milk like almond or soy - honestly, it is fine the way it is, especially for the fall season. Just make these small adaptations if you are going through a kapha imbalance.

• Good as is for pitta & vata - just don't over-do it on the dark chocolate if you are adding it in.