Pumpkin Pistachio Loaves with Tahini Frosting

By Marge Perry & David Bonom


  • Yield:

    6 loaves
  • Course:

    Dessert


Ingredients

Loaves:

  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • 2 teaspoons grated orange zest
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/3 cup shelled roasted and salted pistachios, coarsely chopped

Frosting:

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup tahini
  • 1 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Garnish:

  • Orange zest
  • Chopped pistachios

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 325°F.
  2. For the loaves: combine the butter and sugar in the bowl of and electric mixer; beat on medium speed until well combined. Beat in the eggs and vanilla extract, stopping to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl occasionally, until the mixture is very creamy. Add the pumpkin and orange zest and beat until incorporated.
  3. Combine the flour, cinnamon, cardamom, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl. Add to the butter mixture and beat on low until just combined. Fold in the pistachios.
  4. Spoon the batter evenly into a 6-cavity mini loaf pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of each loaf comes out clean, about 30-32 minutes. Cool in the pans 10 minutes. Remove the loaves from the pans and let cool completely on a wire rack.
  5. For the frosting: beat the butter in the bowl of an electric mixer with the whisk attachment until lightly and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Add the tahini, confectioners’ sugar and vanilla extract and continue beating until creamy, about 2-3 minutes.
  6. Spread the tops of the cooled pumpkin loaf with the frosting and sprinkle with the the orange zest and chopped pistachios.