Spooky season is here, and we’re serving up a fall favorite with a delicious twist! Create a moist, warmly spiced pumpkin loaf with an extra-special wine cream cheese filling tucked right inside. It’s perfect for a crisp fall afternoon, or festive enough for a Halloween gathering. Grab your mixing bowl, pour yourself a glass, and let’s get to baking!

Batter

• 1 ¾ cup – all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• ½ cup vegetable oil 
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup packed brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cream Cheese Filling 

• 8 ounces cream cheese softened
• ¼ cup powdered sugar
• ½ teaspoon of vanilla 
• 2 tablespoons of a Missouri Vignoles (continue adding 1 tablespoon of wine until desired consistency) 
• Tiny pinch of salt

Instructions: 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 9x5 loaf pan with parchment paper. 
2. Whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves until evenly combined.
3. In a separate bowl whisk pumpkin puree, vegetable oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla until smooth. Add the dry ingredients and stir just until no flour streaks remain. 
4. In another separate bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, and wine. 
5. Layer the loaf pan. Pumpkin batter, cream cheese, pumpkin batter. 
6. Bake for 50 – 60 minutes until golden brown. Let cool.
7. Use the rest of the cream cheese filling for the top icing. 

No matter what you are doing this spooky season, this is the perfect treat. The creamy wine-filled center adds a little something unexpected to every bite. Pour a glass of Missouri wine and enjoy a slice of spooky season sweetness!