Pumpkin Bread
Published on October 07, 2022
Quick Summary
This is the BEST Pumpkin Bread Recipe, a fall favorite! The bread is moist, perfectly spiced, and has a sweet sugary topping. It is easy to make and your house will smell amazing while it’s baking!
I LOVE baking quick breads, hello, banana bread, lemon zucchini bread, chocolate banana bread, just to name a few.
During the fall months, I love making Pumpkin Bread. I love my pumpkin chocolate chip bread recipe, but sometimes you just want classic pumpkin loaf and this one is the BEST!
The bread is super moist and bursting with warm spices. The crunchy, sugary top is addicting and will have you coming back for another slice.
Enjoy the bread for breakfast, brunch, a sweet snack, or even dessert. It is a great bread for Halloween, Thanksgiving, fall parties, or EVERY day!
Bonus, it freezes well too! I love keeping a loaf in the freezer for emergencies…when company stops by or when I am craving pumpkin!
Table of Contents
Bread Ingredients
- Flour– use all-purpose flour.
- Baking soda– check the date to make sure it’s fresh.
- Salt– to enhance the flavors of the bread.
- Spices– cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves! The perfect fall combo! If you want to substitute pumpkin spice, you can, but I like using the individual spices because I think the flavors stand out more in the bread. If you are going to use pumpkin spice, use 1 tablespoon in place of the spices.
- Pumpkin– use pumpkin puree, 100% pure pumpkin. It is usually located in the baking aisle. Libby’s is a popular brand. You will need 1 cup, a 15 oz can will be enough.
- Sugar– brown sugar and granulated sugar
- Eggs– at room temperature
- Butter– melted and slightly cooled
- Oil– you can use vegetable, canola, or even melted coconut oil
- Buttermilk– to make the bread super moist.
- Vanilla extract– my favorite!
- Turbinado sugar– for sprinkling on bread
How to Make Pumpkin Bread
This is quick bread is very easy to make and your house will smell like fall! It’s a win-win!
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a loaf pan generously with nonstick cooking spray or butter. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, brown sugar, sugar, eggs, melted butter, oil, buttermilk, and vanilla extract.
- Add the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Don’t over mix the batter.
- Pour the pumpkin batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth with a spatula. Sprinkle generously with turbinado sugar.
- Place the loaf pan in the oven and bake for 45 to 60 minutes, depending on your oven. The loaf is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Remove the pan from the oven and place on a cooling rack. Cool for 10 minutes in the pan. Use a butter knife to loosen the bread in the pan. Turn over and carefully remove the bread from the pan.
- Let the bread cool completely on the cooling rack. When cool, slice with a serrated knife.
Can You add Chocolate Chips?
Of course, you can add chocolate chips! Pumpkin chocolate chip bread is a THING. People go crazy for anything pumpkin chocolate chip (like these cookies) and I understand why, it is SO good!
Pumpkin and chocolate are a match made in heaven. If you want to add chocolate chips, stir in 1 cup of semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips after you add the dry ingredients.
You can also stir in a cup of chopped pecans, walnuts, dried cranberries, or raisins.
How to Store & Freeze
I think this pumpkin bread is even better the second day. Sure, you have to enjoy a fresh slice of bread, but try to save some for the next day. All of the flavors set in and the bread gets even moister. It is worth the wait and a great recipe that you can make in advance for parties or breakfast the next day.
To store the bread, wrap the cooled bread in plastic wrap and keep on the counter for up to four days.
This bread also freezes beautifully. Wrap the cooled bread in plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Defrost before slicing. You can also keep slices of the pumpkin bread in the freezer. To reheat, just pop in the toaster and slather with butter, that part is optional but SO good:)
Can You Double the Recipe?
YES! You are going to love this recipe so much that I know you are going to want two loaves. One loaf for you and one loaf for a friend…or two loaves for you, I won’t tell anyone:) You can easily double this recipe. You will need two loaf pans. Bake both loaves at the same time, on the middle rack in the oven.
You can also make mini loaves or muffins, just reduce the baking time!
More Pumpkin Bread Recipes:
Pumpkin Bread
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 cup pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling
- 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1/4 cup melted butter, slightly cooled
- 1/4 cup canola or vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup water or buttermilk
- 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- Turbinado sugar, for sprinkling on bread
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a loaf pan generously with nonstick cooking spray or butter. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, brown sugar, sugar, eggs, melted butter, oil, buttermilk, and vanilla extract.
- Add the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Don’t over mix the batter.
- Pour the pumpkin batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth with a spatula. Sprinkle generously with turbinado sugar.
- Place the loaf pan in the oven and bake for 45 to 60 minutes, depending on your oven. The loaf is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Remove the pan from the oven and place on a cooling rack. Cool for 10 minutes in the pan. Use a butter knife to loosen the bread in the pan. Turn over and carefully remove the bread from the pan. Let the bread cool completely on the cooling rack. When cool, slice with a serrated knife.
Notes
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?
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I just wrote this recipe as one of my favorite things of 2020 ๐
hi is this salted or unsalted butter? Thank you!
I use unsalted.
One of my favourite punpkin bread recipes. Really moist and full of flavour.
So.. I was distracted while making this loaf and after it was in the oven, I was cleaning up and looked for the egg shells to throw away. Annnddd no shells. I forgot to add the eggs. So I freaked a bit but it was too late to add them so I baked as required and hoped for the best.
Amazingly? The bread is perfect. Moist, spicy and not crumbly at all! So I guess it can be made eggless for those with egg allergies!
Ha! Thanks for sharing! I am glad it still worked.
Trying this today! How long should I cook it if using a 9×5 pan (instead of 8×4)? Thanks!
I plan on trying this very soon. I try to wait until October 1st and instead, get in a lot of apple baking in September. This bread recipe might be too tempting.
I made your blueberry banana bread this past week. I was able to get three small loaves for gifting from that one recipe. I almost always bake in smaller loaf pans so I can gift one and keep one. Given the flour amounts listed, I am guessing I might e able to get three loaves from the pumpkin recipe. I might just have to sprinkle the top with fall jimmies. I love putting sprinkles on whatever I can…adds a fun cheerfulness.
Thanks for sharing!
I try to wait until October, but I never can. I love pumpkin too much! I hope you love this bread. TI will have to try sprinkles next time:)
Hi Maria- love all your recipes. Can I bake this in a 9×5? BTW your chocolate banana bread is my husbandโs favorite!!
Yes, a 9×5 pan will work too! Check it early, baking times vary with different pans and ovens! I am so glad you love the chocolate banana bread. This is a good one too!
I can’t wait to bake this ….but I can’t find on the recipe how you prepare the pumpkin….do you steam it before hand !
I use canned pumpkin puree. I am sure you could use real pumpkin, I haven’t tried it.
Yummy but my bread did not rise and look like the photo. Does it need baking powder?
No, the recipe doesn’t need baking powder. Did you over mix?
Best ever!
Can this be made gluten free? Will it come out as good?
I have had success with using Cup4Cup gluten free flour for an even switch.
This bread was delicious! I added 3/4 cup golden raisins tossed in the flour mixture so they would not sink and folded in 1 cup chopped walnuts. Was really moist and spices were just right.
This was the best recipe ever. Big hit even with my fussy 9 year old daughter. Thank you!
When do you mix in the buttermilk? Thanks
See step 3.
Oops, so sorry, this is like my 3rd or 4th time making this wonderful bread, I should know this. Thank you.
Love this. Made in three mini pans. Took 35 minutes. Added raisins to one. Thanks!
Delicious! Made 3 mini loaves. One with raisins. Thanks
We love this bread! I havre lost track if how many times i have made this.
Do u cook and use fresh pumpkin why can’t you use the pumpkin pie filling in can
You want to use pumpkin puree from the can which is 100% pure pumpkin and NOT pumpkin pie filling in a can that has added sugar.
I made your standard pumpkin bread, in a 9×9″ pan changing out the sugars for Truvia, as I cannot have sugar. Perfect! I usually do not like to rate something I make that I changed, but this was the only way I could have it and maybe I’ll have others who need to change out the sugars.
I love your site and your recipes, so good!
Thanks for sharing!
Baked this for a gift and it was delicious! Very moist with such a great flavor. Will be making many more.
Yay!
My new go-to recipe!
YAY!
This pumpkin bread is so delicious and makes the house smell amazing while itโs baking! I subbed Cup 4 Cup flour to make it gluten free and it worked great!
Glad you loved it!
Excited to make this for college care packages this fall. What do you think is the best way to package it for shipping? Just made your banana chocolate chip bread today too. Delish!
I would wrap it well in plastic wrap and then foil or put in a ziploc bag. Package with bubble wrap or crumbled newspaper, etc. so it doesn’t get banged up! Ship priority!