The Best Pumpkin Bread Recipe - The Perfect Autumn Treat (2024)

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This pumpkin bread recipe makes two soft, moist loaves with the perfect amount of that classic pumpkin spice flavor you know and love. It’s easy to make and so delicious. You’ll be munching on it all day long.

Table of Contents

• Easy Pumpkin Bread Recipe
• Why You’ll Love This Pumpkin Loaf
• What You’ll Need
• How To Make Homemade Pumpkin Bread
• Tips for Success
• Proper Storage
• More Easy Pumpkin Recipes
• See How to Make Pumpkin Bread
• Get the Recipe

Easy Pumpkin Bread Recipe

When the leaves turn gold and the crisp autumn air sets in, there’s no better way to embrace the spirit of the season than with a freshly baked loaf of pumpkin bread. And this is the best pumpkin bread ever! It’s so moist and tender and delivers the perfect marriage between the subtle sweetness of pumpkin puree and the warm flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. It’s easy to make and will fill your kitchen with the nostalgic scent of the holidays.

I love how beautifully simple this classic pumpkin bread is but, if you’re looking for something a little more “exciting” try my Pecan Praline Pumpkin Bread or this Cheesecake Swirl Pumpkin Bread.

Why You’ll Love This Pumpkin Loaf

You are going to love this homemade pumpkin bread. Everything from the smell to the taste to the texture is divine. Here are some of the reasons I think it’s so special.

• Just. So. Yum. The marriage between the subtly sweet pumpkin and the warm spices is just perfect here. You can taste the spices but they don’t overwhelm the palate. Plus, I used real butter instead of oil, which adds a richness and texture to the bread that is just to die for.
• Smell. I love the way the spices in this loaf light up the kitchen with the smell of autumn as it bakes. I swear you can almost taste how good it is before it even comes out of the oven.
• Wonderfully moist. This pumpkin bread is so moist and tender. It really is a treat to sink your teeth into.
• Super easy. This recipe is super straightforward and doesn’t require any complicated mixing techniques, making it perfect for both experienced and novice bakers.
• An all-day treat. You really can enjoy this moist, flavorful loaf any time of day. Have it as a snack or a dessert. Heck, you could even classify it as a breakfast item in my book.
• Mix-in friendly. While this autumn treat is delightful on its own, you can easily add your favorite mix-ins like chopped nuts, raisins, or chocolate chips to the batter for extra flavor and texture.

What You’ll Need

Here’s what you’ll need to make this easy pumpkin bread. Don’t forget to scroll to the recipe card below for precise measurements.

• All-purpose flour – Be sure to measure it properly, with either a food scale or the spoon and level method. Too much flour can ruin your pumpkin loaf.
• Leavening – The combination of baking soda and baking powder gives you the best rise and texture.
• Spices – Cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves give this pumpkin bread the perfect amount of fall spice!
• Salt – For flavor.
• Unsalted butter – The butter should be softened at room temperature. Otherwise, it won’t cream properly with the sugar and eggs.
• Sugar – I used all white sugar here. Some people will add brown sugar to their pumpkin bread for a slightly deeper, more molasses-y flavor but I don’t think it’s necessary.
• Eggs – Be sure to use large eggs, not medium or extra large.
• Pumpkin puree – I highly recommend canned puree. Also, be sure to use pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling.

How To Make Homemade Pumpkin Bread

Here comes a quick look at how to make homemade pumpkin bread. Be sure to scroll to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions.

• Prep. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease two 9×5 loaf pans with nonstick baking spray.
• Combine the dry ingredients. Whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and spices.
• Combine the wet ingredients. Beat the butter and sugar together and then mix in the eggs, one at a time.

• Cream. Beat the wet ingredients on medium speed until light and fluffy.
• Add the pumpkin. Mix the pumpkin puree with the wet ingredients.
• Put it all together. Mix the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients.

• Bake. Divide the batter between the two loaf pans and bake for 60-70 minutes.
• Cool. Allow the loaves to cool in their pans for a few minutes before turning them out onto a cooling rack to cool completely.

Tips for Success

Here come some tips and tricks that will help you get this easy pumpkin bread recipe right the first time. Happy baking!

• Grease your pans. Not just a little. A lot. You really want to get in there with some non-stick cooking spray as these pumpkin loaves have a tendency to stick to their pans.
• Room temperature butter. Allow the butter to soften at room temperature before using it. Cold (or overly melted butter) will not cream properly with the sugar and eggs. This can give you an overly dense loaf.
• Don’t skimp on cream time. When creaming together the butter, sugar, and eggs, do so until you see that the mixture has significantly lightened in color and has become nice and fluffy. This adds air to the batter, helping to ensure that you don’t end up with an overly dense loaf.
• No over-mixing allowed. Unless you want tough, dense pumpkin bread. Over-mixing after adding the dry ingredients to the batter can cause the glutens in the flour to overdevelop, making the finished product tough and much less pleasant to bite into.
• Remember that baking is a science. In order to get the right texture and rise out of your pumpkin bread, you want to treat this recipe as a high-stakes science project. Measure meticulously (I suggest using a food scale, especially for the flour) and use an oven thermometer to make sure your oven is preheated to the proper temperature.
• Patience. Once you put the bread in the oven, keep the oven door closed. It can be tempting to check on the progress of your loaf but letting cool air in can cause the bread to collapse. So be patient.

Proper Storage

• Counter. Once it has cooled completely, wrap the pumpkin bread tightly in plastic wrap or seal it in an air-tight container. Store it at room temperature for up to 4 days.
• Refrigerator. If you would like to give your pumpkin bread a slightly longer shelf life, allow it to cool completely before wrapping it in plastic wrap or sealing it in an airtight container. Store it in the fridge for up to 1 week. Note that the cool temperatures of the refrigerator might dry the bread out a bit.
• Freezer. Allow the bread to cool to room temperature before wrapping it (either the whole loaf or individual slices) in plastic wrap and then in foil. Pop the bread in a ziplock bag and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before indulging.

More Easy Pumpkin Recipes

Fall is in the air and I am in a pumpkin mood. Here are some of my absolute favorite pumpkin-y recipes for you to try out. Let me know which is your favorite.

• Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake
• Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Cinnamon Streusel Pumpkin Coffee Cake
• Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
• Pumpkin Cheesecake
• Classic Pumpkin Pie

See How to Make Pumpkin Bread

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