Pumpkin Bread

If you love pumpkin, you HAVE to try this easy pumpkin bread recipe! Moist, warmly spiced, and filled with pumpkin flavor, it's the perfect fall treat.

Pumpkin Bread

Once I tried this pumpkin bread recipe, I finally understood what all the fall pumpkin hype was about. To be honest, I didn’t get it for a long time. Why go crazy for pumpkin when apples, sweet potatoes, and hundreds of amazing types of squash (spaghetti, delicata, acorn, and butternut, to name a few) are in peak season too? Enter: this pumpkin bread recipe. Super moist, warmly spiced, and filled with delicious pumpkin flavor, it totally won me over to team pumpkin.

I typically crave pumpkin bread at two times of day: in the morning for breakfast or in the afternoon with a coffee or tea. Because I wanted this recipe to be one I could feel good about enjoying first thing in the morning, I made it on the healthy side. Honestly, it’s the best pumpkin bread I’ve had! It’s lightly sweet, so the bold, spiced flavors really shine through. And though it’s wonderfully moist, it’s not too rich, so I have no problem polishing off a generous slice (or two). If pumpkin season means having this recipe on repeat for a while, I’m 100% on board.

Pumpkin bread recipe ingredients

Healthy Pumpkin Bread Recipe Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this healthy pumpkin bread recipe:

  • Pumpkin, of course! My loaf uses a full cup of pumpkin puree, which gives it the perfect moist texture and adds delicious pumpkin flavor.
  • All-purpose flour and whole wheat flour Spoon and level them to avoid packing too much into your measuring cup.
  • Vegetable oil – For moisture and richness. Another neutral oil, such as avocado or canola oil, would work here too!
  • Almond milk – Or whatever type of milk you keep on hand. Regular milk and my homemade oat milk are both great choices.
  • Baking powder, baking soda, and eggs – They help the loaf puff up as it bakes.
  • Cane sugar – For sweetness.
  • Cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice – For warm, cozy fall flavor.
  • Vanilla extract – It enhances the spices’ warm flavor.
  • And sea salt – To make all the flavors pop!

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

Hand pouring almond milk into bowl of wet ingredients for pumpkin bread recipe

How to Make Pumpkin Bread

This pumpkin bread recipe is so easy to make! Here’s how it goes:

First, make the batter. Whisk together the wet ingredients in one bowl and the dry ingredients in another.

Hand whisking wet ingredients in a mixing bowl

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Don’t overmix, or the pumpkin bread will be dense.

Adding dry ingredients to wet ingredients in mixing bowl

Then, bake. Pour the batter into a greased loaf pan and bake at 350°F until the top springs back to the touch and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes.

Hand using spatula to stir batter for healthy pumpkin bread recipe

Let the quick bread cool completely before slicing and serving.

Finally, enjoy! Devour a slice plain, or slather it with butter, honey butter, or almond butter. Leftover pumpkin bread will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

For longer storage, wrap slices in aluminum foil or plastic wrap, and freeze for up to 3 months. Allow the slices to thaw at room temperature, or unwrap and defrost them in the microwave for about 30 seconds.

Pouring pumpkin bread batter into loaf pan

Pumpkin Bread Recipe Variations

Do you like nuts, fruit, or chocolate in your pumpkin bread? Feel free to adapt this recipe to suit your tastes. Here are a few fun ways to change it up:

  • Add some crunch. Stir in 1/2 cup of your favorite chopped nuts, and sprinkle some on top. Chopped pecans or walnuts would be especially good!
  • Make it fruity. Fold 1/2 cup dried cranberries, dried tart cherries, raisins, or chopped dates into the batter.
  • Go the chocolate route. Fold 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips into the batter. Scatter more on top for good measure!
  • Swap the spices. I love the cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice in this pumpkin bread recipe, but other warming spices would be wonderful here too. Substitute ground cloves for the allspice, add a dash of ground ginger, or replace the individual spices with a tablespoon of pumpkin pie spice!
  • Frost it. Craving a more decadent treat? Slather this loaf with my tangy cream cheese frosting!
  • Make it vegan. Substitute 4 tablespoons ground flaxseed and 6 tablespoons warm water for the eggs. This version isn’t quite as puffy, but it’s still delicious.

Let me know what variations you try!

And if you have pumpkin puree leftover, use it to make pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin waffles, or a pumpkin spice latte!

Pumpkin bread recipe

More Favorite Easy Baking Recipes

If you love this homemade pumpkin bread, try one of these easy baking recipes next:

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Pumpkin Bread

rate this recipe:
4.87 from 184 votes
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Serves 8
The BEST pumpkin bread recipe! A delicious fall treat, it's super moist and warmly spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease an 8x4-inch loaf pan.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose and whole wheat flours, the cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, almond milk, sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla until smooth.
  • Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until just combined. Do not overmix. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the top springs back to the touch and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Notes

*Alternatively, replace both flours with whole wheat pastry flour. I like Bob’s Red Mill.
**Make this recipe vegan: In a small bowl, whisk together 4 tablespoons ground flaxseed and 6 tablespoons warm water. Let it sit for 5 minutes, until thickened, and use in place of the eggs.

 

278 comments

4.87 from 184 votes (122 ratings without comment)

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Rate this recipe (after making it)




  1. Francesca Fletcher
    11.20.2024

    Hi, My pumpkin bread is in the oven right now. You mentioned in the directions vanilla but I couldn’t find an amount anywhere. I hope it still turns out ok. That might be why some people are saying its not tasting great. Thanks!

  2. Seth
    11.17.2024

    how large of a can of pumpkin puree? I assume the recipe calls for 15 oz, but I just want to be sure

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      11.18.2024

      Hi Seth it’s 1 cup of pumpkin puree – so if you get a 15 ounce can you wouldn’t use quite all of it.

  3. Edith
    11.01.2024

    2 stars
    This is the 1st time 1 of your recipes has disappointed. Flat, no flavor, very oily. I suggest to other bakers that you HUGELY increase the spices, definitely add ginger (I used fresh but apparently not enough).

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      11.01.2024

      Hi Edith, thanks for your comment! This bread should be puffy and moist, not flat. Did you change anything about the recipe?

    • Dee Robbins
      11.01.2024

      2 stars
      agree with the above. I’d increase the spices. Seemed like I tasted the baking powder too much too

  4. Sharon
    10.28.2024

    5 stars
    Just made this today for a ladies dinner and it was a hit! So moist and delicious. I used only whole wheat flour and used soy milk since it was the only milk in my fridge. It turned out wonderfully! Everyone said it was so good! Thanks for the recipe, I will definitely make it again!

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      11.01.2024

      Hi Sharon, I’m so glad you loved it!

  5. Michelle
    10.27.2024

    5 stars
    Excellent pumpkin bread with common pantry ingredients. I subbed apple sauce for the oil & was thrilled with the results. Everyone asked for more!

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      10.28.2024

      Hi Michelle, I’m so glad it was a hit!

  6. Jess
    10.26.2024

    Would this work with almond or oat flour? Thank you

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      10.28.2024

      Hi Jess, I probably wouldn’t sub 100% almond flour or oat flour, but it might work to replace some of the AP or whole wheat flour with almond. I would start with a ratio of 1 cup AP flour to 1/2 cup almond. If you need the recipe to be gluten-free, you could use a 1 to 1 gluten-free flour blend in place of the AP flour.

  7. Elle
    10.24.2024

    Hi!
    What are the baking instructions if I want to make this into muffins?

    Thank you!!

      • Elle
        10.25.2024

        Thank you!! What dairy-free milk work you swap in that recipe for regular milk? 😊

        • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
          10.28.2024

          Hi Elle, almond milk is our go-to.

          • Elle
            10.29.2024

            Thank you!!!

      • Patty
        11.19.2024

        5 stars
        It’s the same recipe as the pumpkin muffins except the muffins use coconut oil. They were delicious! Added chocolate chips to 1/2 the batch to mix it up a bit. I’m looking forward to trying the pumpkin bread too!

        Btw, the roasted delicata squash and apples is my FAVORITE. Awesome fall recipe. Will be made for the Thanksgiving!

        • Jeanine Donofrio
          11.20.2024

          I’m so glad you loved the delicata squash!

  8. Lauren Raymond
    10.23.2024

    If I add zuchinni to this pumpkin recipe do I need to eliminate an ingredient, such as the milk? Of how would I add zuchinni to this recipe? Thanks!

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      11.01.2024

      Hi Lauren, we’ve never tried adding zucchini to this loaf, but it might work to use it in place of the milk. You might also enjoy our zucchini bread recipe (you could try using pumpkin in place of some of the oil there!).

  9. Ella
    10.20.2024

    5 stars
    Probably the best pumpkin bread recipe I’ve ever made. Moist, flavourful, and easy. It baked very evenly so the outside wasn’t too dark. I opted for entirely whole wheat flour, used 2% milk and sunflower oil, and added a cinnamon/sugar/walnut layer in the centre. Thank you for this recipe – will be making on repeat!

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      11.01.2024

      I’m so glad you loved it, Ella! The cinnamon sugar-walnut layer sounds amazing.

  10. Sheila
    10.11.2024

    5 stars
    Made the vegan version of this pumpkin bread and it was delicious! It’s moist with great flavor from the spices. Was wondering, would it would work well as a muffin recipe? If so, what would the baking time be adjusted to?
    Thank you for this great recipe😊

    • AnnA
      11.04.2024

      What size can of pumpkin do you use?

      • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
        11.09.2024

        Hi, you need 1 cup canned pumpkin puree for this recipe, or most of a standard (15-ounce) can.

  11. marie
    10.09.2024

    How much pumpkin puree. different size cans are available. Cup size would give a better indication.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      10.09.2024

      Hi Marie, 1 cup, the measurements are listed in the recipe card at the bottom of the post. I hope you enjoy!

A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.