Pecan Praline Pumpkin Bread

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A sweet pecan praline filling is swirled into a loaf of moist and tender Pumpkin Bread for an amazing treat! Drizzled with silky brown sugar icing, you’ll want to devour half the loaf! I know I sure did!

Moist Praline Pumpkin Bread With Brown Sugar Icing

I am a massive fan of pumpkin bread. Before I crafted this loaf of pure heaven, I didn’t believe there was a way to make it better. Boy was I wrong. Laced with brown-sugary pecans, this stuff takes my Classic Pumpkin Bread to a whole new level!

The praline filling is layered into the bread itself and also baked on top of it. The layer on the inside stays moist and brown-sugary, while the top one bakes a bit more and adds a little crunch. While the bread bakes, some of the top layer collects in the center since the edges of the loaf rise before the middle.

This, my friends, is where the magic happens! As the pumpkin bread cools, it falls a little right in that area where the topping collects and becomes this pocket of soft pecan praline amazingness. When you bite into that, the pumpkin bread and the brown sugar icing together, you’ll be totally smitten.

I initially tested the loaf several times to try to get rid of that pocket since it makes the loaf fall in the middle a bit, but it’s hard to get rid of if you want the praline mixture on top. Since the loaf naturally rises on the sides first (because that’s where the heat meets the pan), and the mixture moves around, it moves into the center. I could have tried to remove some moisture from the praline mixture to get it to stay in place, but then I’d be messing up such a good thing. Since that’s pretty much my favorite part, I embraced it!

The collection of the praline layer does make it a little tough to test the bread for doneness, but it’s a tiny price to pay. That melt-in-your-mouth praline pocket on top is my favorite part!

Half a loaf of praline pumpkin bread with a few individual slices in the foreground

What You’ll Need

This luxurious loaf is made with kitchen and pantry staples. Scroll down to the recipe card for the specified amounts.

For the Pumpkin Bread

  • All-Purpose Flour
  • Baking Soda
  • Baking Powder: The mixing of baking soda and baking powder gives the best rise and texture.
  • Ground Cinnamon
  • Ground Nutmeg
  • Ground Cloves: These warm spices add wonderful flavor – don’t leave any of them out!
  • Salt
  • Unsalted Butter: Bring this to room temperature.
  • Sugar
  • Eggs: You’ll need one full egg and an extra white.
  • Pumpkin Puree: Not pumpkin pie filling.

For the Pecan Praline Topping

  • Light Brown Sugar: Packed into the measuring cup.
  • Heavy Whipping Cream: Also called heavy cream.
  • Unsalted Butter: Room temperature.
  • Chopped Pecans

For the Brown Sugar Icing

  • Unsalted Butter
  • Heavy Cream
  • Brown Sugar: Packed.
Three pieces of pecan praline pumpkin bread stacked on top of each other

How to Make Pecan Praline Pumpkin Bread

I love how the smooth brown sugar icing enhances the praline swirled into this pumpkin bread, but you can leave it off if you’d like. Just keep in mind that the top of the loaf might be a little more crumbly when you cut into it. Either way, it’ll be divine.

Prep for Baking: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan very well with nonstick baking spray.

Combine Dry Ingredients: Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and spices in a medium-sized bowl. Whisk until it’s all combined, then set the bowl aside.

Combine Butter & Sugar: Mix together the butter and sugar in a large mixer bowl just until combined.

Add Eggs: Add the eggs one at a time, mixing until well combined after each addition.

Increase Mixer Speed: Turn the mixer to medium speed and beat until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.

Add Pumpkin: Add the pumpkin puree and beat until well combined. The mixture may look a little curled and separated – that’s okay.

Add Dry Ingredients: Add the dry ingredients and mix on low speed just until combined. Do not over-mix the batter. If you need to stir it a bit more, use a spatula and do it gently by hand. Set the prepared batter aside.

The finished pumpkin bread batter in a mixing bowl with a rubber spatula

Make Praline Filling: Add all of the praline ingredients to a medium-sized bowl and stir until well combined.

The pecan praline filling in a glass mixing bowl on a marble surface

Layer Into Pan With Batter: Spread about half of the pumpkin bread batter evenly into the loaf pan. Top it with a little more than half of the pecan mixture, dropping it evenly over the batter. Add the remaining batter by dropping spoonfuls over the pecan mixture, then gently spreading it into an even layer. Drop the remaining pecan mixture evenly over the top of the batter.

Bake: Bake the bread for a total of 70-80 minutes. When the bread rises, some of the praline mixture will likely fall around the middle – to tell if the bread is done, insert a toothpick just outside of the center where the pecan topping has gathered and see if the toothpick comes out clean. The praline part won’t totally firm up during baking, which is fine, but you want the bread part to be fully baked.

Let Cool: Remove the loaf from the oven and allow it to cool to at least room temperature before you remove it from the pan.

Make Icing: Combine all of the glaze ingredients in a saucepan. Heat the mixture over medium heat until it’s melted and boiling. Let it boil for about 30 seconds, then pour it into a heat-proof bowl so it doesn’t continue cooking.

Drizzle Over Loaf: While the icing is still warm, drizzle it onto the pumpkin bread.

Enjoy! Slice and serve.

Tips for Success

Want to make sure your praline pumpkin bread comes out perfect? These helpful tips will light the way.

  • Get an Accurate Flour Measurement: Don’t scoop your measuring cup directly into the flour – this will cause it to over-pack. Instead, spoon it in little by little and level it off at the top, fluffing up the flour before picking up each spoonful. Better yet, use a food scale (like I do) to be sure it’s accurate.
  • Grease the Pan Well: It’s important to grease your loaf pan thoroughly so the finished bread can be removed with ease. I use non-stick baking spray
  • Tent the Loaf With Foil If Needed: If your oven has the tendency to over-brown things, tent the bread loosely with aluminum foil about 30 minutes into the bake time. Make sure the tent leaves room for the bread to rise.
  • Let the Bread Cool: Don’t try to remove your loaf from the pan while it’s still warm! In order to prevent breakage, wait until it fully reaches room temperature.
A loaf of homemade pumpkin bread covered in a drizzle of brown sugar icing

Storage Instructions

Keep leftover pumpkin bread in an airtight container at room temperature. It’s best if it’s eaten within 3-4 days. Warm up individual slices in the microwave for about 5 seconds before you dig in, if desired.

Does This Freeze Well?

Without the brown sugar icing on top, this pumpkin bread freezes beautifully. Simply wrap it tightly in a layer of plastic wrap and a layer of foil, then freeze it in a freezer-safe storage bag.

Enjoy your pumpkin bread within 2 months of freezing it, thawing it out in the fridge overnight before adding the icing (if desired) and enjoying. Bring it to room temperature before you serve it if you’d like.

Print
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Half a loaf of praline pumpkin bread with a few individual slices in the foreground
Recipe

Pecan Praline Pumpkin Bread

  • Author: Lindsay
  • Prep Time: 45 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
  • Yield: 12
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American

Description

A sweet pecan praline filling is swirled into a loaf of moist and tender Pumpkin Bread in this easy recipe. Drizzled with silky brown sugar icing, you’ll want to devour half the loaf!


Ingredients

For the Pumpkin Bread

  • 1 1/2 cups (195g) all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 3/4 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 3/4 tsp ground cloves
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup (112g) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cups (310g) sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 1/4 cups plus 2 tbsp (319g) pumpkin puree (about 3/4 of a can)

For the Pecan Praline Swirl

  • 1/2 cup (112g) packed light brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp (30ml) heavy whipping cream
  • 2 tbsp (28g) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 cup (107g) chopped pecans

For the Brown Sugar Icing

  • 2 tbsp (28g) unsalted butter
  • 3 tbsp (45ml) heavy cream
  • 3 tbsp (42g) brown sugar, packed

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×5 loaf pan very well with nonstick baking spray.
  2. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and spices. Whisk together to combine, then set aside.
  3. In a large mixer bowl, combine the butter and sugar and mix just until combined.
  4. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing until well combined after each addition.
  5. Turn the mixer to medium speed and beat until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes.
  6. Add the pumpkin purée and beat until well combined. The mixture may like a little curled and separated.
  7. Add the dry ingredients and mix on low speed just until combined. Do not over-mix. If you need to stir it a bit more, use a spatula and do it gently by hand. Set aside.
  8. To make the pecan topping mixture, add all the ingredients to a medium-sized bowl and stir until well combined.
  9. Spread about half of the pumpkin bread batter evenly into the loaf pan. Top it with a little more than half of the pecan mixture, dropping it evenly over the batter.
  10. Add the remaining pumpkin bread batter by dropping spoonfuls over the pecan mixture and gently spread evenly.
  11. Drop the remaining pecan mixture evenly over the top of the pumpkin bread batter.
  12. Bake for a total of 70-80 minutes. Tent it loosely after about 30 minutes, if your oven has a tendency to over-brown things. Make sure the tent leaves room for the bread to rise. When the bread rises, some of the pecan mixture may fall into the middle part of the bread, which is ok but it does make it hard to test for doneness. To tell if the bread is done, insert a toothpick just outside of the center where the pecan mixture has gathered and see if the toothpick comes out clean. The pecan mixture in the center of the bread may not totally firm up during baking, which is fine, but you want the pumpkin bread part to be fully baked. It will fall a little in the middle when it cools. It’s just the moist pecan mixture and it’s probably my favorite part of this bread.
  13. Remove from the oven and allow to cool to at least room temperature before removing from the pan.
  14. To make the glaze, combine all the ingredients in a saucepan. Heat over medium heat until melted and boiling. Boil for about 30 seconds, then pour into a heat-proof bowl so it doesn’t continue cooking.
  15. Drizzle it on the pumpkin bread while the icing is still warm.
  16. Slice the pumpkin bread and serve.

Notes

  • To Store: Store the pumpkin bread in an airtight container. It’s best if eaten within 3-4 days.
  • To Freeze: Hold off on adding the icing. Wrap the bread tightly in a layer of plastic wrap and a layer of foil, then freeze it in a freezer-safe storage bag. Enjoy within 2 months of freezing, thawing out the bread in the fridge overnight before adding the icing (if desired) and enjoying.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 387
  • Sugar: 36.6 g
  • Sodium: 145.6 mg
  • Fat: 19.9 g
  • Carbohydrates: 51.2 g
  • Protein: 3.8 g
  • Cholesterol: 49.5 mg

Categories

More Comforting Pumpkin Recipes

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6 Comments
  1. Stephanie P.

    This has been one of my favorite pumpkin quick breads ever. Subbed cardamom for cloves since I can’t have them, but otherwise spices were perfect. Will definitely make this easy bread again!






  2. 1Cookster

    I’m giving 5 stars because of the ingredients & what I’m presuming what it tastes like. This looks so wonderful to make as a gift. I would like to make this recipe in small loaf pans were they’re more individual. Can this recipe be done as muffins besides. What would be the baking time.






    1. Lindsay

      Muffins would probably be a great idea! I didn’t test them that way though, so it’s hard for me to say. I’m gonna guess around 20 minutes, give or take.

Lindsay
About Lindsay

I'm a wife and a mom to twin boys and a baby girl! And I've got a serious sweets addiction! Bring on the treats!

Scripture I’m Loving

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29