Pumpkin Bread

This pumpkin bread recipe makes a soft loaf with lots of pumpkin and spice flavor! It’s easy to make and made with butter, instead of oil. If you’re wondering how to make pumpkin bread, this simple recipe is for you!

Side view of three slices of Pumpkin Bread leaning against the remainder of the Pumpkin Bread loaf

Easy Homemade Pumpkin Bread

Pumpkin bread is one of the best things to enjoy in the fall and it’s even better when it’s homemade. You can have it for a snack, dessert and I’d even classify it as breakfast. It’s like an all-around food in my book, meaning I get to eat delicious pumpkin-ness ALL DAY LONG. Bring on the pumpkin!

And as an added bonus – it’s super easy to make! Just make the batter, pop it into two loaf pans, bake it and let it cool. Or skip the cooling. You can totally eat it warm.

Point is, aside from the length of baking time, this pumpkin bread will go from your mixer to your mouth with little effort.

Two halves of Pumpkin Bread on top of another slice of Pumpkin Bread on a white plate

Notes on Ingredients

Butter vs. Oil – I much preferred the flavor and texture when using butter. Pumpkin bread is naturally dense and being able to cream the butter with the sugar and eggs to add air and rise lends a more tender crumb than a bread made with oil.

Pumpkin Puree – There is a good bit of pumpkin in this bread and it sure has lots of flavor, but it also doesn’t go overboard.

Spices – This recipe is full of pumpkin spice! Equal amounts of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves will make your kitchen smell like autumn.

White Sugar vs. Brown Sugar – Brown sugar uses molasses for its flavor and color and it just isn’t necessary here. There’s so much flavor from all the pumpkin and spices, I preferred the white sugar here.

Overhead view of a full loaf of Pumpkin Bread in a metal baking pan on a white table

How to Make Pumpkin Bread

  • Prep your tools. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease two 9×5 loaf pans very well with non stick baking spray.
  • Combine butter and sugar, then add the eggs one at a time. You’ll beat those all together for 2-3 minutes. You can even set a timer if you want. This process adds air to the batter that gives this pumpkin bread its superior texture.
  • Add the pumpkin puree. It may look a little separated, but that’s fine.
  • Then add the dry ingredients – flour, baking soda, baking powder and spices. Mix on low speed just until it comes together. You could even do it by hand to be sure not to over-mix it. Over-mixing can lead to tough bread.
  • Bake your bread! It takes about an hour in the oven, then you’ll let it cool for a bit. You can serve it warm or let it cool completely.

This pumpkin bread truly is amazing! It’s soft, moist for days and full of pumpkin and spice! A perfect holiday treat or gift!

Two slices of Pumpkin Bread on a white plate next to a decorative pumpkin

How to Store Pumpkin Bread

  • Counter: You can wrap your pumpkin bread tightly in plastic wrap or store in an air tight container at room temperature. It should last well for 3-4 days.
  • Fridge: You can pop it in the fridge to extend the life of the pumpkin bread to about a week.

Can You Freeze Pumpkin Bread?

You can definitely freeze pumpkin bread! Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, then foil, and pop it in a ziplock bag. I usually recommend thawing it in the fridge, but I’ve also frozen it in slices before and popped a frozen slice in the microwave for about 20 seconds and had nice, warm bread. Yum!

Speaking of slices, you can also freeze it in slices. If you think you’ll want to thaw a few slices at a time, group them that way. If you think you’ll only need one slice at a time, freeze it that way. I wrap each slice individually in plastic wrap (or in groups of two or three), then put them all in the same foil wrap and ziplock bag.

Two halves of Pumpkin Bread on top of another slice of Pumpkin Bread on a white plate

More Great Pumpkin Recipes for Fall

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Two halves of Pumpkin Bread on top of another slice of Pumpkin Bread on a white plate
Recipe

Pumpkin Bread Recipe

  • Author: Lindsay
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Yield: 2 loaves (10-12 slices per loaf)
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American

Description

This Pumpkin Bread recipe is soft, moist and full of flavor with lots of pumpkin and spice! It’s easy to make and made with butter, instead of oil.


Ingredients

  • 3 cups (390g) all purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 3/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1 1/2 tsp ground cloves
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 3 cups (621g) sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 3/4 cups (638g) pumpkin puree (about 1 1/2 cans)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease two 9×5 loaf pans very well with non stick baking spray.
  2. In a medium size 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.
  8. Divide the batter evenly between the two loaf pans and bake for 60 to 70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
  9. Remove the loaves from the oven and allow to cool for about 10 minutes and then remove to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 slice
  • Calories: 242
  • Sugar: 26 g
  • Sodium: 163.9 mg
  • Fat: 8.6 g
  • Carbohydrates: 39.8 g
  • Protein: 2.8 g
  • Cholesterol: 43.6 mg

Keywords: pumpkin bread recipe, how to make pumpkin bread, easy pumpkin bread, best pumpkin bread

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Recipe rating

93 Comments
  1. Alex

    This turned out great! Didn’t have enough butter so substituted with vegetable shortening and still came out great! Mixed in some flax meal too and added a little almond extract and vanilla

  2. Symantha

    Great recipe! Can I substitute almond flour for flour and some other kind of sweetener (like Splenda, etc.) for sugar? Due to health issues, I cannot have regular flour or sugar of any kind.

    1. Lindsay

      You want to use an egg and a half, which is obviously a little tough. You could use just the yolk or just the white, but I do find that it can sometimes change the result. The other option is to beat an egg and try to divide it in half.

    1. Lindsay

      So glad you enjoyed it! It’s hard to say for other veggies without testing them since there can be a lot of variation in moisture content, etc.

  3. Angie

    I made this wonderful recipe with fresh frozen pumpkin from last year. It is truly the “Best Pumpkin Bread” ever. I brought it sliced in individual zip lock bags for the runners at the end of my daughter’s own Thanksgiving 5K Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving. Thank You!

  4. Gabbi

    I have made this recipe countless times. Whenever we have a get together my co workers request this. It will be featured at Thanksgiving again this year.

  5. Carmen

    This pumpkin bread is AMAZING!!! I can’t keep hubby and son away from it… Looks like I need to make some more!!

  6. Lisa

    Can’t wait to try this recipe! Curious – when I printed it, it printed a 28 square inch black box (the video on that page). Drained my black ink. Did anyone else have that happen?

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