The BEST Pumpkin Bread
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This is the best pumpkin bread ever! Tender, moist and delicious and loaded with warm spices. It’s just like your Mom used to make! It’s a classic recipe will make you two loaves to snack on all fall. Enjoy one loaf now and learn how to freeze the second loaf to enjoy later.
There’s something about the smell of pumpkin the fall. It is so comforting! I just love it when my husband “smells like fall”, don’t you? The perfect way to achieve that is to make a delicious loaf of pumpkin bread! Well, actually this recipe makes two loaves, so you can either share it with a friend, eat two loaves or freeze one of them!
This recipe was my grandma’s and I stole it out of my mom’s recipe cards. Don’t worry I copied it and left her a copy! Another one of her recipes I’m always sure to make is Zucchini Bread.
Why this recipe works:
- Only requires one bowl!
- Makes two loaves so you can enjoy one and share one or freeze the second loaf.
- Your house will smell like fall!
- Tender, moist and delicious bread with the perfect amount of spice.
Ingredients Needed
If you’d rather skip my (very helpful, I think) tips and tricks, essential cooking info, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to this easy quick bread recipe – simply scroll to the bottom of the page where you can find the printable recipe card.
- Flour – Just grab the all-purpose flour for this bread.
- Sugar – We use plain old granulate white sugar.
- Baking soda – Makes it rise!
- Salt
- Cinnamon and Nutmeg – Compliment the pumpkin for the perfect amount of fall spice.
- Pumpkin Puree – Make sure you grab the pumpkin puree in the can not the pumpkin pie filling.
- Vegetable oil – Adds moisture and lightens up the crumb.
- Eggs
Steps to Prepare
- Preheat oven – Simply preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Prepare Loaf Pans – Spray your loaf pans with nonstick spray and set aside.
- Combine ingredients – Grab a mixing bowl and mix pumpkin, oil, eggs and water until completely combined. Add in dry ingredients and mix until combined.
- Pour into loaf pans – Take your batter and spoon it evenly between your loaf pans.
- Bake – Place loaf pans in preheated oven and bake 60-65 minutes. Remove from oven and cool 10 minutes before removing from pan. Allow to completely cool on wire rack.
How do you tell when it is done?
You’ll want to look for the bread to start pulling away from the pan. Another way to test if quick bread is done is to use a toothpick and insert it in the middle of the bread loaf. It should come out with just a few moist crumbs clinging to it.
You could also use an instant read thermometer to test the internal temperature, which should be 190 degrees F.
Why didn’t it rise?
If you overfill your loaf pan your it may not rise. This is because the batter reaches the top of the pan, still needs to rise and then collapses.
Another reason could be that you leavening agent (baking soda) is stale. Check your expiration date!
How long is it good for?
Cover you bread with plastic wrap or place in a plastic bag once it is cool to prevent it from drying out.
If you properly store it your bread will last 1-2 days at room temperature.
If you store it in the refrigerator it will last up to 1 week.
How to Freeze
Another option is to freeze the bread. First, wrap cooled bread tightly with aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap and then place in a heavy duty freezer bag. You can store it in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.
More Pumpkin Recipes!
There are so many fall recipes to make with pumpkin!
- If you still have zucchini to use up from the garden I love the combo of pumpkin and zucchini in this quick Pumpkin Zucchini Bread.
- Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Bake is a quick and easy breakfast treat perfect for weekday treats before the kids head off to school or on a lazy weekend morning!
- Don’t forget about the delicious pumpkin roll. This quick and easy post will show you How to make a Pumpkin Roll!
WATCH THE STEP BY STEP VIDEO FOR THIS RECIPE BELOW:
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Pumpkin Bread
Video
Ingredients
- 3 1/3 c. all-purpose flour
- 3 c. sugar
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 15 oz can pumpkin
- 1 c. vegetable oil
- 4 eggs
- 2/3 c. water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare two 5x9x3 inch loaf pans with non-stick spray, set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl combine pumpkin, oil, eggs and water. Mix in dry ingredients. Mix until combined. Spoon into loaf pans.
- Bake for 60-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
- Cool for 10 minutes and remove from pan to wire rack.
Hannah F says
Have you ever tried adding cream cheese in? Could I do this and it turn out the same?
Brooke Kill says
Yes, I think you should be able to add it in.
Johanna says
Made this today, I added some walnut pcs
Still baking as I’m writing this
Julie Evink says
Hope you enjoyed it!
Esther says
Why pumpkin bread came out a very dark color. Not a pu.pkin color like your picture. It was very moist and delicious.
Jacqueline Wilde says
My go to every year!! So moist and delicious.
Sharon says
Julie, Is it possible to use Stevia instead of granulated sugar in these recipes? My son is a type 1 diabetic and would love to eat some of these sweet breads. He is really missing eating some of these recipes.
Julie Evink says
Hi Sharon, I have only baked with the Truvia baking substitute not Stevia. The Truvia works but I’m not sure if he can have that?
sandy says
can you use sweet potato instead of pumpkin?
Julie Evink says
I’m sorry I’ve never tested it with sweet potato.
Willa Hill says
Found this recipe for sweet potato bread.
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/6666/sweet-potato-bread-i/
Karin says
Absolutely the best and easiest pumpkin bread around!!!
Julie Evink says
Wonderful to hear Karin! Thanks so much for commenting and rating this recipe!
Jane says
Can you make them as muffins?
Julie Evink says
Yes or just use my pumpkin muffin recipe – https://www.julieseatsandtreats.com/pumpkin-muffins/
Paula says
Wonder if I can use unsweetened applesauce in place of oil
Julie Evink says
I’m sorry I have never tested it that way, but if you do I’d love to hear your results!
Melissa Mayer says
Amazingly delicious and super easy!
Julie Evink says
Wonderful to hear Melissa! Thanks for rating and commenting on the recipe!
EMILY S HORNEV says
The VERY BEST EVER!!!! I did add chopped walnuts
Julie Evink says
Wonderful to hear Emily!!