The Best Pumpkin Bread Recipe for Cozy Mornings

There’s nothing quite like the smell of pumpkin bread baking in the oven on a crisp autumn morning. This recipe creates the most incredibly moist, flavorful pumpkin bread that’s perfect for breakfast, an afternoon snack, or even dessert.

Ingredients

For the Bread:

• 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
• ⅓ cup vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
• ⅓ cup water

Optional Glaze:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 3–4 tablespoons milk
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan or line with parchment paper.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, both sugars, baking soda, salt, and all spices.
3. Combine Wet Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together oil, eggs, pumpkin puree, and water until smooth.
4. Combine: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir just until combined. Don’t overmix.
5. Bake: Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 60–70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
6. Cool: Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Tips for Perfect Pumpkin Bread

• Use real pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling
• Don’t overmix the batter to keep the bread tender
• Check for doneness with a toothpick – it should come out with just a few moist crumbs
• Store properly – wrap in plastic wrap and store at room temperature for up to 3 days

Variations

• Add chocolate chips for extra indulgence
• Include chopped walnuts for crunch
• Make muffins instead – bake at 375°F for 18–22 minutes
• Try cream cheese swirl – drop spoonfuls of sweetened cream cheese on top and swirl with a knife

This pumpkin bread freezes beautifully for up to 3 months, making it perfect for meal prep or gift-giving during the holiday season.