What recipe makes my Pumpkin Bread a Fall Favorite?
My Faithful Pumpkin Bread Recipe
By now you know that I love pumpkin. Making food with pumpkin is how I connect best with the season of autumn. Every year tradition calls me to make pumpkin bread at least once. My kids love it and are always asking me to make it.
I’ve been using the same faithful recipe for almost 30 years. Of course, I’ve tried other recipes, such as one calling for cream cheese to give the pumpkin bread more of a cheesecake finish. Another recipe suggested chopping up and dropping in some stem ginger to give a stronger spicy flavor.
I’m always looking for new pumpkin bread recipes. Yet I keep coming back to my trusted recipe inspired by a Very Tasty Pumpkin Nut Bread recipe offered by Karen Clark in the Napa County Legal Secretaries Association Cookbook (1987-88). Some of my favorite recipes come from recipe compilations like this one published to raise money for a non-profit organisation.
Why not make a Second Loaf of Pumpkin Bread?
I usually make two loaves of this tasty Pumpkin Bread so we can enjoy the extra loaf another time. If I don’t trust our willpower, I might wrap the second loaf and freeze it for a later time. For picnics or snacks on the go, I pour the batter into muffin tins with paper lining so we have lots of individual portions.
This Pumpkin Bread is delicious as is or with walnuts or pecans added. I love it with walnuts but unfortunately am overruled most times by my kids. I therefore save the nut version for when I’m feeling especially rebellious.
Try this recipe soon and let me know what you think. Remember to share it with your friends and on social media. Hope you enjoy it!
To discover more of my recipes featuring pumpkin click on this link. All of them are tried and proven to be yummy!
Pumpkin Bread
Ingredients
- 55 g butter
- 110 g raw cane sugar
- 110 g brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 360 g pumpkin puree (made from 600 g raw pumpkin)
- 250 g all purpose flour or 1/2 white flour, 1/2 whole-wheat flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1.5 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg ground
- 120 ml milk
- 120 g nuts (pecans or walnuts) chopped (optional)
- 1 tsp cinnamon sugar
Instructions
- Prepare the pumpkin puree using raw pumpkin or an equivalent amount of canned pumpkin. If you are preparing your own pumpkin puree, be sure to leave the cooked pumpkin in a strainer over a bowl until it cools off. Press out the excess liquid with a wooden spoon. Better not to have this extra liquid in the bread. Be sure however to keep this pumpkin juice as it is delicious to drink as is, added in smoothies, soups or other preparations.
- In a bowl, cream the butter and sugar together.
- Add the eggs, one egg at a time, beating after each egg is added.
- Add the pureed pumpkin into this wet mix. Stir.
- In a separate bowl (I usually use a measuring cup), mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg together.
- Add 1/3 of the flour mixture to the wet mixture, mixing gently. Add 1/3 of the milk to the wet mixture and mix gently. Continue to add 1/3 of each flour mixture and milk in this manner until all flour and milk are used. No need to beat a long time or hard. Mix as you would for muffins or pancakes, just enough to mix together.
- If you are using nuts, chop them and add them now. Fold in the nuts by mixing gently. (Roasting the nuts in the oven a few minutes or heating them in a pan on the stove a couple minutes will bring out their flavor if you prefer).
- Grease (with butter) a 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan (equivalent to about 2 liter pan). Add a little flour and shake around the sides until all butter is lightly covered with flour. This will help the bread come out at the end. If you want an extra treat, you can use raw cane sugar instead of the flour. This will give a nice crust all over.
- Pour the batter into the pan and shake until spread equally in the pan. If you are using the cinnamon sugar, sprinkle this evenly on top of the filled pan to add extra flavor and sweetness to your finished pumpkin bread.
- Bake in the middle of oven at 180°C / 350°F for about 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. If you are making two loaves and baking at same time, bake for 65 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. If you are making pumpkin muffins, bake 25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
- Remove from oven and let cool about 15 minutes before removing them from the pan. Let cool completely on a cooling grill. Serve and enjoy!
Your pumpkin cake looks moist and bursting with flavor.. I love the fact that you have used fresh pumpkins too! Cheers
Enjoy this recipe, Hadia. Using fresh pumpkin is so much easier than we often think. Thanks!
I love tried and true recipes! They have a reason for withstanding the pass of time!
I also love tried and true recipes. Sometimes they come from the least glamorous sources….Thanks!
I bet this smells delicious while baking! We love all things made from pumpkin!
I also love all things pumpkin. My kids love most things pumpkin but get sick of it mid-way through the season. Pumpkin bread and pumpkin pie are probably the two exceptions. It does smell great! Try it and see!
Pumpkin bread is a favorite at our house too, yours looks so good, I never made my own pumpkin puree before, I will have to try it next time!
Hi Joy, if you can get your hands on fresh pumpkin, making puree does not take much time. If you can’t the canned pumpkin will also work. Enjoy it!
I love using pumpkin as an ingredient. So healthful. I would love a thick slice of this bread with butter melting all over it. YUM!
Hi KC, a thick slice toasted with some butter is delicious….I personally enjoy it warm with some jam.
Everyone needs one great pumpkin bread recipe and I think I just found mine!
Thanks, Heidy! I appreciate the kind words! Enjoy this recipe and pass it on….
I’ve found some of the best recipes in cookbooks that were put together for charity organizations. I find that people share some of their best recipes in these books. Pinning to give this recipe a try.
Hi Erlene, I agree about these charity cookbooks. Not only do people often add their favorite recipes, sometimes they also add family recipes that are unique treasures. Enjoy the pumpkin bread!