Moist Pumpkin Bread

Our easy moist pumpkin bread recipe uses one surprise ingredient to make it the moistest bread you will ever make! Make 1 loaf or bake into Libbys pumpkin muffins for breakfast or a fun Fall dessert.

1 Loaf Pumpkin Bread Recipe

I have baked pumpkin bread from scratch and have also bought it in a box. Come this time of month you can find quick bread mixes at the grocery stores. Homemade is always best though I say, especially during the holidays when you want to hunker down and bake.

This loaf is a must at Thanksgiving and Christmas brunch. I have tried to fool my family by making Pumpkin Bread with Spice Cake Mix a time or two (which is good if you don’t have time) but there is no substitute for the real thing so I suggest you make a loaf of this this weekend.

Moist Pumpkin Bread Ingredients

You want to start off with Canned pumpkin or you can make homemade. This is not the same as pumpkin pie mix as that has seasonings already mixed in and is made for pies and not baking bread with it.

• All purpose flour is the base of the dry ingredients
• Sugar and brown sugar make it sweet
• Eggs are best added room temperature but if you forget don’t worry
• Baking powder allows it to rise fluffy
• Vegetable oil is typically what I use
• Milk – vitamin D is best, or use dairy free alternative
• Pumpkin pie spice and other spices
• Nuts or cranberries are optional

Is canned or homemade pumpkin puree better?

It all starts with that orange can if you want to make this quick but homemade pumpkin puree is always best if you have the time to start totally from scratch. There are usually two brands at the store, this and store brand. Occasionally you might find another organic version at Trader Joes or other specialty grocery stores.

What can you use instead of vegetable oil?

There are alternatives you can use instead of oil to bake sweet breads, overripe bananas is probably our favorite. That turns out more like our pumpkin banana bread recipe. Other options would be plain Greek yogurt, applesauce or even mayonnaise.

Can you bake Pumpkin Bread into Muffins?

You can use this same batter to bake quicker into mini pumpkin muffins in 11 minutes, regular size in a muffin pan like our 2 ingredient pumpkin muffins in 18 minutes or jumbo. Tips to know when they are done remain the same, they just take less time to get the same result. AND there is no slicing required which is great.

What can you add to homemade pumpkin bread?

In addition to the main ingredients you can of course include about 1/2 cup of additions. White chocolate chips or mini semi-sweet can be a nice touch too. You can see our pumpkin cranberry bread above that turned out great.

• Chopped nuts such as walnuts or even roasted pumpkin seeds are fun.
• I have heard of some people adding a few Tbsp of dried fruits used in fruit cake to add sweetness.
• You can drizzle on a bit of glaze or frosting over the top when cooled. A few other options would be;

How Long to Bake 1 Loaf of Pumpkin Bread

You will want to put into a preheated oven for 1 hour and 15 minutes bake time or until toothpick inserted comes out mostly clean. Keep an eye on it in the last 10 minutes as oven temperatures can vary slightly and so does altitude. Check every 5 minutes. For muffins fill 3/4 of way full and bake for 18-20 minutes until middle springs back when gently touched with a finger.

How Long to Bake Pumpkin Bread in Mini Loaf Pans

You can of course use mini loaf pans instead of the traditional 9×5″ size if you would like but the baking time would decrease 25% to about 20ish minutes. Test around that time with a toothpick. It should come out mostly dry with moist crumbs attached ideally. Another idea is to make air fryer pumpkin bread loaves in this size.

How do you know when pumpkin bread is done?

It isn’t as easy to do the fingertip method for this (when it springs back it is done) because the top gets a bit crispy. Instead use a toothpick in the center. You do NOT want it to come out dry, that means it has baked too long. Instead you want it to come out with moist crumbs attached, that means the bread will be tender.

Melt 1/2 cup of vanilla or cream cheese frosting and drizzle it on top of each slice and serve if you want to add even more sweetness. To make chocolate pumpkin bread just add chips to the one below. One is more chocolatey than the other for sure.

Why is my pumpkin bread not moist?

You may have overmixed and worked the batter. You just want ensure the dry and wet mixture incorporate, no longer or the end result will likely be more dense and not as fluffy. The biggest culprit to dry bread though is baking too long. Just 2 minutes too long will make it go from super moist to just good. Last but not least you likely didn’t remove it from the pan and it kept cooking for too long, again.

It just needs to rest in there for about 15 minutes to solidify so it will slide out nicely from the pan. Once loosened from the edges with a knife it should be moved to a cooling rack for the remaining time to cool, that will make super moist slices each time.

Stale or leftover pumpkin bread can be transformed into a delightful dessert by making a pumpkin bread pudding. Tear the bread into pieces, soak it in a custard mixture, and bake until set. Serve warm with a drizzle of caramel sauce or a scoop of ice cream.

Get creative and use slices of pumpkin bread as the base for sandwiches. Combine ingredients like turkey, cream cheese, and and cranberry sauce for a savory-sweet delight. After this you should make our pumpkin pie sheet cake too. Now jump to recipe below and you can print it out if you like.

Can I leave pumpkin bread out overnight?

You will want to wrap it tightly with plastic wrap once cooled, then into a freezer bag. It is better to leave on the countertop versus refrigerated. This will prevent it from drying out. BUT you need to wrap it appropriately first. Wrap your leftover pumpkin bread in plastic wrap tightly. Then slide it into a storage bag or wrap it in aluminum foil. Remove air in order to keep it incredibly moist for up to 3 days.

If you made two of these and saved the second for later in the freezer, great idea!! You will want to leave it out overnight to defrost it first. Then if you wanted to warm it you could. In the oven or microwave you could, or enjoy sliced cold with a cup of coffee in the morning.

How do you reheat a loaf of pumpkin bread in the oven?

Preheat your oven to 350°F If your bread is sliced, keep the slices together as much as possible. If it’s a whole loaf, wrap it tightly in aluminum foil.

1. Place the wrapped pumpkin bread on a baking sheet to catch any potential crumbs.
2. Heat the wrapped pumpkin bread in the preheated oven for about 10-15 minutes for slices or 15-20 minutes for a whole loaf. The exact time may vary based on the size of the loaf and its moisture content.
3. Check periodically to prevent over-reheating. You want it to be warmed through without becoming too dry.

How do you Reheat Pumpkin Bread in the Microwave?

If it is sliced, arrange the slices on a microwave safe plate. If it’s a whole loaf, place it in a microwave safe container with a lid. If using a microwave safe plate, cover with a damp paper towel to help retain moisture.

1. Microwave the pumpkin bread on a low power setting, such as 30% or 50% power, for short intervals of 10-20 seconds each.
   • Avoid using full power, as it can cause the bread to become tough or dry.
2. Check the pumpkin bread after each interval to gauge its warmth. If it’s not warm enough, continue microwaving in short bursts.
3. Be cautious not to overheat the bread, as microwaving for too long can cause it to become tough or dry.

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