This easy pumpkin loaf recipe is always moist and delicious and the recipe I’ve been using for years! Makes 2 large loaves and they freeze beautifully, too!
When it comes to pumpkin bread, this is the recipe I’ve been using for many, many years. I believe it’s roots are from the back of a can of Libby’s pumpkin, but it’s never failed me and delivers a perfect pumpkin bread every time! It’s simply perfect.
Ingredients and substitutions
Oil – What is the secret to moist pumpkin bread? Oil! While I often bake with butter, when it comes to pumpkin bread (or muffins), I’m all about the oil. Any neutral tasting oil will work – vegetable, canola or sunflower, for example.
Spices – The spice level of this pumpkin bread is totally up to you! Find the perfect spice level for your pumpkin bread by adjusting the amount of spice you use to suit your taste.
I would always start with the 1 tsp of cinnamon, at a minimum. After that, adjust the amount of nutmeg and cloves to your taste. I usually go with 1/2 tsp nutmeg and a pinch of cloves. If you don’t have or like cloves at all, simply leave them out. No nutmeg? It’s not a deal breaker. Simply omit increase the cinnamon to 1 1/2 tsp. Spice lover? Use a heaping teaspoon of each.
Variations
This is also a great base pumpkin bread for adding in extra goodies. Add-ins are up to you! Add raisins or raisins and nuts. Or nothing at all. Change it up with dried cranberries. Throw in some nuts with them. Or not. Or just go fruity and use raisins and cranberries. Or take your pumpkin bread to new places and go with chocolate chips (and walnuts, too, maybe!). You can use up to 2 cups of any add-in your like. Or just enjoy it plain.
Recipe tips!
- You will need two 9×5-inch loaf pans for this recipe and no, 8×4 will not work unless you are willing to discard some of the batter. If you try to put all the batter in two 8×4 loaf pans, you will have a mess in your oven.
- Note that baking time will vary depending on your oven and the loaf pans you use. Start testing around 50 minutes of baking, but be sure to test in the centre and to bake until your tester comes out clean.
Making ahead, storing and freezing
I find that loaves baked using oil are actually best after they have cooled and sat a bit. They tend to get more moist and develop more flavour as they sit. Store tightly wrapped.
These freeze well up to 2 months (tightly wrapped) if you can’t eat two loaves in a few days.
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Get the Recipe: Simply Perfect Pumpkin Loaf
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cups all purpose flour, spooned and levelled
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoon table salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon , *see Notes below
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg , *see Notes below
- 1 teaspoon cloves , *see Notes below
- 1 1/2 cups white granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 cups light brown sugar, packed
- 1 cup vegetable, canola or other neutral oil
- 2 cup canned pumpkin puree, not pie filling
- 4 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 cup raisins or dried cranberries , OPTIONAL
- 1 cup walnuts or pecans, OPTIONAL
Instructions
- Grease two 9×5-inch loaf pans and set aside.
- Preheat oven to 350F (regular bake setting/not fan assisted).
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Add the white and brown sugar and and mix well to combine. Add the oil and pumpkin and stir until well combined. Add eggs one at a time, blending/whisking thoroughly after each addition, until batter is smooth. Stir in any add-ins you are using (raisins, dried cranberries, nuts or chocolate chips – up to 2 cups total).
- Pour into your two prepared loaf pans, dividing it evenly between the two pans.
- Bake at 350F for 50-60 minutes, or until tester inserted in the middle comes out clean. Let cool in pans for 5 minutes, then remove from pans and cool completely on a cooling rack.
Notes
More pumpkin recipes to love!
Hi! I’m Jennifer, a home cook schooled by trial and error and almost 40 years of getting dinner on the table! I love to share my favourite recipes, both old and new, together with lots of tips and tricks to hopefully help make your home cooking enjoyable, stress free, rewarding and of course, delicious!
This is a terrific recipe. I have made it several times, subbing in squash for pumpkin and when I didn’t have quite enough pumpkin, subbing in buttermilk for the rest (half cup). I’ve reduced the sugar to 1 and 1/3 for each and added fresh cranberries and most recently fresh blueberries. I’ve used half spelt and half all-purpose. It all works. I prefer this recipe to smitten kitchen’s because I think the texture is superior but either way, this is such a great recipe and also super forgiving. Thank you!
So glad to hear, Heidi and wonderful that it works in so many ways. I will be trying it with fresh cranberries, as I always have some around and I love that tart flavour :) Thanks so much!