Healthy Pumpkin Bread

This Healthy Pumpkin Bread is naturally sweetened, made with whole grains and is full of warm cozy spices. Easy, moist and fluffy, this pumpkin bread recipe uses an entire can of pumpkin puree!

Want more recipes that capture the essence of autumn? You’ll love this almond flour pumpkin bread, pumpkin banana bread and healthy chocolate chip pumpkin bread.

I started dreaming about my favorite healthy pumpkin bread this August. And you know what is the best part? It has been tested like 50 times by now. So, be sure you are getting the best of the best!

One bowl and 8 simple ingredients – less mess, less kitchen to clean! It is fall baking dream come true full of pumpkin flavor!

You can make it plain or add in some crunch with nuts, chocolate chips or dried fruit. It’s delicious all ways!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Uses a whole can of pumpkin: It makes this pumpkin bread moist, low fat and a healthier option. Not to mention there is no leftover pumpkin to deal with.
• Made with whole wheat flour: Makes it hearty, and full of fiber and complex carbohydrates. I love quick breads with whole grain flour as it gives them the best texture too!
• Lower fat and low calorie: Only 2 tablespoons of oil is used compared to 1/2 cup in the classic version. Also coffee shop version runs at 410 calories a slice compared to this one at only 234 calories.
• Naturally sweetened: Not only maple syrup or honey contain vitamins and nutrients, but each individual slice has 23 grams of sugar compared to high 30s in other recipes.

Ingredients for Healthy Pumpkin Bread

Here is a quick look at key ingredients for this recipe and possible substitutions:

• Pure pumpkin puree: When buying in a can, do not confuse with pumpkin pie filling that has added sugar and flavors. Can also use an equal amount of your own homemade pumpkin puree.
• Whole grain flour: Regular whole wheat flour, spelt flour, whole wheat pastry flour and white whole wheat flour will work. These are the only flours I tested this pumpkin bread with. I have not tested it with all-purpose flour.
• Liquid sweetener: You can use any liquid sweetener like pure maple syrup, honey, brown rice syrup, date syrup, agave etc. The goal is to keep liquids and dry ingredients ratio the same. So, coconut sugar, cane sugar, brown sugar or any sugar will not work.
• Eggs: 2 large. Flax eggs or chia eggs may work although it has not been tested. Please let me know if you try.
• Oil: Any mild tasting oil like avocado oil, melted coconut oil or grapeseed oil works. You can use olive oil as its taste is not prominent in this bread.
• Spices: Pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda and salt. I use a homemade pumpkin pie spice substitute but store bought is OK.

How to Make Healthy Pumpkin Bread

The best part about this pumpkin bread is that there is no need for a bowl with wet ingredients and another bowl with dry ingredients. One bowl, 10 minutes and it totally works!

• Combine liquids and spices. Grab a large bowl. You need to whisk eggs, pumpkin purée, maple syrup, oil, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder and soda, salt at same time. Whisk well, pause and make sure there are no small lumps of leavening agents left.
• Add flour and mix ins. Stir gently with a spatula until combined. A few flour patches are fine and actually desirable because last thing is you want to overmix your bread.
• Bake: Transfer pumpkin bread batter into greased loaf pan. I also sprinkled 1/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds on top. Then bake the bread for 50-60 minutes at 350 degrees F.
• Let it cool: Cool for about 30-60 minutes to help bread hold nicely. Then slice with a serrated knife.

Tips for Best Results

• Don’t over mix: If you do, bread will come out dense. Just give the batter a few stirs until most flour is mixed in but a few patches of white are even desirable.
• Don’t overbake: Your bread is ready when the toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the middle. Remove it from the oven then, otherwise bread will be dry.
• Cool properly: Make sure to remove pumpkin bread from the loaf pan onto a wire rack after cooling in it for 10 minutes. Otherwise, hot bread pan keeps baking it and bread might be dry. Cool bread completely.
• All ovens vary: If you find your bread comes out dry or starts burning outside, next time try to lower the oven temperature by 15 F. And vice versa.
• To make lower sugar or more sweet: Some readers have reduced the liquid sweetener to 1/2 cup and then added 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt or unsweetened applesauce. If you love a sweeter taste, increase the liquid sweetener to 1 cup.
• If your bread is browning too quickly: Cover it loosely with foil or parchment paper and continue baking.

Optional Add-Ins

I kept bread simple and basic but you can totally jazz it up with any of these mix-in’s based on your personal preference and what you have on hand.

You can add up to 1/2 cup of:

• Chopped walnuts, pecans or hazelnuts
• Pumpkin seeds
• Chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate bar
• Raisins, dried cranberries, fresh or even chopped dates
• Fresh blueberries

How to Store

Store day 1-2: Place cooled healthy pumpkin bread back into the loaf pan and keep covered with a towel on the counter. Sliced bread dries out faster.

Store day 3-5: If you have any bread left at this point, for longer storage refrigerate it tightly wrapped in plastic wrap or in a plastic bag.

Freeze: Freeze baked and cooled bread in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw on a counter for 3-4 hours. Again, it’s better to freeze bread whole and not sliced.

Serving Ideas

My family loves this bread with just a slight spread of real butter or plain cream cheese.

Toast in the toaster and spread almond butter or nut butter and add a drizzle of honey.

Enjoy warm with a cup of tea, coffee or pumpkin spice latte. It definitely satisfies a sweet tooth and can be served for breakfast, snack or dessert.

FAQs

More Healthy Pumpkin Recipes

• Healthy pumpkin bars
• Healthy pumpkin muffins
• Almond flour pumpkin muffins
• Pumpkin banana muffins
• Pumpkin chocolate chip muffins
• Pumpkin cream cheese muffins

More Quick Bread Recipes

• Healthy zucchini bread
• Healthy banana bread
• Healthy apple bread
• Healthy gingerbread loaf

Also be sure to browse through all of my quick bread recipes and pumpkin recipes. Enjoy!