A simple pumpkin bread that you can you can customize to your tastes – add your favorite chips or top with luscious glaze to make it extra special! Best of all, it’s made in one bowl!
My husband told me that a few fast food chains are finally starting to catch onto the pumpkin bandwagon. These “restaurants” (and yes, I am using quotations) debuted pumpkin milkshakes, pumpkin drinks, and other pumpkin-flavored items. What I find ironic about these products is that very few of them actually contain pumpkin. Instead, pumpkin spice is what gives them their flavors.
Me? While I love pumpkin spice, I want something with actual pumpkin puree in it. Not only is the pumpkin smooth and creamy, but it also keeps your baked goods from drying out. I was heading out of town one weekend and wanted to make sure my husband and daughter had something to eat in the mornings so I decided to bake a pumpkin bread.
I tweaked a recipe that I found on King Arthur Flour to cut down the quantity and to make it less sweet. Also, I upped the pumpkin spices and swapped out the oil for applesauce to reduce the fat. Don’t be fooled – this slightly healthier version has lots of flavor and is just as good as its full-fat cousin.
This bread was an instant hit at our house, and Addie has been taking a slice of it to school every day for her morning snack. She likes eating it after school as well, so it is definitely kid-approved.
Easy pumpkin bread
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/3 cup light brown sugar
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1/3 cup water
- 3/4 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 and 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Generously grease a standard 9"x5" loaf pan and set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat together the applesauce, sugars, eggs, water, pumpkin puree and vanilla. Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and pumpkin pie spice. Mix until just combined - do not over mix.
- Transfer the batter to your prepared baking pan and bake in your preheated oven for about 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Allow the bread to cool completely (preferably overnight) before slicing and serving.