This uncomplicated, EXTRA moist, sugared pumpkin bread is straight up classy.
Classy, among other things. Like barely sweet, perfectly moist, and if you so choose, a perfect canvas for melty butter or – I’m going to go there – HONEY PECAN CREAM CHEESE?? – with your morning coffee.
This guy is simple and straightforward: no chocolate chips, no nuts (gah! the betrayal), and no frosting or overloaded crumble on top in my usual over-the-top style.
Just simple, like s-i-m-p-l-e, gorgeous, classy pumpkin bread.
How This Pumpkin Bread Came To Be
Baking used to be my favorite thing – it’s actually why I started the blog. I baked almost every Saturday morning in our little condo kitchen with the terribly yellow overhead lights and the 1970’s oven and loved every second of it. My first blog post was actually a pretty average recipe for chocolate chip muffins in which I forgot to list the CHOCOLATE CHIPS. 🙈 Humble beginnings.
As much as I loved baking, as Pinch of Yum started to become more of a thing, like a this-is-my-job thing, I started to feel like the “meal time” recipes were most valuable to myself (and others) rather than just baking recipes. I found that the people who were reading my little blog were hungry (aaaa! get it?) for yummy meal recipes maybe even more than they were for baking and desserts. Meal time recipes were what people wanted, they were something I enjoyed, they was performing well for the blog…
All of this led me to a place where I kind of put baking on the top shelf for a while – still there, but just out of reach.
But why? That’s sort of what I’ve been asking myself lately as I’ve realized my need to stay in love, stay fresh, stay grounded with what I’m doing. So in the last two months, I’ve been re-introducing baking into my life as I try to really get back to the core of loving food and cooking.
Whether cooking or baking, from the basic weeknight dinner recipes like the pumpkin spaghetti I’ve been eating for the last 900 meals straight to this homemade pumpkin bread that is just really, really delicious even when it’s not embellished upon at all, it all just feels so nourishing in my own personal little season of food + work + life inspiration. Fall is good for us like that.
And regarding the mention of pumpkin recipes back to back? You know I’m not even sorry about it.
Moist, Delicious, Simple
Today’s pumpkin bread, as the obnoxious title suggests, is deliciously moist. The most important quality of a good pumpkin bread, IMHO. Really, in any good bread (see also: another deliciously moist favorite in this Lemon Poppyseed Zucchini Bread).
It isn’t made with any homemade oat flours or egg substitutes or honey in place of sugar because that’s just not where I’m at with food right now. Where I AM at is getting back to the love of the food, and the love of the food in this pumpkin bread is eggs, oil, flour, pumpkin, and real sugar.
If (er, when) you feel like you just need to ground yourself in the basics of life, food, and the beauty of changing seasons, this basic + awesome, deliciously moist pumpkin bread is here for you.
And look! Even though it really doesn’t need anything, you can, if you so desire, put butter all over it. And honey.
Happy fall!
Common Questions About This Pumpkin Bread
Probably! Use your favorite 1:1 GF flour that’s best for baking, or check out our gluten-free Favorite Pumpkin Muffins here.
Sugar is part of what gives the bread moisture! You can cut the amount of sugar, but it will affect the texture and dry the bread out a bit. For the most yummy and moist version, use the full amount! (It ends up being about 1-2 tablespoons sugar per slice.)
You can just use one type of oil – I liked using both because it gave a very subtle olive oil flavor without being overpowering.
Because why not?? But seriously: one for you, one for a friend or in the freezer for later.
Two teaspoons seems like a lot of salt but it really helps the flavor of the bread (pumpkin, spices, even sugar) come through.
More Pumpkin Goodness For All Your Fall Needs
- 5 Ingredient Pumpkin Alfredo (basic, creamy, and soooo good)
- Pumpkin Rigatoni with Rosemary Walnut Crispies (MORE PASTA!)
- Pumpkin Gnocchi with Sage Butter Sauce (the dreamiest)
- Instant Pot Pumpkin Walnut Chili (pumpkin in chili: YES)
- Favorite Pumpkin Granola (crunchy, sweet, perfect with yogurt)
- Pumpkin Energy Bites (favorite on-the-go fall snack!)
Watch How To Make This Recipe:
Super Moist Pumpkin Bread
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 12 slices per loaf (x 2 loaves = 24 servings) 1x
Description
This is an easy, classic, super moist pumpkin bread recipe made with olive oil, pumpkin, and cinnamon, and topped with crunchy turbinado sugar.
Ingredients
- 4 eggs
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 2 cups white sugar
- 1 15-ounce can pumpkin (not pie filling – just regular pumpkin purée)
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup water
- 3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 heaping teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- 1/4 cup turbinado sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Whisk the eggs, oils, and sugar together until smooth. Add the pumpkin, milk, and water – whisk until smooth.
- Stir in the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
- Transfer batter to two 9x5inch loaf pans lined with parchment paper. Bake for 35 minutes. Remove from oven, brush with melted butter and sprinkle with turbinado sugar, and return to oven for another 5-10 minutes to set the sugar. The bread should be golden brown and firm to the touch when done, and a toothpick inserted should come out clean. When in doubt, I’d say err on the side of underbaking since it yields a most moist bread. The longer it bakes the more possibility you have that the bread will dry out.
- Let cool slightly before slicing and serving. Store in the refrigerator.
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition facts are for 1 slice out of a total 24 slices between the two loaves.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 45 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: pumpkin bread, moist pumpkin bread, easy pumpkin bread
One More Thing!
This recipe is part of our easy pumpkin recipes page. Check it out!