This homemade healthy pumpkin bread is a healthier version of normal pumpkin bread but is oh so delicious. Make your house smell like fall with this yummy recipe!
This morning, I woke up to my home at 65 degrees. As the morning went on, my nose was cold and I had to put on my slippers over top of my fuzzy socks. I needed the house to be warmer, but I didn’t want to start a fire quite yet. So, of course I thought to bake something in the oven to warm up the house.
Now, while it is great that having the oven on warms up the house, there is an even better bonus with this recipe. Having this recipe in the oven makes my home smell like Fall. I think Fall has some of the best smells out there. So comforting and so cozy.
I love a good pumpkin bread or banana bread, but sometimes I just want a more healthy or natural alternative. Especially if it is something I am eating in the morning with a cup of hot tea or coffee. I am sure some of you can stand with me on that.
So, this recipe has all the Fall flavors that you are craving but is made with a bit more of natural ingredients. Don’t worry, it is still just as delicious.
Why You Will Love This Healthy Pumpkin Bread
Mindful Ingredients – Like mentioned above, this recipe has all the Fall flavors and smells you are looking for, just a healthier version. It is made with a natural sweetener of honey or maple syrup. This recipe also uses an oil instead of butter.
Simple – This recipe consists of simple and straight forward ingredients as well as directions. Made for bakers at any age and stage in their baking journey.
Flavor – This pumpkin bread is moist, soft, and has great flavor. Made with real pumpkin puree, ground cinnamon, and nutmeg! The best fall ingredients.
Optional Add-ins for Pumpkin Bread
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips – You truly can never go wrong with adding semi-sweet chocolate chips into almost anything pumpkin. They add a slight sweetness as well as creaminess to the bread.
- Nuts – Pumpkin and nuts is just a wonderful combination. The nuttiness flavor compliments the pumpkin flavor very well. Having a crunch in a soft and moist bread is a must.
- Pumpkin Seeds – Another great way to add a slight crunch to this bread recipe.
- White Chocolate Chips – If you are looking for a “pumpkin and cream” kind of flavor, this is the add-in for you.
Tips to Make the Best Pumpkin Bread
- Don’t Overmix – Overmixing can cause your bread to turn out dry. Try to gently fold the ingredients into each other. Stopping when no dry ingredients streaks are noticeable.
- Top with Add-ins – If you have put in some add-ins in your pumpkin bread, don’t just fold them in, add some on top. Before you place your bread in the oven, sprinkle the same add-in you put in the batter, on top of the batter. This will make it look professional!
- Grease the Pan – Greasing your loaf pan really well will help make the “after baking” process a lot smoother. This can be done with a bit of oil or butter.
Ingredients
All-purpose flour
Baking powder – Baking powder helps to create an airiness into baked goods.
Baking soda – Baking soda will help our bread to have a beautiful rise when in the oven.
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Maple syrup or honey – This is our natural sweetener in the bread. I used maple syrup in mine and tend to gravitate more towards that when there is the option to use that over honey.
Eggs
Vanilla extract
Oil – Any vegetable oil or olive oil will work for this recipe. I used olive oil.
Pumpkin puree – Duh! But double check to make sure it is not pumpkin pie filling and that it is 100% pumpkin puree.
Oil/butter – To grease the pan.
Tools You Will Need
2 medium sized mixing bowl
Whisk/spatula
Measuring cups
Measuring spoons
Loaf pan
How to Make Healthier Pumpkin Bread Step-by-step
Before starting on the batter, grease a basic loaf pan with butter or oil. Then, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Now, for the batter, into a medium sized bowl, add all of the dry ingredients. Give everything a good mix until all is evenly distributed. Set aside.
In another medium sized bowl, add all of the wet ingredients. Whisk all the ingredients really well until the texture is smooth and creamy looking. It will be pretty thick.
Now, add the wet ingredients into the dry, folding gently until no dry streaks are noticeable. Again, the batter will be thick.
If desired, add mix-ins into the batter, stirring until evenly distributed. Then, pour the batter into a greased loaf pan. Topping with a few more mix-ins. Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in comes out clean.
Let stand for about 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy!
The Best Healthy Pumpkin Bread
This homemade pumpkin bread is full of all the Fall flavors you are looking for but made with a bit more natural ingredient. This pumpkin bread is moist, soft, and fluffy! Make your home smell like Fall with this easy and delicious recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 3/4 cup maple syrup or honey
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cups pumpkin puree
- 1/2 cup oil of choice
- 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons mix-ins (optional)
Instructions
- To start, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Next, grease a standard loaf pan with butter or oil.
- Now, in a medium sized bowl, add all of the dried ingredients. Give everything a good stir until it is all evenly distributed. Set aside. 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 tablespoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg.
- Next, in another medium sized mixing bowl, add all of the wet ingredients. Whisking everything really well until the batter looks smooth and creamy. It will be pretty thick. 3/4 cup maple syrup or honey, 2 eggs, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 1 1/4 cups pumpkin puree, 1/2 oil of choice.
- Once the wet ingredients are all mixed up, add the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Fold everything very gently with a rubber spatula. Again, the mixture will be pretty thick. Add in any extra mix-ins you would like, folding gently. 1/2 cup mix-ins.
- Pour the batter into the greased loaf pan and top with 1 to 2 tablespoons more of mix-ins.
- Bake in the preheated over for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in comes out clean. I like to check mine every 5 or so minutes around the 30-minute mark with a toothpick just to be safe. See notes
- Once finished baking, let stand for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Enjoy!
Notes
1. The pumpkin puree does make the bread moist. When I took mine out of the oven, the toothpick did have a few crumbs on it just from the moisture of the bread. As long as the batter on the toothpick is not thick and runny you'll be fine!
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