Easy Pumpkin Bread Recipe

This super soft, moist Pumpkin Bread recipe is packed with pumpkin flavor and tastes *just* like the Starbucks Pumpkin Loaf. It’s incredibly easy to make and ready to go in the oven in just 10 minutes!

The Best Homemade Pumpkin Bread

Is it even fall without pumpkin bread? No, probably not. And, this pumpkin bread is probably the best you’ll ever have!

This easy pumpkin bread recipe starts with the most important ingredient – one whole can of pumpkin. We flavor it up with the perfect blend of spices and pop it into the oven. It’s a breeze to put together and goes into the oven in just 10 minutes.

I promise you will get that perfect, super soft, moist pumpkin bread, with tons of spiced pumpkin flavor, every single time with this recipe. Serve it warm with butter, room temperature or even chilled! It’s insanely delicious all three ways!

Just Like Starbucks’ Pumpkin Bread

This recipe is a copycat recipe for the famous Pumpkin Loaf from Starbucks! If you are a crazy fan of Starbucks’ pumpkin bread, you have to make this version at home. For the price of one piece at Starbucks, you can have an entire loaf of it at home!

The only flavor difference between this pumpkin bread and the one at Starbucks: Pepitas sprinkled on top! I left them off because my kids prefer this bread without, but if you like the added crunch just sprinkle them right on top before baking.

More Reasons to Love this Pumpkin Bread Recipe

In addition to tasting just like Starbucks’ pumpkin bread, here are more reasons to give this recipe a try:

• Quick and easy: Comes together in 10 minutes, no mixer required!
• Moist and flavorful: This recipe makes a tender loaf of bread with tons of pumpkin flavor.
• Versatile: Want to add chocolate chips? Go for it. Chopped walnuts? Why not!
• Lasts: This bread tastes even better on day 2 or 3 as the flavors develop.

In closing, you should definitely make this pumpkin bread. All your fall baking dreams will come true and you’ll have a delicious slice of bread to enjoy with a warm beverage.

Pumpkin Bread Ingredients

You’ll need a few baking ingredients on hand to make this pumpkin bread. You probably already have most of them already, so you’ll likely only need to pick up a few things:

• All purpose flour
• Pumpkin spice – From the store, or you can make your own (directions below).
• Baking soda
• Salt
• Pumpkin –  Make sure it is pure pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling.
• Granulated sugar
• Brown sugar
• Large eggs
• Vegetable oil – You could use canola oil if you prefer or have it on hand, I’d avoid olive oil though because it often has a very strong flavor that may come through in the pumpkin bread.
• Vanilla extract – Pure is my preferred, but you can use artificial vanilla if you have that on hand.

Can I Add Pepitas, Like the Starbucks Bread?

Yes, you can definitely add pepitas to this recipe if you want a 100% spot-on recreation of the Starbucks pumpkin bread. Just sprinkle some on top of the bread before baking.

Pepitas are a great source of healthy fats and fatty acids, so not only will they add some crunch to your pumpkin bread but they’ll add some great nutrients too.

Can I Add Chocolate Chips or Nuts?

Yes, you can add up to 1/2 cup of chocolate chips or chopped nuts to the batter before it bakes. I recommend chopped walnuts.

Pumpkin Spice vs. Cinnamon

You can use pumpkin pie spice or just cinnamon in this recipe. Either way is delicious. If you do not have Pumpkin Spice on hand, but would like to make it, below is a simple recipe:

DIY Pumpkin Pie Spice

• 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

1. Mix all ingredients together. This recipe will make a little over 2 tablespoons of pumpkin pie spice.
2. You can double or triple the recipe and save it for any other wonderful Fall recipes or even sprinkle it over your morning coffee!

How to Make Pumpkin Bread

Making pumpkin bread is super easy. You just need to measure the ingredients, dump, mix, and bake. Here’s how you do it:

• Prep the oven and pan: Start by preheating your oven to 375 degrees. Preheating helps make sure the bread cooks evenly. While the oven preheats, grease a 9×5 baking loaf pan and line with parchment paper so that it hangs some over the sides. You can use oil, butter and flour, or non-stick spray to grease the pan. The parchment paper makes removing the bread very easy.
• Mix the dry ingredients: In a medium sized bowl, whisk the flour, pumpkin spice, baking soda, and salt until they are well combined. Set the bowl aside.
• Mix the wet ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk the pumpkin, sugar and brown sugar. When they are well combined, beat in the eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract. 
• Bring it all together: Once the eggs and oil are combined, slowly whisk in the flour mixture, until there are no lumps.

• Bake: Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan and smooth the top with a spatula. If you are using a 9×5 baking loaf pan, the loaf should be done around 40 to 45 minutes or when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 

Note: If you are using a different size loaf pan, you will need to vary the time some. Shorter loaf pans will bake for longer while longer ones may need less time.

• Tent with foil. After about 30 minutes, cover the top of the bread with foil. Covering the top with foil helps to make sure the top does not brown too much.
• Cool & Serve: Allow the bread to cool, slice, and serve with your favorite toppings. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature. Can also serve warm with butter!

Tips for Success

Even though this is a super easy pumpkin bread recipe, it never hurts to have a few tricks up your sleeve. Here’s what I recommend to make sure you bake up the absolute best pumpkin quick bread.

• Pack the brown sugar: Make sure you pack the brown sugar when measuring, this ensures you get the right amount.
• Don’t over-mix: Stir the batter just long enough to remove the lumps and then bake.
• Ovens bake differently: If your oven cooks hotter or cooler, you may need to adjust your bake time slightly.
• Use the right kind of oil: Avoid strong flavored oils like olive oil or coconut oil, vegetable or canola oil often work best.
• Cover the bread with foil at 30 minutes: This helps stop the top from over-browning the bread.

Serving ideas

Pumpkin bread is a lot like banana bread. It’s a sweet quick bread that is perfect for a quick breakfast or a mid-afternoon snack. I often eat it plain or add a small amount of butter on top. You could also heat it up a little and top it with Nutella, cream cheese, apple butter, or other kinds of butter or jams.

How to Store & Warm Pumpkin Bread

Pumpkin bread needs to be kept at room temperature or below. To store it, first let the bread cool completely on a wire rack. After it is completely cool, tightly wrap the bread in plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container. You can then store it on your counter for about 5 days or in the fridge for up to a week.

If you like warm slices of bread, you can slice a piece off and lightly toast it in your toaster oven or a standard toaster. You can also microwave it for 10 seconds!

I am so excited to finally be sharing this super soft, easy Pumpkin Bread recipe with all of you. We have been testing it for the past 3 years and I finally feel that I got the recipe perfect to be able to say it’s as good (if not better!) than Starbucks’ Pumpkin Bread!

Please leave a review — you can even leave a photo now in the comments – sharing how this recipe turns out for you!

Looking for more amazing sweet Pumpkin recipes? Try this reader favorite for Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins, easy Maple Glazed Pumpkin Donuts and my favorite impressive — but still easy to make — Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake!

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