It’s officially fall in my kitchen when the first loaves of pumpkin bread come out of the oven! There’s just something about the aroma of pumpkin, cinnamon and warm spices filling the house that makes everything feel a little cozier. Forget the fall candles—this recipe makes the whole house smell amazing!
I’ve made plenty of pumpkin bread over the years, but this version gets a little extra love with a buttery, crunchy pecan streusel topping. The bread is wonderfully moist, perfectly spiced and just sweet enough to enjoy with your morning coffee or as an afternoon treat.
One of my favorite things about this recipe is that it makes two loaves—one to keep and one to share! Of course, that assumes you can resist slicing into the second loaf yourself. No judgment here! Whether you’re baking for family, surprising a neighbor or simply celebrating the flavors of fall, this pumpkin bread is sure to become a seasonal favorite.
Pumpkin Bread with streusel topping
Ingredients
Streusel Topping
• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup light brown sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ cup cold salted butter, diced
• ¼ cup pecans, chopped
Bread
Dry Ingredients
• 2 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 TBS pumpkin pie spice
• 2 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
Wet Ingredients
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 (15 oz) can of pure pumpkin puree
• ½ cup melted salted butter (1 stick)
Directions
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease two 8 x 4 loaf pans. Line with parchment paper.
• Make streusel topping by combining flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Dice cold butter and add to flour mixture. Press with fingers or fork until the mixture resembles coarse sand with pea-sized clumps. Toss in pecans. Refrigerate while assembling the bread.
• Combine dry ingredients of flour, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Set aside.
• Use a whisk to combine all wet ingredients (eggs, sugars, pumpkin and melted butter).
• Add ½ the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture. Mix until just combined. Add remaining dry ingredients. Don’t overmix.
• Divide batter into the two 8 x 4 loaf pans lined with parchment paper.
• Add streusel topping and sprinkle extra pecans on the top.
• Bake for 45 minutes or until toothpick test is clean.
• Cool in pans for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
Food Fairy Tips
No pumpkin pie spice? No problem! You can make your own using spices you probably already have in your pantry. To replace the 1 tablespoon of pumpkin pie spice in this recipe, combine 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground ginger, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg and ¼ teaspoon ground cloves or allspice. Don’t have every spice? Cinnamon and nutmeg alone will still give your bread a delicious fall flavor.
Keep that butter cold! The secret to a great streusel topping is cold butter. Work it into the flour and sugar mixture until you have little pea-sized clumps. Refrigerating the topping while you prepare the batter helps keep those buttery crumbles intact during baking.
Pumpkin puree vs. pumpkin pie filling. Be sure to grab a can of 100% pure pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling. The filling already contains sugar and spices, which will change the flavor and sweetness of your bread.
Make removing the loaves easy. Leave a little parchment paper hanging over the long sides of your loaf pans. Once the bread has cooled for about 10 minutes, you can use the parchment as handles to gently lift the loaves out without disturbing that beautiful streusel topping.
Save a loaf for later! Pumpkin bread freezes beautifully. Allow the loaf to cool completely, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and place in a freezer-safe bag or container. Freeze for up to 3 months for best quality. Thaw while wrapped to help retain moisture. You’ll have a homemade treat ready whenever the craving strikes!
Share a little fall happiness! Wrap your extra loaf in parchment paper, tie it with a pretty ribbon and add a handwritten note. It’s a thoughtful homemade gift for a neighbor, teacher, friend or anyone who could use a little Food Fairy magic!
Search ingredients at FOOD CITY.
Simple recipes. Big flavor. Little fuss. Aneisa Rolen shares easy-to-follow recipes with companion videos, making home cooking approachable for every cook.
For more free recipes, visit www.foodfairyprep.com or follow Aneisa Rolen on Instagram or Facebook.
Enjoyed this article? Read more Dishing It Out with Aneisa Rolen.
This column is sponsored by Food City.
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