Autumn's arrival brings a wave of cozy comfort food cravings, and nothing satisfies that yearning quite like a warm slice of pumpkin bread. This recipe delivers a moist, spiced pumpkin bread perfectly complemented by a tangy cream cheese frosting. It's surprisingly easy to make, even for beginner bakers, and perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a delightful afternoon snack. Get ready to impress your family and friends with this homemade masterpiece! It's one of those easy recipes that tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen. This healthy meal is also a perfect quick dinner idea if you're short on time!
Ingredients:
For the Pumpkin Bread:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- ½ cup water
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 4 tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions:
Making the Pumpkin Bread:
- Preheat & Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x5 inch loaf pan. This ensures your bread releases easily.
- Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt.
- Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the sugar, oil, eggs, pumpkin puree, and water until well combined.
- Combine: Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix; a few lumps are okay. Overmixing can lead to a tough bread.
- Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool: Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents the bread from becoming soggy.
Making the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- Beat the Cream Cheese & Butter: In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy. Make sure your cream cheese and butter are at room temperature for best results.
- Add Sugar & Vanilla: Gradually add the powdered sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Stir in the vanilla extract and salt. If the frosting is too thick, add a teaspoon of milk at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
- Frost the Bread: Once the bread is completely cool, frost the top generously.
Tips for the Best Pumpkin Bread:
- Don't overmix the batter: Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, resulting in a tough bread. Mix until just combined.
- Use fresh spices: Freshly ground spices will give your bread a more vibrant flavor.
- Room temperature ingredients: Using room temperature ingredients helps them blend together better and creates a smoother batter.
- Check for doneness: Start checking for doneness around the 50-minute mark to avoid overbaking.
Variations:
- Add nuts: Chopped pecans or walnuts would add a delightful crunch.
- Chocolate chips: Swirl in some chocolate chips for a decadent treat.
- Spiced variations: Experiment with different spice combinations like cardamom or ginger.
Nutritional Information (per slice, approximate):
- Calories: Approximately 300-350
- Fat: Approximately 15-20g
- Protein: Approximately 4-5g
- Carbohydrates: Approximately 40-45g
This delicious pumpkin bread with cream cheese frosting is the perfect addition to your fall baking repertoire. It's a simple recipe that delivers big on flavor, making it a perfect treat for any occasion. Enjoy!