Easy Pumpkin Pecan Bread (Deliciously Moist Quick Bread)
Enjoy moist and flavorful Pumpkin Pecan Bread with a crunchy pecan topping. Made with pumpkin, warm spices, brown sugar, and vanilla, this easy quick bread is the perfect cozy fall treat.
Pumpkin Pecan Bread is a moist, flavorful loaf packed with pumpkin, warm spices, and crunchy pecans. Easy to make and perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert, this cozy fall bread is finished with a sweet and spicy glaze for an irresistible touch.
What is Pumpkin Pecan Bread?
Pumpkin Pecan Bread is a moist and flavorful quick bread made with pumpkin puree, crunchy pecans, and warm spices. Perfect for breakfast, snacking, or dessert, this easy pumpkin bread is especially delicious in fall but works year-round. A sweet glaze adds the perfect finishing touch to this cozy homemade treat.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Delicious: Moist pumpkin bread filled with warm spices, crunchy pecans, and a sweet glaze.
- Family Favorite: A cozy, comforting treat loved by kids and adults, perfect for fall gatherings.
- Versatile: Easily customize with chocolate chips or dried cranberries, or skip the pecans for a nut-free option.
Key Ingredients
You only need a few simple pantry staples to make this pumpkin pecan bread recipe at home. Let’s look at them in more detail:
- All-purpose flour: The backbone of this bread, it provides the structure and texture.
- Sea salt: Enhances the flavors of the other ingredients.
- Baking soda & Baking powder: These ingredients work together to help the bread rise and become light and fluffy.
- Ground cinnamon, Pumpkin pie spice, and Nutmeg: These spices give the bread its warm, comforting flavors that are perfect for fall.
- Organic sugar and Brown sugar: Apart from sweetening the bread, they also lend moisture and a rich depth of flavor.
- Eggs: They bind the ingredients together and help the bread rise.
- Vanilla extract: Adds a subtle sweet aroma and flavor that compliments the pumpkin and spices.
- Coconut or Olive oil: These healthy fats add moisture to the bread, making it soft and tender.
- Pumpkin puree: It is the star of the show! It gives the bread its pumpkin flavor and moist texture.
- Chopped toasted pecans: They add a delightful crunch and nutty flavor to the bread. A portion of these pecans is also used for topping the bread before baking, adding a beautiful finishing touch.
For the Glaze:
- Powdered sugar: It is the main component of the glaze, providing sweetness and a smooth texture.
- Whole milk: Thins out the sugar to create a pourable glaze.
- Pure vanilla extract: Just like in the bread, it enhances the flavor of the glaze.
- Cinnamon and Pumpkin pie spice: These spices in the glaze echo the flavors in the bread, tying everything together beautifully.
How to Make Pumpkin Pecan Bread
Making this incredible pumpkin pecan bread is easier than you think. Here’s how to make it at home step by step:
How to Make the Pumpkin Bread Batter
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease two 9×5-inch loaf pans with unsalted butter and set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, sea salt, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice until evenly combined. Set the dry ingredients aside while you prepare the wet ingredients.
In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs, granulated sugar, and brown sugar on high for about 5 minutes, until light and pale.
Add the vanilla, oil, and pumpkin puree. Mix on medium speed just until combined. Avoid overmixing to keep your pumpkin pecan bread moist and tender.
Gradually stir in your dry ingredients, adding a cup at a time to the wet mixture. This will guarantee that they mix well without forming lumps. Gently mix in pecans into the batter.
How to Bake Pumpkin Pecan Bread
Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared loaf pans. Bake at 350°F for about 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Let the loaves cool in the pans for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack. Cool for another 10 minutes before adding the glaze.
How to Make Glaze for Pumpkin Pecan Bread
While the bread cools, prepare the glaze. Whisk all the glaze ingredients together in a small bowl until smooth and well combined.
Once the loaves are cool, drizzle the glaze evenly over each one. Let the glaze set before slicing and serving.
Now, all that’s left is to enjoy your homemade pumpkin pecan bread! It pairs perfectly with a hot cup of homemade latte. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Use quality pumpkin puree: Canned or homemade pumpkin puree gives the bread rich, authentic flavor.
- Toast the pecans: Lightly toast the pecans for extra crunch and deeper nutty flavor.
- Avoid overmixing: Mix the batter just until combined for a soft, tender loaf.
- Prepare the glaze while cooling: Whip up the quick glaze while the bread cools so it’s ready to drizzle and serve.
Substitutions and Variations
This delicious pumpkin bread recipe is absolutely perfect as is, but if you’re looking to change things up, here are a few variation ideas you can try:
- Make it gluten-free: Swap all-purpose flour for a gluten-free flour blend. If it doesn’t contain xanthan gum, add ½ teaspoon for better texture.
- Make it dairy-free: Use almond or coconut milk in the glaze for a creamy, dairy-free option.
- Add chocolate: Stir in 1 cup of chocolate chips for a rich and delicious pumpkin-chocolate combination.
Serving Suggestions
- Breakfast: Toast a slice and serve warm with salted butter for a cozy start to the day.
- Dessert: Pair warm Pumpkin Pecan Bread with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a delicious treat.
- Afternoon snack: Enjoy a slice with hot chai tea for the perfect spiced pairing.
- Holiday platter: Add sliced bread to a festive cheese, fruit, and nut board.
- On-the-go snack: Pack a slice in your lunchbox for a satisfying midday treat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pumpkin puree is a key ingredient in this recipe and gives the bread its unique taste. However, if you don’t have it on hand, you can substitute with equal amounts of sweet potato or butternut squash puree.
Though chopped pecans add a delightful crunch and flavor to the bread, you can substitute them with any other nuts you prefer. Walnuts or almonds would work well too. Make sure to chop and toast them before adding to the batter.
Absolutely! The glaze adds an additional layer of sweetness and spice to the bread, but it is totally optional. The bread will still be delicious without it.
How to Store Leftovers
Refrigerate: Let the bread cool completely, then wrap it tightly or place it in an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 1 week.
Freeze: For longer storage, wrap the cooled bread in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
Easy Pumpkin Pecan Bread (Deliciously Moist Quick Bread)
Ingredients
For Bread Batter
- 3 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp. sea salt
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
- ¼ tsp. nutmeg
- ½ cup organic sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
- ¼ cup coconut or olive oil
- 2 cups pumpkin puree (I used homemade pumpkin puree)
- 1 ¾ cups – chopped toasted pecans + ¼ cup for topping the bread batter before baking the bread
For Bread Glaze
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tbsp. whole milk
- ½ tsp. pure vanilla extract
- ½ tsps. cinnamon
- ¼ tsp. pumpkin pie spice
Instructions
How to Make the Pumpkin Bread Batter
- Start by preheating your oven to a temperature of 350 ℉. This will allow the oven to reach the desired temperature by the time you are ready to bake your bread.
- Next, you will need two loaf pans of approximately 9 x 5 inches in size. Generously grease each pan with unsalted butter to prevent your bread from sticking to the pan. Once greased, set these pans aside for later use.
- Now, let’s move on to the dry ingredients. Measure out all-purpose flour, sea salt, baking soda, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice. Combine all these ingredients in a bowl and use a hand whisk to blend them together. This will make sure all the ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the mixture. Once done, set this bowl aside.
- In a separate bowl, preferably one that fits into an electric mixer, combine eggs, sugar, and brown sugar. Beat these ingredients on high for about 5 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when the mixture turns a light, pale color.
- Next, add in your vanilla, oil, and pumpkin puree to the egg and sugar mixture. Beat once more on medium just until these ingredients are combined. Be careful not to over-mix as it can make your bread tough.
- Gradually stir in your dry ingredients, adding a cup at a time to the wet mixture. This will guarantee that they mix well without forming lumps.
How to Bake Pumpkin Pecan Bread
- Once your batter is ready, divide it equally between the two prepared pans.
- Place both pans in your preheated oven and bake at 350 F for 50 minutes. You can check if your bread is done by inserting a toothpick into the center. If it comes out clean, your bread is ready.
- After baking, let your bread cool in the pans for about 5 minutes. Then, gently remove the bread from the pans and transfer it to a cooling rack or wire rack. Allow it to cool for an additional 10 minutes before you add the glaze.
How to Make Glaze for Pumpkin Pecan Bread
- While your bread is cooling, it is the perfect time to prepare the glaze.
- Combine all the ingredients for the glaze in a small bowl. Using a hand whisk, mix until all the ingredients are well combined and the glaze is smooth.
- Once your bread has cooled, evenly drizzle half of the glaze over each loaf. Let the glaze set a bit before slicing your bread.
- Now, all that’s left is to enjoy your homemade pumpkin pecan bread! It pairs perfectly with a hot cup of homemade latte. Enjoy!
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