The Best Pumpkin Bread Recipe (With Pecans and Caramel)

This Pumpkin Bread recipe is the perfect combination of moist, soft, and fluffy bread with a delicious pumpkin flavor! It's a classic recipe that's perfect for fall and will surely satisfy your sweet cravings.

With this bread in the oven, your house is going to smell of fall with delicious aromas of cinnamon, pumpkin, and caramel lingering in the air. 

It's the perfect quick bread recipe that you're going to want to keep coming back to! I've added step-by-step instructions and pictures so that it's easy to make even for beginners! 

Want to learn how to make this delicious Pumpkin Bread? Then keep on reading!

What is a Pumpkin Bread?

Pumpkin bread is a delicious quick bread that's made with traditional bread ingredients and pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling!). This tasty mix is the perfect combination for fall and the holidays, giving you bread that's wholesome and the ideal comfort food. 

It's a classic North American bread that has been loved for, literally, centuries as Native Americans had their own version of pumpkin bread long before European settlers came to the New World. 

This delicious, classic bread is the perfect addition to any dinner table and is loved by kids and adults alike! It's truly an ideal quick bread recipe to make if your kids and family love pumpkin muffins because it tastes just like it, but even better!

What Makes This Pumpkin Bread Recipe Special?

This is, by far, the best Pumpkin Bread recipe you'll ever come across because of many different reasons! First of all, it's not just a simple loaf of bread but a delicious pull-apart one with pecans and caramel for an incredibly tasty combination. 

But that doesn't mean it has to be unhealthy! Thanks to the pumpkin puree in this bread, it's packed with vitamins and minerals including fiber, vitamins A and C, potassium, copper, manganese, iron, B vitamins, and vitamin E. 

In terms of nutrition, it's also low in calories and sodium than store-bought versions and doesn't contain any vegetable oils or even canola oil. 

This recipe also features simple ingredients! Other recipes call you melted coconut oil and other ingredients you might not readily have in your pantry, but not this one! In fact, you don't even need baking soda for it!

My kids were anticipating it from the beginning of the process until the last crumb was gone. This treat is fantastically delicious, so soft and fluffy, and bursting with comforting Fall flavors.

The caramel sauce with pecan and homemade pumpkin puree makes this bread irresistible, satisfying, and absolutely delicious!

In my house, two whole loaves were gone in one evening, no kidding! It is equally enjoyable with different beverages. It pairs really well with cold milk, a hot cup of coffee, or tea. It's usually so popular in the house, you'll want to have this treat throughout the season. So make a double portion and freeze it in serving-size portions for later.

Then just take out as many portions as desired the night before and leave them on the counter to thaw. In the morning, heat in a toaster oven and you will have one of the tastiest and quick homemade Fall breakfasts ever!

What You Need to Make Pumpkin Bread at Home

This delicious Pumpkin Bread recipe calls for simple ingredients you probably have in your pantry already. Let's look at what these are in more detail:

For Pumpkin Bread:

• Milk: We'll be using some whole milk in this recipe that'll be the liquid we use to activate the yeast. Using milk instead of water will give us richer, more flavorful bread.
• Sugar: Next, we'll need some sugar that the yeast can feed on to activate it. We'll dissolve it in the milk before adding yeast to it. You only need regular, white sugar for this recipe.
• Yeast: We'll be using some active dry yeast in this recipe that will give us the loveliest bread that's soft, fluffy, and absolutely delicious. 
• Eggs: You'll also need some eggs! This will not only add flavor but also additional richness and even help the bread rise. 
• Butter: To make the bread extra soft and fluffy, we'll add some unsalted butter to our recipe. I recommend unsalted butter so you can control the flavor more, but if you have regular butter then skip the salt in the recipe.
• Vanilla extract: We'll be adding some vanilla extract to our dough to bring all the flavors together and make it taste even better. 
• Salt: To balance out all the flavors perfectly, we'll also add a little bit of salt to the dough. I've used sea salt but you can also just use kosher salt.
• All-purpose flour: We'll also need some good ol' all-purpose flour to give the bread structure and to make it just right!

For Pumpkin Bread Filling:

• Pumpkin puree: For that delicious pumpkin flavor, we'll be using some pumpkin puree in this recipe! I've used homemade pumpkin puree, but you can use store-bought one if that's what you have. You'll need around 12 to 15-ounce of it. Make sure to use pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling.
• Brown sugar: You'll also need some light brown sugar to add the right level of sweetness to your pumpkin bread and to make it taste delicious! 
• Cinnamon: For the perfect fall flavor, we'll be using some ground cinnamon in our recipe as well which will balance out the pumpkin flavor. We'll be adding three teaspoon ground cinnamon or one tablespoon of it to the filling.
• Pumpkin pie spice: Pumpkin pie spice is the perfect addition to any pumpkin recipe, and this pumpkin bread is no exception! We'll be adding one teaspoon of it to our pumpkin bread filling.
• Vanilla extract: You'll also need some vanilla extract so bring out all the flavors and balance them perfectly.
• Pecan chips: For the perfect texture, we'll also be adding some pecans to our bread filling which is just perfect for fall and goes incredibly well with the pumpkin flavor. We'll sprinkle some on our bread before assembling it for baking.
• Caramel sauce: We'll also add some delicious caramel sauce to our bread along with the pecans before assembling and baking it.

How to Make Pumpkin Bread (Step-by-Step)

Making this delicious pumpkin bread is easier than you can imagine! Here's what you'll need to do step by step to make it at home this fall:

How to Make Pumpkin Bread Batter

Start by activating the yeast. Combine milk, ¼ cup sugar, and dry active yeast in a small bowl, and stir until dissolved. Place it in a warm place and let the yeast activate. 

Next, cut the butter into smaller pieces. Place them into a small or medium bowl and heat it in the microwave for 30 seconds or until melted. Set aside to cool.

Now beat eggs and the remaining ¾ cup of sugar together at high speed for 5 minutes. Reduce the mixer speed to low. Add sea salt, vanilla, melted butter, yeast, and mix for an additional 30 seconds or so.

Switch to a dough hook attachment and whisk in dry ingredients into the wet ingredients by adding ½ cup of the sifted flour at a time until the dough becomes smooth and not too sticky, for about 10 minutes.

Remove the hook attachment and place the dough into a warm place and let it rise for a couple of hours.

How to Make Pumpkin Bread Filling

While the dough is rising, it's time to make the filling. Place all the filling ingredients (except pecan chips and caramel sauce) into a large bowl.

Whisk together using a hand whisker until the sugar dissolves and all ingredients are well combined. Set aside until ready for use.

How to Assemble Pumpkin Bread

Time to assemble our delicious pumpkin bread! Start by setting the oven temperature to 350 F to let the oven preheat.

After the dough rises, transfer it onto a lightly floured work surface, then roll it into a ball.

Next, split the dough in half and place the second half back into the bowl and cover it to prevent the dough from drying.

Coat the first chunk of dough with flour and roll it out into a neat large rectangle.

Pour half of the pumpkin filling mixture over the dough and spread it out evenly. Sprinkle ½ cup of pecan chips evenly over the filling and then, drizzle some caramel sauce on top.

Using a pizza cutter, cut the dough into small squares (or rectangles).

Stand (or lean) one small piece of the slice on top of another in a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan lined with parchment paper. Continue the process until the pan is filled from end to end.

Make sure to have 1” of the parchment paper sticking out on all sides of the pan to prevent the juice from spilling out of the pan. One whole rectangle cut into these small pieces should fit into one bread pan.

Repeat the same instructions with the second half of the dough. Place both pans into a warm place for 30 minutes for the dough to proof.

How to Bake Pumpkin Bread

After the dough proofs, drizzle the top of the bread with caramel sauce and pecan chips and bake the bread at 350 F in a preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until a cake tester or toothpick comes out clean.

Remove from the oven, and let the bread cool in the pan for 15 minutes before transferring it onto a wire rack.

Let the bread cool to warm, and enjoy it with cold milk, latte, or tea and a little cream cheese on the side, if you prefer. Your delicious Pumpkin Bread is ready to be served!

Recipe Variation Ideas for Pumpkin Bread

This pumpkin bread recipe is absolutely perfect as it is, giving you classic flavors with a twist of pecans and caramel sauce. But if you're looking to customize it a bit, here are some ideas you can try: 

Spices: You can add other delicious and warm spices to this bread, apart from cinnamon, such as ground cloves, nutmeg, or even some ginger powder. 

Nuts and dried fruit: Apart from pecans, you can also use some walnuts in this bread. And if you love some dried fruit, consider adding some raisins or cranberries to the mix.

Bananas: You can even add a mashed banana for a banana bread variation! 

Chocolate chips: Another great addition is some chocolate chips! Just sprinkle them on along with the pecans and you'll have delicious chocolate chip pumpkin bread!

How to Store Leftover Pumpkin Bread

You can store any leftovers you may have by wrapping it in foil or plastic wrap and then storing it in an airtight container at room temperature for two days. This will make sure the bread stays moist. 

Alternatively, you can store it in the refrigerator for up to a week or freeze it for two to three months!

Similar Pumpkin Recipes You'll Love

• Simple Pumpkin Spice Latte Cake Recipe
• Honey Pumpkin Cake Roll
• Pumpkin Tiramisu Cake Recipe
• Easy Soft and Fluffy Pumpkin Dinner Rolls
• Pecan Caramel Pumpkin Rolls with Greek Yogurt Frosting
• The Tastiest Classic Pumpkin Scones (Better Than Starbucks)
• Easy Apple Cranberry Coleslaw (Perfect Holiday Side Dish)

Check out all Fall Recipes.

Recipe Card

The Best Pumpkin Bread Recipe (With Pecans and Caramel)

Valya's Taste of Home

This Pumpkin Bread recipe will give you classic flavors that are perfect for fall! It's a foolproof recipe and you'll get soft and fluffy bread every time!

4.91 from 10 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 35 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

2 hours hrs

Total Time 3 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

Course Bread

Cuisine American

Servings 14

Ingredients

  

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Pumpkin Pull-Apart Bread Batter Ingredients

• ▢ 1 cup – organic whole milk
• ▢ 1 cup – organic sugar
• ▢ 1 tbsp. – dry active yeast
• ▢ 5 large – eggs (I used home raised chicken eggs)
• ▢ 4 oz. – unsalted butter (melted)
• ▢ 1 tsp. – pure vanilla extract
• ▢ ¼ tsp. – Raymond’s sea salt
• ▢ 6 cups – organic all-purpose flour

Pumpkin Pull-Apart Bread Filling Ingredients

• ▢ 1 ½ cups – Homemade Pumpkin Puree
• ▢ 1 cup – organic light brown sugar
• ▢ 1 tbsp. – ground cinnamon
• ▢ 1 tsp. – pumpkin pie spice
• ▢ 1 tsp. – pure vanilla extract
• ▢ 1 cup – pecan chips +½ to sprinkle chips on top of the bread
• ▢ 10.5 oz. – organic caramel dip/sauce

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Instructions

 

How to Make Pumpkin Bread Batter

• ▢
  Start by activating the yeast. Combine milk, ¼ cup sugar, and dry active yeast in a small bowl, and stir until dissolved. Place it in a warm place and let the yeast activate.
• ▢
  Next, cut the butter into smaller pieces. Place them into a small or medium bowl and heat it in the microwave for 30 seconds or until melted. Set aside to cool.
• ▢
  Now beat eggs and the remaining ¾ cup of sugar together at high speed for 5 minutes. Reduce the mixer speed to low. Add sea salt, vanilla, melted butter, yeast, and mix for an additional 30 seconds or so.
• ▢
  Switch to a dough hook attachment and whisk in dry ingredients into the wet ingredients by adding ½ cup of the sifted flour at a time until the dough becomes smooth and not too sticky, for about 10 minutes.
• ▢
  Remove the hook attachment and place the dough into a warm place and let it rise for a couple of hours.

How to Make Pumpkin Bread Filling

• ▢
  While the dough is rising, it's time to make the filling. Place all the filling ingredients (except pecan chips and caramel sauce) into a large bowl.
• ▢
  Whisk together using a hand whisker until the sugar dissolves and all ingredients are well combined. Set aside until ready for use.

How to Assemble Pumpkin Bread

• ▢
  Time to assemble our delicious pumpkin bread! Start by setting the oven temperature to 350 F to let the oven preheat.
• ▢
  After the dough rises, transfer it onto a lightly floured work surface, then roll it into a ball.
• ▢
  Next, split the dough in half and place the second half back into the bowl and cover it to prevent the dough from drying.
• ▢
  Coat the first chunk of dough with flour and roll it out into a neat large rectangle.
• ▢
  Pour half of the pumpkin filling mixture over the dough and spread it out evenly. Sprinkle ½ cup of pecan chips evenly over the filling and then, drizzle some caramel sauce on top.
• ▢
  Using a pizza cutter, cut the dough into small squares (or rectangles).
• ▢
  Stand (or lean) one small piece of the slice on top of another in a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan lined with parchment paper. Continue the process until the pan is filled from end to end.
• ▢
  Make sure to have 1” of the parchment paper sticking out on all sides of the pan to prevent the juice from spilling out of the pan. One whole rectangle cut into these small pieces should fit into one bread pan.
• ▢
  Repeat the same instructions with the second half of the dough. Place both pans into a warm place for 30 minutes for the dough to proof.

How to Bake Pumpkin Bread

• ▢
  After the dough proofs, drizzle the top of the bread with caramel sauce and pecan chips and bake the bread at 350 F in a preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until a cake tester or toothpick comes out clean.
• ▢
  Remove from the oven, and let the bread cool in the pan for 15 minutes before transferring it onto a wire rack.
• ▢
  Let the bread cool to warm, and enjoy it with cold milk, latte, or tea and a little cream cheese on the side, if you prefer. Your delicious Pumpkin Bread is ready to be served!

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This recipe was originally posted on October 13, 2015 (original picture below). I tweaked it a bit since then like using a good quality ingredient and frying oil. This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure.