The Pumpkin Bread I Can't Stop Eating -- You Can Add Chocolate Chips Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Fall

by: Giulia Melucci

October31,2009

4

9 Ratings

  • Makes 1 loaf, 6 to 8 servings

Jump to Recipe

Author Notes

Happy Halloween! This pumpkin bread recipe is adapted from the "Morning After Pumpkin Bread" in my book, which in turn was adapted from Bon Appetit. This time I used half white and half wheat flour (you can use all white if that's all you have) and I lessened the sugar and put in a couple of chopped apples. (I was going to say "threw in" but then I remembered how Gabrielle Hamilton is against that kind of talk). She's also against optional ingredients. I may continue to use them. I don't think any recipe is a perfect paradigm. There are options. —Giulia Melucci

  • Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • 1 cupsugar
  • 1/2 cupolive oil, extra virgin or any other kind
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cupcanned pumpkin puree
  • 1 good baking apple such as Cortland or Northern Spy, grated (you should have 1 cup grated apple)
  • 3/4 cupall purpose flour
  • 3/4 cupwhole wheat flour
  • 1/2 teaspoonground cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoonground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoonground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoonsalt
  • 1/2 teaspoonbaking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoonbaking powder
  • 1/2 cupchopped walnuts
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-inch loaf pan whatever way you please (I use Pam baking spray).
  2. Whisk together the sugar and oil until blended, then add the eggs and pumpkin. Lay out two paper towels, stacked on top of one another. Lay the grated apples over the paper towels. Roll up the paper towels into a log and squeeze gently to remove excess juices from the apples. Add the grated apples to the pumpkin mixture and mix to combine.
  3. In another bowl, stir together the flours, spices, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Add the pumpkin mixture to the dry ingredients and stir until combined. Mix in the walnuts and let batter rest for 15 to 20 minutes.
  4. When ready to bake, pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake until the loaf is very dark and a tester inserted deep into the middle comes out clean, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack and cool in pan for ten minutes, then turn onto rack to cool completely.

Tags:

  • Bread
  • American
  • Walnut
  • Fruit
  • Pumpkin
  • Thanksgiving
  • Fall
  • Halloween
  • Breakfast
  • Dessert

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Émilie Robertson

  • Taylor Stanton

  • Kate Valleri

  • Maryellen Girton Nieminen

  • Laura

Popular on Food52

67 Reviews

Dale M. October 26, 2022

Easy to make and absolutely delicious! The house smelled like Fall.

baker50 October 6, 2019

I made this and it was great. I have two suggestions:
1. Don't waste the apple juice! Squeeze it into a bowl for later use. One potential use is if you turn this pumpkin loaf into a sweet. I add chocolate chips and once baked, I mix a little of the apple juice with some confectioners sugar and drizzle over the top.
2. You begin with the standard direction to preheat the oven, however at the end of the recipe there is a wait time of 15 minutes. You might want to save everyone some energy and note that you can turn on the oven to preheat after combining all the ingredients but before the resting time.

Émilie R. November 8, 2018

Very yummy bread. I used less sugar, only all-purpose flour, and maple-roasted almonds instead of walnuts, but otherwise followed the recipe to a tee, and it worked out quite nicely. Thanks!

Taylor S. October 8, 2018

This is a decent enough loaf but I've made many better ones. I followed the recipe exactly except substituted raisins for the apple and cut the sugar to 1/2 c. instead of 1 c. Yes, I realize this might be why the recipe is just ok, but I like other ones (such as Tartine) better!

K.V. November 17, 2018

If you make substitutions to a recipe, the review should reflect those modifications and not the actual recipe itself.

emanne February 4, 2020

I feel like subbing raisins for apples would make it a wildly different texture, since the apples are going to give the cake the moisture.

Kate V. October 16, 2017

I'll definitely make this again! I used fresh Jarrahdale pumpkin, puréed with a banana for sweetness. Australian pumpkins just aren't the same as canned Libby's! Thanks to the other readers I added the cranberries, which turned out to be my favourite part. Also, I never buy paper towels, so I just squeezed the juice out of the apple- drink that!

Maryellen G. October 15, 2017

Just a few substitutions; sweet potato instead of canned pumpkin (because we had a bumper crop this year) and coconut oil instead of olive oil. Great, moist texture and excellent flavor.

leloup September 30, 2017

Made this today with a few modifications for celiac and ingredients I had on hand. I used Trader Joe's pre-mixed gluten-free flour (potato starch, brown & white rice, tapioca). I also subbed in unsweetened applesauce instead of the grated apple. Perhaps b/c of this particular gluten-free mix, I didn't need more than the prescribed 1.5 c. to compensate for the extra liquid in the applesauce. I halved the amount of sugar (1/2 c instead of 1 c.) and added 1 tsp of vanilla.
I don't generally care for the flavor of olive oil in baking and I didn't like it here either. If I make these again, I'd replace the 1/2 c. olive oil with 1/4 c. coconut oil + 1/4 c. applesauce and perhaps add a mashed up ripe banana for sweetness. The TJ gluten-free mix worked well with the level of moisture in the recipe. The bread was dense and not at all dry, but of course wasn't as flavorful as it could have been. An almond-flour base would probably be better.

leloup October 13, 2017

Made this again using different substitutions for a slightly healthier bread with less sugar and oil:
In place of 1 c. sugar, I used 1/3 c. sugar + 1 banana. Adding 1 tsp. of vanilla also helps add a sense of sweetness without sugar.
In place of 1/2 c. olive oil, I used 1/4 c. coconut oil + 1/4 c. unsweetened applesauce.
In place of 1 c. grated apple, 1 c. applesauce (I used a total of 1 1/4 c. applesauce).
For the flour mixtures, I substituted 1 1/2 c. Trader Joe's gluten-free flour mix.
I used the whole can of pumpkin and three eggs instead of two for density.
This version was even better. Perfect sweetness, density, and moisture. Definitely my new go-to bread.

Laura September 24, 2017

Could you give us a recipe with less sugar. 1 cup seems excessive for a non dessert bread.

Steven W. September 24, 2017

with that much olive oil no wonder it's moist...plus is has grated apple and pumpkin in it...how could it be dry?

Robin B. September 23, 2017

Can you use a sugar substitute?

taco_cat December 11, 2016

I made this last night but I didn't have apples or whole wheat flour. Skipped the apples and used a total of 1 and 2/3 all purpose flour instead. Turned out wonderful!

Monica G. November 20, 2016

This was delicious! I substituted half the shredded apple for fresh grated tumeric, added extra pumkin, some ground flax, upped the spices and a sugar/pumpkin seed topping, baked it for just under the 1:15 time. Moist and flavorul!

Andrea D. November 14, 2016

Recipe developers and bakers out there: please, please, please come up with a pumpkin bread recipe that uses the whole 14 oz. can of pumpkin puree. And please don't suggest I use the leftover puree for other pumpkin recipes. Maybe this recipe could skip the grated apples and just use 14 oz. of pumpkin puree? Does anyone want to try this and report back?

Patrice November 14, 2016

My suggestion? Although not the most convenient, but certainly the best flavor- stop using canned. Buying a fresh pumpkin and cooking takes a bit of time, but the rewards are so astronomically worth it. I have converted many a canned pumpkin user to using fresh (or fresh from your freezer) pumpkin.
But on the other hand- there is no harm in using the excess pumpkin from your can in the recipe. It will only add moisture and flavor- or if you have a dog, pour the remaining pumpkin over his/ her food. Pumpkin is an exceptional filler for dogs.

Ticketytwo November 14, 2016

The grated apples make it moist and give it a nice taste so I wouldn't skip that

Deedledum November 30, 2017

Don't give your dog too much pumpkin at once. Just one tbsp. a day! (It will act like Metamucil

Kathryn November 14, 2016

What size can of pumpkin - how many ounces?

Patrice October 22, 2016

I'm sorry, but this was terribly disappointing. I made the bread with fresh pumpkin. The bread baked as it should, but it does not have the flavor and is not as moist as my standard recipe.

Claire S. October 30, 2016

I'm glad we had the same reaction - glad I'm dumping this on my coworkers and not bringing it to some meaningful event!!!

Patrice November 14, 2016

I did the same thing! I actually doubled the recipe- BIG mistake. Sent some to my son who was recently deployed to Turkey and brought the other loaves in to work.

Natalia M. September 30, 2017

would be curious to try YOUR recipe!!

Patrice October 1, 2017

Natalia, not sure how I could share my recipe. I'm not a food blogger and not sure if posting my recipe here is appropriate?

britt S. October 8, 2016

can you substitute teff flour for wheat flour?

Amelia October 1, 2016

Second time I have made this and it's so delicious. The olive oil and wheat flour absolutely make it.

wenz August 26, 2016

I like this recipe. I made the bread but it doesn't look like the picture shows ;-( I think the problem is the pumpkin puree is too wet. I used an organic can food. Can you suggest one brand to use? Next time I'll try to make fresh one too. Thanks.

Chef D. November 22, 2015

Really good

stephanieRD November 19, 2015

Baking this now and it smells incredible!!!!

The Pumpkin Bread I Can't Stop Eating -- You Can Add Chocolate Chips Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

What happens if you put too much pumpkin in pumpkin bread? ›

You might think you could overcome the lack of flavor by adding more pumpkin purée to your recipe, but you'd be mistaken: By the time you've added enough purée to taste it, your baked good would have a soggy texture on account of all that moisture.

What happens if you don't put baking soda in pumpkin bread? ›

Baking soda is a leavening agent. It creates air bubbles (technically, carbon dioxide) in your batter, when heated. Without it, your baked goods will not rise to the desired levels and the airy texture you're looking for will be adversely affected.

Can you make pumpkin bread and freeze it? ›

HOW DO I STORE PUMPKIN BREAD AND FOR HOW LONG? Place in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag for up to 4 days. To freeze, wrap in heavy-duty foil or plastic wrap and then place in a tightly sealed container or heavy-duty resealable freezer bag. Freeze for up to 2 months.

Why did my pumpkin bread come out gummy? ›

Why is My Pumpkin Bread Gummy? Pumpkin bread can seem gummy or a little bit wet when the dry to wet ratio is off. If you discover that your batter is way too wet, start by including a ½ cup of flour to help stabilize it a bit more.

What are the side effects of too much pumpkin? ›

When taken by mouth: Pumpkin is likely safe when eaten in foods. It is possibly safe to take pumpkin seed or pumpkin seed oil in medicinal amounts. Side effects from pumpkin products are rare, but might include stomach discomfort, diarrhea, and nausea.

Can too much pumpkin be bad for you? ›

Pumpkin is very healthy and considered safe for most. However, some people may experience allergies after eating pumpkin (32). It's also considered mildly diuretic, which means eating a lot of pumpkin may induce a “water pill”-like reaction, increasing the amount of water and salt your body expels through urine (33).

What if I forgot to put salt in my pumpkin bread? ›

Bread without salt is still edible, it's just rather bland and pale. Serve with spreads, herbs, or salted butter for a boost of flavor. Better yet, use the dough for pizza crust!

What happens if you forgot the salt in pumpkin bread? ›

If you forgot the salt, your dough will rise too quickly, and your bread will taste bland.

Should pumpkin bread be stored in the fridge or on the counter? ›

Once bread is cool, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. Store Pumpkin Bread at room temperature for up to five days. After three days, you may want to place the Pumpkin Bread in the refrigerator to prolong its life. Pumpkin Bread can keep in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.

Can I leave pumpkin bread out overnight? ›

Properly stored, freshly baked pumpkin bread will last for about 1 to 2 days at normal room temperature.

How do you unfreeze pumpkin bread? ›

Thaw and Serve: When you're ready to enjoy your pumpkin bread, remove individual slices or the whole loaf from the freezer. Thaw slices at room temperature for a few hours or the entire loaf in the refrigerator overnight. To recreate that freshly baked taste, warm slices in the oven at a low temperature.

How do you know when pumpkin bread is done? ›

So, to know when pumpkin bread is done, look for the crack on the top of the bread, which is a tell-tale sign it's either done or close to being done. Then stick a skewer or toothpick into the center of the bread. If it comes out clean, it's ready to come out of the oven.

How do you keep pumpkin bread from getting soggy on the bottom? ›

Preventing your pumpkin bread from having a soggy bottom is all about how you let it cool. When it comes out of the oven, let the loaf sit in the pan for a 5 minutes.

Why is my pumpkin bread bitter? ›

Over-Baking: Baking bread for too long or at too high a temperature can cause the crust to become overly browned and bitter.

What is the white sticky stuff on my pumpkin? ›

Cucurbit powdery mildew is caused by the fungal pathogens Podosphaera xanthii and Erysiphe cichoracearum. This disease causes white powdery growths on leaves, stems, and petioles (Picture 1), which then leads to necrosis as the disease progresses.

How does pumpkin affect baking? ›

Not only does pumpkin purée act as a sweetener, a creamy moisturizer, and a fat substitute in everything from muffins to soup — but it also tastes delicious in everything! But because canned pumpkin is unlike any other baking ingredient, it tends to be mistreated in recipes.

Why didn't my pumpkin bread rise? ›

Why didn't my pumpkin bread rise? It could be one of these three reasons: Expired (old) baking soda or baking powder. Adding too much batter to the pan.

What happens if you have too many pumpkin seeds? ›

If you eat too many, you may experience gas and bloating. Fiber helps bulk up stool and prevents constipation in the long run, but eating a lot of pumpkin seeds at once may actually cause constipation. As you snack on pumpkin seeds, keep in mind they're high in calories and fat.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Arielle Torp

Last Updated:

Views: 5555

Rating: 4 / 5 (61 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Arielle Torp

Birthday: 1997-09-20

Address: 87313 Erdman Vista, North Dustinborough, WA 37563

Phone: +97216742823598

Job: Central Technology Officer

Hobby: Taekwondo, Macrame, Foreign language learning, Kite flying, Cooking, Skiing, Computer programming

Introduction: My name is Arielle Torp, I am a comfortable, kind, zealous, lovely, jolly, colorful, adventurous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.