Quick breads such as this pumpkin bread are quite easy to make, as things go in the baking world. Although this recipe doesn’t have an excessive amount of oil in the batter, if you would like to eliminate it, you can. Simply substitute an equal amount of apple sauce to take the place of the oil.

Because the applesauce is sweet by nature, you can also cut back on half of the listed amount of sugar. This will not make the bread any less sweet, but it will add density and fiber to the finished loaf. This applesauce-for-oil substitution of becoming quite well-known and widely employed by health-conscious bakers.

 

INGREDIENTS

For The Bread

1¾ cups all-purpose flour

1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

½ teaspoon ground allspice

2 large eggs

¾ cup packed dark brown sugar (I substituted light brown sugar)

1/3 cup granulated sugar

2 teaspoons freshly grated orange zest (I omitted this)

1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest (I left this out, too)

½ cup canola oil

1¼ cups canned pure pumpkin puree

½ cup chopped, toasted pecans or walnuts, optional (I didn’t add the nuts to the batter, but sprinkled them on top of the frosted loaf instead)

 

For The Pumpkin Buttercream Frosting

¼ cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened

2 Tablespoons canned pure pumpkin puree

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon vanilla

3 cups powdered sugar

2 teaspoons half & half or milk

¼ to 1/3 cup chopped pecans or walnuts, optional, for sprinkling on top

 

INSTRUCTIONS

For The Pumpkin Bread

Position your oven rack in the middle of the oven, and preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9 x 5″ loaf pan; set aside.

Combine flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and allspice in a medium bowl and whisk until thoroughly combined; set aside.

In another bowl, or bowl of an electric mixer, beat eggs on medium-high speed for two minutes or until lightened in color. Add the brown sugar, mixing for about 2 minutes, then the granulated sugar, mixing for about 1 minute. Add the orange and lemon zests, if using, and beat for another minute. Scrape down the bowl as needed.

Drizzle in the canola oil with beater on medium-low. Reduce speed to low and add the pumpkin puree. Mix until thoroughly combined. Add the dry ingredients in two additions and blend for 10-15 seconds just until incorporated. Fold in the pecans using a rubber spatula.

Spoon the batter into your prepared loaf pan and bake for 60-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool loaf in pan for 10 to 15 minutes, then remove and cool completely on a wire rack.

For the Frosting

Cream the butter, pumpkin puree, cinnamon, and vanilla, blending well. Add powdered sugar a cup at a time, blending well after each addition. Add half & half or milk and blend well. NOTE: This makes a very thick buttercream frosting. If you want a thinner, creamier frosting, add more half & half or milk until you get the desired consistency.

After frosting the cooled pumpkin loaf, sprinkle with chopped pecans or walnuts if desired.

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Quick Tip:  Store any frosted leftovers in an airtight container and leave it sitting on your countertop. Buttercream frosting forms a crust on the outside, but stays creamy and smooth under the crust. If you refrigerate buttercream frosting, it will form condensation on the crust and the texture will start to break down.

Recipe courtesy of Julie F. at KeyIngredient, image courtesy of pinterest.com