Moist, fragrant, and full of warm autumn flavors, pumpkin bread is a timeless classic that captures the cozy essence of the season in every slice. Its tender crumb and rich, spiced aroma make it the perfect treat for crisp mornings, afternoon snacks, or holiday gatherings. The magic begins with pure pumpkin puree, which gives the loaf its signature deep color, natural sweetness, and soft texture. Combined with a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves, the result is a comforting balance of earthy pumpkin flavor and warming spices that taste like fall baked into a loaf.
Pumpkin bread’s appeal lies in its versatility. It’s delicious served plain, where its subtle sweetness and tender crumb shine, but it also pairs beautifully with a spread of butter, cream cheese, or even a drizzle of honey or maple syrup. For an extra layer of indulgence, you can fold in chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or dried fruit to add texture and variety. It also makes a wonderful base for creative twists, such as a streusel topping, a cream cheese swirl, or a glaze drizzled over the top for added sweetness.
This quick bread is not only flavorful but also incredibly comforting. The scent of pumpkin and spice filling the kitchen as it bakes is enough to make anyone feel nostalgic for cozy autumn days, festive gatherings, and homemade treats. It’s equally perfect as a breakfast option with a cup of dalgona coffee, a sweet afternoon pick-me-up, or a dessert served slightly warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Pumpkin bread is more than just a seasonal bake – it’s a celebration of fall flavors and simple pleasures. With its moist texture, comforting spices, and endless possibilities for customization, it’s no wonder this classic recipe remains a favorite year after year. One slice is all it takes to savor the comforting taste of autumn.

Ingredients
- 1 can pumpkin puree 15 oz
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×5 inch loaf pan.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine pumpkin puree, sugar, vegetable oil, water, and eggs. Mix until smooth.
- In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture, stirring until just combined.
- Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan.
- Bake for 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.
- Allow the bread to cool in the pan for a few minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
Nutrition










Pumpkin??? I thought this was a banana bread recipe. wth!!
Eh, not my favorite. I think I prefer banana bread instead.
Why do you put nutmeg in this? Is it really necessary? I ain’t ever seen it before in other recipes.
Yummmmm!!! 🍞😍
This pumpkin bread is absolutely delicious! Perfect for fall.
I don’t have eggs right now, can I use applesauce instead?
OMG this is so good! I can’t believe I didn’t find this recipe sooner.
Looks good, but is it really that sweet? I prefer less sugar in my bread.
I tried this recipe and it was a hit at my family gathering! Thanks for sharing!
Not bad, not great. Just okay, I guess.
Super easy to make! My kids loved helping out in the kitchen. Will definitely make again!
I followed the recipe but my bread came out soggy. What did I do wrong?
Very nice, but it could use more spice! Maybe double the cinnamon?
I dunno, doubling the cinnamon might be too much. Think it will taste weird?
I totally agree! More spice really elevates it. Cinnamon is the best! 😊
Too sweet for my taste. I tried using half the sugar and it still was sweet. Next time, I’d try using honey instead.
Why does it call for both baking powder and baking soda? Seems excessive. 🤔
OMG this is MY favorite! I added walnuts and chocolate chips. So good!
That sounds delicious! Walnuts and chocolate chips must add such a great texture. Can’t wait to try it myself.
I dunno, adding chocolate chips to pumpkin bread sounds weird. Isn’t it supposed to be more spiced than sweet?
This recipe is fantastic! I make it every fall, and it never disappoints.
Yummm!!! Love that this is easy to make. My kids loved it, and that’s saying something!
Okay but… baking soda + baking powder together—are you sure? I’m no chef, but I’ve made quick breads before and this combo can be weird.
Pumpkin bread? What’s next, zucchini bread? Lol, just kidding. It was surprisingly good!
This pumpkin bread was amazing!! So moist and flavorful! Definitely making it again!
I messed up and put in too much nutmeg, but it still tasted great! 😂
This pumpkin bread is absolutely delicious! It’s so moist and flavorful. Will make again for sure!
Did you know pumpkin bread can have real pumpkin? I thought it was just a myth! It turned out just like my grandma used to make!
It’s okay, but I expected more pumpkin flavor… Maybe I should have added more spices? Not sure if I’ll make it again.
Pumpkin bread? Meh.
This is the best pumpkin bread I’ve ever tasted! So fluffy and flavorful!
I found it too sweet for my taste. Maybe reduce the sugar next time?
I followed the recipe exactly and it still came out a bit dense. Maybe I overmixed the batter in step 4? The taste is nice though, just not as fluffy as I expected.
This pumpkin bread is amazing! I made it for a family gathering and it was gone in minutes! Definitely a 5-star recipe!
I tried this recipe too! It turned out scrumptious! Perfect for fall gatherings! 🍂
Wasn’t so great for me. Mine turned out a bit dry, maybe I overbaked it? 🤔
Don’t bother. It was dry and just not good… I followed every step and it came out like a brick.
I love pumpkin! 🍂 This recipe is super easy and turned out perfect. My kids ate it all!
That’s awesome! So glad your kids loved it. It’s always a win when they eat their veggies! 🥰
Sounds good, but can I use applesauce instead of pumpkin? I really don’t like pumpkin. 🤔
Yum! My kids loved it, I might try adding chocolate chips next time.
Why do you need eggs? Can’t you just use applesauce? It’s healthier!
Does anybody know if I can use fresh pumpkin instead of the can? I don’t have any canned stuff.
You missed salt in the instructions. I added it at the end and it was okay, but next time imma do it right.
Good catch! Salt is super important. I always add it with the dry ingredients.
Uhm, I think salt is optional. Never added it and my bread turns out fine.
I don’t like pumpkin… So, I guess this recipe is just not for me.
This was ok. I used pumpkin pie spice instead of individual spices. Still tasted fine.
Glad it turned out fine! I bet the pumpkin pie spice gave it a nice kick!
Delicious! Will make this again for sure.
Way too sweet for me personally. The texture is okay but I’ll cut the sugar next time—maybe 1 cup instead of 1 1/2.
YUM! Made this for a party and everyone was fighting for the last slice. A keeper for sure!
That’s awesome to hear! I can’t wait to try it myself; it sounds delicious! 😊
Why do you put water in it? Sounds weird to me. Is it necessary?
Good recipe but can you use fresh pumpkin? A friend said it should be better…
I don’t like cloves, so I left that out. Maybe that’s why it didn’t taste too great? Still, a decent loaf.
This pumpkin bread is amazing! So moist and tasty. Definitely making this again!
I totally agree! I made it yesterday and it was just too good. My family loved it!
It’s decent, but kinda sweet for my taste. Maybe I’ll reduce the sugar next time.
I dunno, it was okay but I was expecting more from it. Maybe too much sugar?
I don’t know. It just didn’t taste right. Too sweet and not enough spice. Disappointed.
I musta did somethin wrong. Mine was too dense, not like the one my mom used to make.
Don’t worry! I had the same issue at first. Maybe you mixed it too much? Try being gentle next time.
Your mom’s recipe must be diff. Sometimes the ingredients make a big difference, like the eggs or flour brand.
Is it really authentic? I thought pumpkin bread didn’t have nutmeg.
Absolutely loved this recipe! The bread turned out perfect and so moist!
So simple! Will make again for sure. Pumpkin season is the best time!
Pretty good! The pumpkin flavor is there, and the loaf slices nicely. Next time I might add a handful of chocolate chips because why not 😅
This is the best pumpkin bread I have ever made! So moist and flavorful!
Really? I didn’t like it much. Seemed too sweet for my taste. Maybe I did something wrong.
I totally agree! This pumpkin bread is a gem 😍. I added walnuts to mine, and it turned out even better!
Meh, didn’t impress my family. They said it was too dense. We prefer lighter breads.
I actually loved this bread! It was moist and perfect with cream cheese. Maybe try adding some nuts or using less flour next time?
Really easy to make! The kids love it too! 🍞
This turned out super moist and flavorful—loved the warm spice balance. I did bake it closer to 62 minutes because my oven runs hot, but it was perfect after that.
I’ve never made pumpkin bread before, but this was super easy to follow! Thank you!
I followed the recipe exactly, but it came out too sweet for my taste. Maybe I’ll reduce the sugar next time.
I get that! I think the sugar can be too much for some people. You could try honey or something instead for sweetness next time.
Incredible! I added some chocolate chips to the mix and it was delicious! 10/10!
Wow, chocolate chips sound amazing! I bet it gives a great twist to the pumpkin bread. I’m definitely trying that next time!
I dunno, adding chocolate chips to something as classic as pumpkin bread seems off. Pumpkin is supposed to be savory, not sweet!
Hmm, can you use different types of flour? Like almond or coconut? 🤔
This pumpkin bread is the best! So moist and flavorful, definitely making it again!
I tried this recipe too and it turned out perfect! Mine was a hit at the family gathering.
It sounds good, but I’m not sure about the amount of sugar. 1.5 cups seems like a lot!
Really easy to make. I was skeptical, but it turned out great. Thanks!
Oh wow, I used canned pumpkin but thought it was real pumpkins! It smells so good. Love it!
Not gonna lie, 1/4 cup water seems low? I added an extra splash and it baked better. Otherwise I think it would’ve been dry.
This was a disaster. Burnt on the outside and raw inside. Never trying again. 😩
Meh, I feel like it needed more spices. Pumpkin bread needs flavor, right?
Nah, I think it was fine. You just gotta appreciate the natural pumpkin flavor, ya know? Not everything needs to be over-spiced.
I totally agree! A little more cinnamon and maybe some ginger would do wonders! 🍞
I followed the recipe but my bread turned out super dense. What did I do wrong?
Just made this and my family loved it! Perfect for fall. 😍
Soo good, but I don’t have pumpkin puree. Can I use fresh pumpkin?
just wow, this bread is so easy who knew?? 🤩
Bland. Didn’t taste like much of anything. Might try adding more spices next time.
I totally agree! It definitely needs more flavor. I usually add extra cinnamon and some ginger for a kick.
I don’t know about this recipe. I tried it but it turned out too soggy. Maybe my pumpkin was too wet?
It turned out way too sweet for my taste. I think I will cut the sugar next time.
Sweet? I thought it was just right! You must be sensitive to sugar. Just saying…
I totally agree! It was super sweet for me too. Maybe next time I’ll try using less sugar, like 1 cup.
Yum 😋. My kids loved it. I’ll definitely make it for the holidays!
Pumpkin bread? More like pumpkin flop! Mine didn’t rise at all. Not happy.
Yummy! Smells like fall in my house now! 🍂🍞
Not sure why mine didn’t rise 😕. Followed the recipe but it came out flat.
Maybe your baking powder is old? That can make a difference! Don’t give up, I had a similar flop once!
Yummy in my tummy! I add raisins for extra sweetness.
Raisins? Really? I think that might ruin the texture. Just sayin’.
I love the idea of adding raisins! They really do make everything sweeter. 😊
The spices smell incredible while it bakes. I used nutmeg and cloves a little heavier (because I’m impatient), and it tasted like a fall bakery.
Yes!! Pumpkin bread is one of those “instant cozy” bakes. A little extra nutmeg/cloves totally tracks—those flavors really bloom in the oven. 🍂
I tried something like this but I think my baking soda was bad… my loaf didn’t rise. Also I used “pumpkin spice” instead of individual spices and it tasted kinda medicinal? Idk lol.
Love it! Perfect for fall. I added walnuts and it was delicious! 🥳