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! 😂
Tbh I forgot to grease and flour the pan… it stuck a little. Flavor was still good, but the slice was ugly lol.
Haha I’ve totally done that before—ugh. I’m glad it still tasted good though! Next time I bet a quick extra coat (or even baking spray) will save the looks 😄
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’m impressed it’s so simple. The prep was easy and the loaf smelled amazing while baking.
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.
The spice mix is very “warm,” but I’m not sure about cloves in pumpkin bread. It’s okay though, just surprising.
I get what you mean—cloves can be super noticeable. But in pumpkin bread they just add that “holiday” depth. If you want it less intense, try cutting the cloves in half next time.
Cloves is fine lol. Pumpkin bread needs that warm spice vibe. If anything, I’d maybe add a little more cinnamon instead of removing cloves.
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…
Not bad, but it didn’t rise much for me. I measured the baking powder/soda carefully too. Maybe I overmixed the batter? Still tasted great with coffee.
I don’t like cloves, so I left that out. Maybe that’s why it didn’t taste too great? Still, a decent loaf.
Not gonna lie, I was skeptical about using only 1/4 cup water with all that flour, but it came together anyway. Easy recipe.
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.
This is authentic? The pumpkin bread I grew up with had butter and no vegetable oil. Still, it tastes good.
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!
Did anyone else notice 1/4 cup water seems like a lot? Mine batter was thinner than expected, but it still baked fine.
This is the first pumpkin bread recipe I’ve tried that actually came out flavorful. I used fresh pumpkin purée from roasting—no issues. Thanks!
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! 🍞
Not gonna lie—mine tasted bland until I added a little more cinnamon. Might be the brand of pumpkin puree? Idk.
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.
The texture is nice, but I found it a little too sweet for me. Next time I’ll cut the sugar down by like 1/4 cup.
Totally get that—pumpkin bread can end up sweet fast. Cutting the sugar by 1/4 cup sounds like a great next step.
The measurements are clear and it bakes reliably. I love that it’s not overly sweet and has real pumpkin flavor.
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. 😩
The cloves are a bit strong for my taste, next time I’ll cut them in half. Flavor is still great though.
Honestly, pretty good. Mine baked closer to 65 minutes because my loaf pan runs hot. Spices are spot on, though I think next time I’ll do a tiny bit less cloves—just personal preference.
I doubled the cinnamon and nutmeg because why not, and it became overpowering. Don’t freestyle unless you’re sure.
Honestly, I appreciate this warning. I’ve done the “because why not” spice move before and it can get real overwhelming fast—good call not freelancing.
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. 😍