Easy Pumpkin Bread Recipes For A Crisp Fall Day

Autumn is nearly here, and you know what that means -- red and orange leaves, sweater weather, spiked apple cider, and delicious pumpkin bread to warm you up as the weather chills. Pumpkin bread is one of the season's biggest staples, and can be sweet or spiced up depending on your tastes. Here, we'll walk you through making this fall favorite, plus some delicious variations.

Traditional Pumpkin Bread Recipe

Pumpkin is one of the most popular foods during the autumn months, and it can be used to prepare a variety of dishes. With its natural, lightly sweet flavor, pumpkin is the perfect addition for melt-in-your-mouth bread that is satisfying for any time of the day. Pumpkin bread is a palette pleaser both adults and children will love. Although the texture of pumpkin is a little more watery than many other types of foods used in bread, such as sweet potatoes and bananas, its natural juiciness is what keeps the bread moist. Despite its squash-like flavor when raw, its sweetness is illuminated when baked to create the perfect culmination of sweet and salty. Here's how to make pumpkin bread of your own:

What You'll Need:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1 teaspoon of ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
• 1 1/2 sticks of softened butter (unsalted)
• 2 cups of sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 15 oz. can of 100 percent pure pumpkin

Instructions:

1. Set the oven rack into the middle slot and preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
2. Grease two 8x4-inch bread pans with butter, then coat with flour.
3. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking powder, cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Whisk until creamy and blended, then set aside.
4. In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar until creamy and smooth. Then add the eggs, one at a time, fully blending it in after each addition.
5. Next, add the pumpkin, blending until fully incorporated. The mixture may look grainy, which is fine.
6. Add the flour mixture into the pumpkin mixture until a rich, creamy consistency is acquired.
7. Evenly pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake at least 65-75 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the bread, comes out clean.
8. Once bread is finished, allow it to sit for about 10 minutes, until cooled. Then carefully take them out of their pans to place onto a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Spice Bread

Pumpkin spice bread not only highlights the pumpkin flavors itself, but spiciness, which lends a richer, bolder and mouthwatering flavor that is robust and awakens the senses. Pumpkin spice bread adds ample amount of spices to add a kick, such as cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and even allspice to amp up the flavor without overpowering the main ingredient. These spices pair nicely with the pumpkin flavor for an even more charming quality that is slightly more sweeter and spicier than traditional pumpkin bread, but doesn't skimp on taste.

What You'll Need:

• 3 cups of granulated sugar
• 1 cup of vegetable oil
• 4 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 can of 100 percent pumpkin
• 3 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground allspice
• 1/2 cup of water

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease two 9x5 inch loaf pans.
2. In a large bowl, blend together the sugar, oil, and eggs. Then add the pumpkin and blend until creamy. Set aside.
3. In a medium-sized bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, cloves and allspice and whisk together until ingredients are completely combined.
4. Add the flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture and beat until all the ingredients are well combined.
5. Evenly distribute the mixture into both baking pans, place in the oven and bake for approximately 60-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the mixture comes out clean.
6. When finished, cool the bread in the pans for about 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Fall just wouldn't be the same without pumpkin bread. Try these recipes for a traditional or spicier spin on an old classic.