Vegan Pumpkin Bread (Easy + Healthy)
The best Vegan Pumpkin Bread is made with simple ingredients from your pantry and bakes up perfectly moist and flavorful! It uses 1 whole can of pumpkin puree, is healthy, dairy-free, and eggless – but most importantly, it’s delicious!
Fall is here – it’s time to get the oven going and the house smelling like autumn!
Who doesn’t love the taste of fall? And what better way to celebrate fall than with a loaf of vegan pumpkin bread wafting through the air – especially one that’s healthy and so easy to make!
Turn on the oven, open up the windows, and let your neighbors smell all the deliciousness. It’s seriously the best air freshener!
Adapted from my favorite Vegan Banana Bread, this pumpkin loaf bakes up beautifully and works well replacing the banana with one whole can of pumpkin puree. It is the BEST vegan pumpkin bread if I do say so myself!
If you are a pumpkin lover, for variation, give this Vegan Pumpkin Oatmeal, Pumpkin Oat Muffins, or Pumpkin Spice Pancakes a try. The whole family will love them!
Ingredient Notes
In this recipe, flour, pumpkin puree & spice, sweetener, and almond milk are made into a batter and baked to perfection, creating a perfectly moist and flavorful loaf of the best vegan pumpkin bread.
Here is everything you will need, including ingredient substitutions:
- Pumpkin Puree – Instead of the standard 1 cup of puree used in many recipes, I prefer using the whole can of pumpkin puree so as not to waste or have to use the rest later, which I never end up doing. Be sure to only use 100% pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling.
- Flour – Just about any flour will work – spelt, white whole wheat, all-purpose, 1 to 1 GF flour blend.
- Sugar – I used coconut sugar, but feel free to use your favorite. I have also made this using 2/3 cup maple syrup at room temperature in place of sugar with great results.
- Applesauce or neutral oil – I’ve used both with excellent results. Applesauce may yield a slightly denser loaf. Here is an easy homemade Unsweetened Applesauce.
- Plant milk – Preferably unsweetened, use your favorite – almond, soy, cashew, oat, etc.
- Spices – I used the pumpkin pie spice mix, plus a little extra cinnamon for an added boost of flavor. If using the individual spices, adjust the measurement to suit your taste.
- Baking powder + baking soda – If you don’t have baking soda on hand, double the baking powder.
- Toppings: Adding chopped pepitas, walnuts, whole sesame seeds, or oats to the top will add texture and visual appeal. Sometimes, I’ll lightly sprinkle the top with raw sugar before baking (this is my daughter’s preferred topping).
Now, let’s put it all together…
How To Make Vegan Pumpkin Bread
Making vegan pumpkin bread is as easy as 1, 2, 3! Here you’ll find photos for reference when baking your loaf.
- Simply mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl, add the wet ingredients, and mix just until the flour is combined.
- Place batter in a 9 x 5 loaf pan, top with optional pumpkin seeds (shown above right), and bake for 55 – 60 minutes.
- Once done, let it cool (shown below) and enjoy the flavors of fall!
And that’s it – the best 1 bowl vegan pumpkin bread made easy and healthy!
Top Tips!
- Use room temperature ingredients for best results. Cold ingredients do not incorporate as well as when they are at room temp. Room temp ingredients will yield a fluffier pumpkin loaf.
- Don’t overmix the batter. Just mix until there are no streaks of flour. Overmixing may result in a loaf that does not rise well and may become gummy in the center.
- Add chocolate chips. For variation, try adding a handful of chocolate chips to the batter!
- For best results, remove the loaf from the pan after 10 minutes and let it cool on a wire rack. Letting your loaf remain in the pan while cooling may result in a soggy bottom and possibly a gummy center.
F&Qs
Can I make pumpkin bread gluten-free? Absolutely! You can use any gluten-free flour blend, oat flour, or buckwheat flour, replacing 1 – 1 the amount of flour called for. I do not recommend using all coconut flour as it’s tricky to work with.
Can I make this quick bread recipe oil-free? Yes! Replace the oil with unsweetened applesauce for a healthy oil-free pumpkin bread. The loaf may be a little denser but the flavor will still be great.
Can I make pumpkin bread without baking soda? You sure can! Instead of using baking soda, use 1 level tablespoon baking powder with great results!
How To Store + Freeze
Counter + Refrigerator: Once cooled, pumpkin bread can be stored, covered, on the counter for up to 3 – 4 days. You can also store it in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Freezer: Vegan pumpkin bread is freezer-friendly and can be stored in the freezer for up to 2 – 3 months. To freeze, let cool completely and store in freezer wrap or freezer bags, removing as much air as possible before closing. Let thaw in the refrigerator. Pumpkin bread can also be stored, covered, on the counter for up to 3 – 4 days. You can also keep in the refrigerator for up to a week.
More Vegan Quick Bread Recipes!
Vegan quick breads are the best and so easy to make! Take a look at these other quick bread recipes, you just may find yourself a new favorite!
- Applesauce Bread (Oil Free)
- Cranberry Orange Bread
- Vegan Banana Bread
- Healthy Blueberry Banana Oat Bread
- Buckwheat Banana Bread (Gluten Free)
If you try this pumpkin loaf recipe or have a question, please let me know! Leave a comment and rate it below. I love to hear what you think, or any changes you make.
PrintCLASSIC VEGAN PUMPKIN BREAD (1 BOWL + HEALTHY)
Simple, minimal ingredients, bring in the fall season with a freshly baked loaf of pumpkin bread wafting through the air! This easy, 1 bowl pumpkin bread recipe is vegan + wfpb.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 55 min
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: Makes 8 – 10 slices 1x
- Category: Quick Bread
- Method: bake
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour (spelt, all-purpose, whole wheat, 1-to-1 GF flour blend)
- 1/2 – 3/4 cup sugar (coconut, turbinado or organic pure cane)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice or 1 tsp each cinnamon & ginger and 1/2 tsp each nutmeg & allspice and a pinch of clove
- pinch of mineral salt
- 1 – 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1/3 cup water or unsweetened almond milk (at room temp)
- 1/3 cup neutral-flavored oil (or coconut oil is liquid state) or applesauce
- 1 can (15 oz) 100% pumpkin puree or 1 1/2 cups (338 g) fresh pumpkin puree
- small handful pepitas (pumpkin seeds), for topping (optional)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease loaf pan.
Mix: In a medium size bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices and salt. In a 2 cup measuring cup, combine oil, sugar, water/milk and vanilla. Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture along with the pumpkin puree and mix well. Careful not to over mix, but be sure there is no flour clumps. Taste batter, adjusting flavor or sweetness to your liking.
Bake: Pour batter into prepared loaf pan, place in oven, on center rake, and bake for 55 – 60 minutes. Once done, remove from oven and let cool 5 – 10 minutes. Remove loaf from pan and transfer bread to a wire rack to cool slightly before serving.
Sliced pumpkin bread is delicious warmed in a toaster oven and served with a smear of vegan butter.
Makes 8 – 10 slices
Store: Let cool completely before storing. Keep covered on the counter for 2 – 3 days. Warm in the toaster oven.
Notes
For ingredient conversions to grams, I recommend using the thorough King Arthur conversion weight chart.
Use room temperature ingredients for best results. Cold ingredients do not incorporate as well as when they are at room temp. Room temp ingredients will yield a fluffier pumpkin loaf.
Adjusting oil: I’ve made this loaf using less oil, anywhere from 2 – 4 tablespoons, while substituting the remaining amount called for with almond milk or water. It turned out fabulous while cutting some fat out of the recipe. Use applesauce in place of oil as well, loaf may be a little denser – but still delicious!
Spices: I used the pumpkin pie spice mix plus some extra cinnamon. I like all the flavors. If using the individual spices adjust the measurement up to suit your taste. Use less spice if you want to taste more of the pumpkin. Remember to always start with the smaller amount and work your way up. You cannot take away, but you can always add.
Optional flax-eggs: Since there are no flax-eggs here, if you wish you can add two flax-eggs in place of the water + add 3 extra tablespoons water or you can simply add two tablespoons of flaxseed meal to the batter with the dry ingredients. Ground flax seeds have great nutritional benefits and can be added to boost the nutritional profile of this recipe. If you have some on hand, go for it!
Sugar adjustments: Adjust the sugar up a little if you like it a bit sweeter. Because this batter is on the thicker side, you can also add in up to 1/4 cup, or replace dry sugar with, warmed or room temperature pure maple syrup. Chilled maple syrup needs to be warmed or it will harden the coconut oil.
Maple Syrup: I have successfully made various loaves using 2/3 cup maple syrup at room temperature. I made a loaf using all unbleached all-purpose flour and another with half all-purpose and half whole wheat. Also, I tested one loaf with light flavored olive oil and another with applesauce. All my loaves baked up perfectly!
Toppings: Add chopped pepitas, walnuts or whole sesame seeds or oats to the top for added texture and visual appeal. Sometimes I will lightly sprinkle the top with raw sugar before baking (this is my daughters preferred topping). Even a cinnamon sugar mix would be delicious!
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Love this recipe! I used white whole wheat flour, maple syrup, almond milk, and grape seed oil. Tasty!
THANK YOU so much for providing ingredient weights!! As well as volume measurements.
I have a kitchen scale, which I bought to make sourdough bread, and I find I want to use it for other baking and even cooking. I lived in Germany for a while (many years ago), and cooks and bakers there marveled at how Americans could cook and bake without a kitchen scale! Now I even have a smaller one, for ingredients such as salt and spices.
I just took a loaf of this bread out of the oven, and I think it is the best pumpkin bread ever! I stuck to the original recipe, except that I used a third cup of almond flour and for the rest, spelt flour. I used 3/4 cup of coconut sugar and topped it with toasted pecans. It came out perfect!
I haven’t even made this recipe yet. But I already know it’s gonna be great for one main reason. My young child has been recently diagnosed with EOE an allergy related problem that in short, causes swelling In the esophagus which makes food to become stuck. She is currently and temporarily on a restrictive diet until we can pinpoint her allergies. This poor kids can’t eat egg, gluten,dairy, nuts or eggs! It’s Easter Sunday in Germany and no stores are open. I wanted to give my little girl a treat and I happen to have a can of pumpkin purée. I’ve been looking for recipes and most call for many items that most people don’t have in their kitchen. I was getting frustrated. Then I found this recipe! I’m still not even sure if she will be able to swallow it but I’m very thankful the recipe doesn’t call for ground unicorn horn or something to that effect!
I’ve made this 4 times in the last 30 days. Great recipe! I made it with 1/2 oat flour and 1/2 whole wheat flour and went with the applesauce option.
(for my latest loaf, I added fresh cranberries and chopped pecans-my new favorite way!).
Thanks for sharing this!
Can I use almond, oat or coconut flour instead?
You can sub up to 1/3 cup of almond or coconut flour in this recipe, or use all oat flour. I don’t recommend using all almond or coconut flour, unless specifically specified as it doesn’t contain gluten and can be tricky when vegan baking. Hope that helps!
Delicious!! I added some garlic and cardamom powder too. I was surprised by how well it rose, even half way into baking :) I cut off the ends to “make it look nice” aka eat some myself before giving it to my dad. The bottom centimeter looks a little dense and my toppings got slightly burnt so I think I might lower the temp a little next time and bake a little longer. My oven may run a little hot? Do you have any suggestions? I did 350F for 60 minutes. :) thank you!
Your additions sounds great, adding a little savory and delicious cardamom! I would suggest getting an oven temperature checker. They are pretty cheap and will help make sure your oven temp is correct. Also, if using applesauce it may be a little denser. And be sure to not overmix the batter. Hopefully that will help with bottom from being a little dense. So glad you loved it other than then that!
Thank you! Also, I meant ginger and cardamom hahaha I think I’m going to try again without the apple sauce and see how that bakes. Thanks :) My dad didn’t know this was vegan and loved it.
Thank you! Also, I meant ginger and cardamom hahaha I think I’m going to try again without the apple sauce and see how that bakes. Thanks :) My dad didn’t know this was vegan and loved it.
Substituted with gluten-free flour blend from Trader Joe’s and it worked really well! Also spread vegan butter mixed with maple syrup + cinnamon on top of my slice. So good!
I also found this to be gummy. I used maple syrup, like I do w every pumpkin bread, instead of sugar and a neutral grape seed oil instead of applesauce.
I let it cool and it’s still gummy.
Sorry you had an issue! I was curious and tested a loaf this morning using unbleached all-purpose flour, 2/3 cup of room temp pure maple syrup along with a light flavored olive oil and my loaf baked up perfectly. My only guess is that the batter was overmixed. I do hope you try again with better luck. Thank you so much for sharing!
Tastes good, but the texture is *very* gummy. Perhaps because I used applesauce instead of oil. Would adding a flax egg help with this?
The applesauce could be the culprit as it will yield a slightly denser bread, but it shouldn’t be gummy at all. I just made loaf today with applesauce and it was perfect. It could be that the batter was over stirred. Stirring until just combined is best. Any additional stirring may cause the gluten to not rise as well. Letting it cool completely before cutting may also help. Hope these tips help and you try it again with better luck!