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CLASSIC VEGAN PUMPKIN BREAD (1 BOWL + HEALTHY)

healthy vegan pumpkin bread sliced

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5 from 49 reviews

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.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups flour (spelt, all-purpose, whole wheat, 1-to-1 GF flour blend)
  • 1/23/4 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
  • 12 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!