The Best Moist Pumpkin Bread with Tangy Cream Cheese Frosting

Get ready to fall in love with this incredible pumpkin bread with cream cheese frosting! It’s everything you dream of in a seasonal treat: incredibly moist, wonderfully tender, perfectly spiced, and just sweet enough without being overpowering. Topped with a luscious, tangy cream cheese frosting, it’s a delightful indulgence for any occasion. Whether you serve it for a cozy breakfast, an afternoon snack, or as a show-stopping dessert, this pumpkin bread pairs perfectly with a cold glass of milk or a hot cup of coffee.

If you’re a fan of autumn flavors and loved our pumpkin cheesecake muffins, then this homemade pumpkin bread recipe is your next must-try. It’s surprisingly easy to whip up, requiring simple ingredients you likely already have in your pantry. This recipe is designed to deliver consistent results every time, ensuring a delicious, perfectly spiced loaf that captures the essence of fall.

Why This Pumpkin Bread Recipe is a Must-Try

This isn’t just any pumpkin bread; it’s a labor of love that results in pure perfection. Here’s why you’ll want to bake this loaf again and again:

• Unmatched Moistness: Thanks to the pumpkin puree and oil, this bread stays incredibly moist and tender for days, never dry or crumbly.
• Perfectly Spiced: A balanced blend of cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice creates that quintessential warm, cozy fall flavor.
• Not Overly Sweet: The bread itself is moderately sweet, providing the ideal foundation for the rich, tangy cream cheese frosting.
• Easy to Make: With straightforward instructions and common ingredients, even novice bakers can achieve spectacular results.
• Versatile: Ideal for breakfast, brunch, dessert, or a lovely gift for friends and family during the holiday season.
• Crowd-Pleaser: This recipe consistently receives rave reviews and is a guaranteed hit at any gathering.

Essential Ingredient Notes for the Best Pumpkin Bread

Before you dive into baking, let’s take a closer look at the key ingredients. Paying attention to these details will ensure your pumpkin bread turns out perfectly. For precise quantities and complete instructions, refer to the detailed recipe card below.

• Pumpkin Puree: This is the heart of our pumpkin bread. You’ll need one 15-ounce can (approximately 2 cups) of pure pumpkin puree. It’s crucial to ensure you’re using *pure* pumpkin puree and NOT pumpkin pie filling. Pumpkin pie filling contains added sugars and spices, which will throw off the flavor and sweetness balance of this recipe. Look for cans that explicitly say “100% Pure Pumpkin.”
• Cream Cheese and Unsalted Butter (for Frosting): For a truly smooth, lump-free, and creamy frosting, both the cream cheese and unsalted butter need to be softened to room temperature. This typically takes about 30-60 minutes sitting on the counter. If they are too cold, your frosting will be lumpy; if too warm, it might be too thin.
• Light Brown Sugar: This provides a deeper, more molasses-like flavor and contributes to the bread’s moist texture. Make sure your brown sugar is fresh and soft. If it’s hardened, you can soften it by placing it in a microwave-safe bowl with a damp paper towel and microwaving for 10-20 seconds.
• Granulated Sugar: Works alongside brown sugar to achieve the perfect level of sweetness and tenderness in the bread.
• All-Purpose Flour: The structural base of our bread. Measure it correctly by spooning flour into your measuring cup and leveling it off with a straight edge to avoid a dense bread.
• Baking Soda and Baking Powder: These leavening agents work together to give the pumpkin bread its beautiful rise and tender crumb. Ensure they are fresh for optimal results.
• Cinnamon and Pumpkin Pie Spice: The aromatic backbone of this seasonal treat. A generous amount of cinnamon coupled with a touch of pumpkin pie spice creates a wonderfully warm and inviting flavor profile.
• Kosher Salt: Enhances all the other flavors, balancing the sweetness and making the spices pop.
• Eggs: Provide structure and moisture. Ensure they are at room temperature for better emulsion with other ingredients.
• Vegetable Oil (or Canola Oil): Contributes significantly to the bread’s incredible moistness and helps keep it tender for longer.
• Vanilla Extract: A splash of vanilla always rounds out the flavors beautifully, especially in baked goods.
• Powdered Sugar (for Frosting): Also known as confectioners’ sugar, this finely milled sugar is essential for a smooth and silky cream cheese frosting. Sifting it can prevent lumps.

Step-by-Step Guide to Baking Perfect Pumpkin Bread

Creating this delicious pumpkin bread is straightforward and rewarding. Follow these steps carefully for the best results:

• Step 1: Prepare Your Pan and Oven. Start by lining a standard 9×5 inch loaf pan with parchment paper. This makes for easy removal and cleanup. Allow some parchment paper to hang over the sides like a sling. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) to ensure it’s at the correct temperature when your batter is ready.
• Step 2: Combine Dry Ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, ground cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and kosher salt. Use a whisk to ensure all ingredients are thoroughly combined and there are no lumps of leavening agents. Set aside.
• Step 3: Mix Wet Ingredients. In a separate, medium-sized bowl, crack the two room-temperature eggs. Add the light brown sugar and granulated sugar. Beat them together until well combined and slightly lighter in color. Next, incorporate the pure pumpkin puree, vanilla extract, and vegetable oil. Mix thoroughly until all the wet ingredients are completely blended into a smooth, consistent mixture.
• Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures. Pour the wet ingredients mixture into the bowl containing the dry ingredients. Using a rubber spatula or a wooden spoon, gently fold the ingredients together. Mix just until you can no longer see streaks of dry flour. It’s crucial not to overmix the batter, as overmixing can lead to a tough and dry pumpkin bread. A few small lumps are fine.
• Step 5: Bake the Pumpkin Bread. Transfer the batter evenly into your prepared loaf pan. Place the loaf pan in the preheated oven and bake for 55-60 minutes. Baking times can vary by oven, so start checking around 55 minutes. The bread is done when a knife or wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs attached, but no wet batter.
• Step 6: Cool Completely. Once baked, carefully remove the pumpkin bread from the oven. Let it cool in the loaf pan for about 10-15 minutes before using the parchment paper sling to lift it out and transfer it to a wire rack. It is absolutely essential to allow the pumpkin bread to cool *completely* on the wire rack before you even think about frosting it. Frosting a warm loaf will result in a melted, runny mess.
• Step 7: Prepare the Cream Cheese Frosting. While the bread cools, prepare the irresistible cream cheese frosting. In a mixing bowl (you can use a stand mixer with the paddle attachment or a hand mixer), combine the softened unsalted butter, softened cream cheese, and powdered sugar. Beat on medium speed until the frosting is smooth, light, and wonderfully creamy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure everything is incorporated.
• Step 8: Frost and Serve. Once the pumpkin bread is completely cool, spread the homemade cream cheese frosting generously over the top. You can use an offset spatula for a smooth finish or simply dollop it on for a rustic look. Slice and serve!

Expert Tips for Baking the Best Pumpkin Bread

Achieving the perfect loaf of pumpkin bread is easier with a few insider tips:

• No Electric Mixer Needed: Don’t feel pressured to use an electric mixer for the bread batter. This recipe is incredibly forgiving and doesn’t require much mixing, making it perfectly suitable to be done by hand with a whisk and spatula. This prevents overmixing and ensures a tender crumb.
• Mind Your Oven: Baking times can vary significantly depending on your specific oven’s calibration. It’s crucial not to overbake your pumpkin bread, as this is the quickest way to end up with a dry, dense loaf. Start checking for doneness around the 50-55 minute mark, and then continue checking every 5 minutes thereafter until a knife or wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
• Avoid Overmixing: This is perhaps the most important tip for tender baked goods. Once you combine the wet and dry ingredients, mix only until just combined. A few streaks of flour are acceptable. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour too much, leading to a tough and chewy texture instead of a soft, moist one.
• Room Temperature Ingredients (for Frosting): As mentioned in the ingredient notes, ensure your cream cheese and butter are properly softened to room temperature for the frosting. This guarantees a smooth, creamy, and spreadable frosting without any lumps.
• Cool Completely Before Frosting: Patience is key! Frosting a warm loaf will cause the cream cheese frosting to melt and slide right off, creating a soggy mess and diminishing its flavor. Allow the bread to cool for at least 2-3 hours, or even longer, until it’s completely at room temperature.
• Don’t Use Pumpkin Pie Filling: Always use pure pumpkin puree. Pumpkin pie filling is pre-sweetened and spiced, which will drastically alter the flavor profile of your bread.

Serving Suggestions: Cold or Warm Pumpkin Bread?

This is a common question, and for pumpkin bread with cream cheese frosting, the answer is definitive: serve it cold or at room temperature. If you serve this bread while it’s still warm, a few things will happen:

• Melted Frosting: The most immediate issue is that the cream cheese frosting will melt, becoming runny and sliding off the bread. This not only makes it messy but also affects the texture and presentation.
• Muted Flavors: More importantly, the complex flavors of the pumpkin bread and the tangy sweetness of the cream cheese frosting truly develop and shine when the bread has completely cooled. When warm, the flavors can taste somewhat bland or one-dimensional. The spices, pumpkin, and cream cheese all need time to settle and meld together for the best tasting experience.

For the optimal experience, allow your pumpkin bread to cool completely before frosting, and then store it at room temperature or chilled before serving. It’s delicious with a glass of milk, a mug of hot coffee or tea, or even a scoop of vanilla ice cream if you’re feeling extra indulgent!

Proper Storage for Freshness

To keep your delicious pumpkin bread with cream cheese frosting fresh and moist, proper storage is key. Here’s how to do it:

• Room Temperature Storage: This pumpkin bread, especially with its cream cheese frosting, should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature. It will stay wonderfully fresh and delicious for up to 4 days. Storing it in an airtight container prevents it from drying out and keeps the frosting from hardening.
• Refrigeration (Optional): If your kitchen is particularly warm or humid, or if you prefer a firmer frosting, you can store the bread in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Allow it to come to room temperature for about 15-30 minutes before serving for the best flavor and texture. It will last up to a week in the fridge.
• Freezing for Longer Shelf Life: Pumpkin bread freezes exceptionally well!
  • Unfrosted: If you plan to freeze the entire loaf, it’s best to freeze it unfrosted. Wrap the cooled loaf tightly in plastic wrap, then again in aluminum foil. Place it in a freezer-safe bag or container. It will keep for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature and then frost before serving.
  • Frosted (Slices): For convenience, you can slice the baked and cooled pumpkin bread. Place individual slices on a baking sheet and freeze for about an hour until the frosting is firm. Then, wrap each frosted slice in foil or plastic wrap, and place them in an airtight container or freezer bag. This prevents the frosting from sticking and protects the slices. Freeze for up to one month. Thaw individual slices at room temperature or gently warm (unwrapped) in the microwave for a few seconds if desired (though the frosting might soften).

Delicious Variations & Add-ins

While this pumpkin bread is perfect as is, feel free to get creative with these delicious variations and add-ins:

• Nuts: Fold in ½ cup of chopped pecans or walnuts into the batter for added crunch and nutty flavor.
• Chocolate Chips: Pumpkin and chocolate are a fantastic combination! Add ½ to ¾ cup of semi-sweet, milk, or white chocolate chips to the batter.
• Dried Fruit: For a chewier texture, mix in ½ cup of dried cranberries or golden raisins.
• Extra Spices: If you love a stronger spice profile, consider adding a pinch of ground ginger, nutmeg, or cloves to the dry ingredients.
• Citrus Zest: A teaspoon of orange or lemon zest can brighten up the flavors of the bread beautifully.
• Streusel Topping: Before baking, sprinkle a simple streusel (made from flour, brown sugar, cold butter, and a pinch of cinnamon) over the batter for an extra layer of texture and sweetness.
• Maple Cream Cheese Frosting: Replace half of the powdered sugar in the frosting with maple syrup for a delightful maple twist.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some common questions about making pumpkin bread with cream cheese frosting:

Can I use fresh pumpkin puree instead of canned?

Yes, absolutely! If you have homemade pumpkin puree, you can certainly use it. Just make sure it’s thick and not too watery. If it seems thin, you might want to drain some excess moisture through a cheesecloth first to ensure the bread isn’t too wet.

My pumpkin bread came out dry. What went wrong?

The most common culprit for dry pumpkin bread is overbaking or overmixing the batter. Overbaking cooks out too much moisture, and overmixing develops gluten, leading to a tough, dry texture. Use a timer and check for doneness with a clean knife or skewer.

Can I make this recipe into muffins?

Yes! This recipe can easily be adapted for muffins. Fill muffin liners about two-thirds full and bake for approximately 20-25 minutes at 375°F (190°C), or until a toothpick comes out clean. You’ll likely yield 12-18 muffins, depending on their size.

How do I prevent my frosting from being lumpy?

Lumpy frosting usually means your butter and/or cream cheese weren’t soft enough. Ensure they are at true room temperature. Sifting your powdered sugar can also help prevent lumps.

Is this pumpkin bread suitable for gifting?

Absolutely! This pumpkin bread makes a fantastic homemade gift. Wrap the cooled and frosted loaf (or individual slices) in cellophane and tie with a festive ribbon. It’s always a welcome treat, especially during the fall and holiday seasons.

Did you try this recipe? We’d love to hear from you! Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. Your feedback helps other bakers! And consider following me on Facebook or Pinterest for more delicious recipes!