Starbucks Copycat Pumpkin Bread Recipe: Indulge in the Best Homemade Fall Treat

Originally Published 1/29/2015 Updated 9/25/2023

There’s a reason Starbucks pumpkin bread is a seasonal sensation. Its deeply moist texture, rich pumpkin flavor, and aromatic blend of fall spices make it an irresistible treat. What if you could capture that magic right in your own kitchen? This beloved recipe delivers just that – a homemade version that rivals, if not surpasses, the Starbucks original. It’s not just a quick bread; it’s a wonderfully dense and tender pumpkin pound cake, brimming with the comforting flavors of autumn.

Why You’ll Fall in Love with This Homemade Pumpkin Bread

If you’re meticulously counting calories, this might not be the page for you right now – because this homemade pumpkin bread recipe is undeniably decadent and worth every delightful bite! But for everyone else, prepare for a baking experience that yields pure autumn bliss.

• **Unmatched Moisture and Flavor:** This recipe consistently produces a bread with an incredibly moist, tender crumb and an explosion of genuine pumpkin spice flavor. It’s rich, velvety, and truly satisfying – reminiscent of a dense pound cake rather than a dry loaf.
• **The Quintessential Fall Favorite:** As soon as the leaves begin to turn and the air grows crisp, pumpkin bread becomes a staple. This recipe perfectly captures the essence of the season, making it ideal for cozy mornings, afternoon tea, or a comforting dessert.
• **Effortlessly Easy to Make:** Don’t let the delicious results fool you; this is a quick and straightforward recipe. You’ll be amazed at how easily you can whip up a fresh loaf, making it a viable (and tempting!) weekly baking tradition.
• **Significant Savings:** Skip the daily coffee shop queues and the cost of store-bought slices. Baking your own Starbucks-style pumpkin bread at home is not only more economical but also guarantees superior freshness and flavor.
• **Perfect for Gifting:** A freshly baked loaf of this exquisite pumpkin bread makes a thoughtful and much-appreciated gift for friends, neighbors, or anyone you want to share a little warmth with. Who could resist a slice of homemade deliciousness straight from the oven?

Looking for more ways to embrace the season? Some of our other cherished fall recipes include Pumpkin Cinnamon Swirl Bread, a warming Pumpkin Spice Latte, an indulgent Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Filling, fluffy Jumbo Pumpkin Muffins, delicate Maple Glazed Shortbread Cookies, comforting Baked Pumpkin Donuts, and fun Monster Eye Cookies.

Essential Ingredients for Perfect Pumpkin Bread

Crafting this phenomenal pumpkin bread relies on a careful selection of ingredients, each playing a crucial role in its celebrated texture and rich flavor. You’ll find a complete list in the recipe card below, but let’s highlight the key components:

• Dry Ingredients – We start with a foundation of all-purpose flour, combined with baking powder and baking soda. These leavening agents are vital for giving the bread its desirable rise and contribute to a lighter, fluffier texture, preventing it from becoming too dense. Measuring flour correctly (aerating, spooning into the cup, then leveling off) is key for consistent results.
• Seasonings – The soul of any great pumpkin bread lies in its spice blend. This recipe uses ground cinnamon, ginger, allspice, cloves, nutmeg, and a touch of kosher salt. This carefully balanced mix of aromatic spices infuses the bread with warm, earthy, and distinctly festive flavors, making every bite unmistakably autumn-inspired. The best part? You don’t need to buy a pre-made pumpkin pie spice blend; you’ll create a fresh, vibrant mix right at home. The salt, while small in quantity, helps to enhance all the other flavors.
• Pumpkin Puree – This is the absolute star ingredient and cannot be substituted with pumpkin pie mix or pumpkin pie filling! Pumpkin puree not only imparts that essential, robust pumpkin flavor but also significantly contributes to the bread’s incredible moisture and tender crumb. Ensure you’re using 100% pure pumpkin puree from a can.
• Other Ingredients – A combination of eggs, vegetable oil (or canola oil), granulated sugar, and dark brown sugar completes our wet mixture. The eggs act as a binder, giving the bread structure and adding a rich, luxurious moisture. The synergy of both granulated and dark brown sugars provides a balanced sweetness and introduces wonderful caramel notes, deepening the overall flavor profile. The oil is specifically chosen for its ability to create an exceptionally moist and tender bread that stays fresh longer than butter-based recipes.

Pumpkin Bread Recipe Video Guide

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How to Make the Best Pumpkin Bread (Better Than Starbucks)

You’ll be delighted by how incredibly simple this recipe is to follow, making it a joy to bake again and again!

First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Prepare an 8×4 or 9×5 inch loaf pan. You can grease and flour it (a baking spray with flour works wonders), or line it with parchment paper or aluminum foil, leaving a generous overhang on the sides. This overhang will act as “handles” later, making it effortless to lift the baked bread out of the pan. Set your prepared pan aside.

In a medium-sized bowl, combine all your dry ingredients: all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, ground cinnamon, ginger, cloves, allspice, nutmeg, and kosher salt. Use a whisk to thoroughly combine them, ensuring all the spices and leavening agents are evenly distributed throughout the flour. This step is crucial for consistent flavor and rise in your pumpkin bread. Set this dry mixture aside.

Now, in a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs, granulated sugar, dark brown sugar, and vanilla extract together. You can use an electric mixer (a handheld one works perfectly) and beat on high for about 30 seconds, or until the mixture is lightened in color and slightly fluffy. If you don’t have an electric mixer, don’t worry – hand mixing will also achieve excellent results, just requiring a little more arm work.

Next, incorporate the pumpkin puree and vegetable oil into your wet ingredients. Mix thoroughly with your electric mixer (or by hand) until everything is well combined and the mixture is smooth and vibrant orange. This creates the wonderfully rich and moist base for your pumpkin bread.

Finally, add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture. Mix until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the batter! Overworking the flour can develop the gluten too much, leading to a tough and dense bread, which is the opposite of the tender crumb we’re aiming for. A few lumps are perfectly fine.

Pour the luscious pumpkin bread batter into your prepared loaf pan. If desired, sprinkle the top with pumpkin seeds for a delightful crunch and visual appeal. Bake in the preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes. The bread is done when a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs attached.

Allow the pumpkin bread to cool in the pan for about 10-15 minutes before carefully transferring it to a wire rack. While it’s tempting to slice into it immediately, letting it cool longer allows the flavors to meld and the texture to set perfectly. However, if you’re like us, waiting until it’s just cool enough to handle and easily remove from the pan is often the best you can do!

There’s nothing quite like the aroma of freshly baked pumpkin bread filling your home. Stay in, brew a fresh cup of your favorite coffee or tea, and savor a warm, generously sliced piece of this truly addictive, pumpkin-packed delight!

Consider this a warning: this is genuinely the best pumpkin bread recipe you’ll ever try. Its moist texture and rich, spiced flavor are so captivating, you’ll want to make it year-round!

Expert Tips & Delicious Variations for Your Pumpkin Bread

Achieve pumpkin bread perfection every time with these helpful tips and creative variations:

• **Measure Flour Accurately:** This is a golden rule in baking. Always aerate your flour by fluffing it with a spoon, then gently spoon it into your measuring cup, and finally, level it off with the back of a knife. Scooping directly from the bag can compact the flour, leading to too much flour and a dry, dense loaf.
• **Do Not Overmix the Batter!** Once you add the dry ingredients to the wet, mix only until they are just combined. A few streaks of flour are acceptable. Overworking the flour develops gluten, which can result in a tough, chewy, and less tender pumpkin bread.
• **Use Pure Pumpkin Puree:** This distinction is critical. Always check the label to ensure you’re using 100% pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie mix or pumpkin pie filling, which contain added spices and sweeteners that will alter the recipe.
• **Embrace the Oil:** This recipe specifically calls for vegetable or canola oil, and it’s key to the bread’s incredible moisture and tender texture. Do not attempt to substitute melted butter, as it will fundamentally change the bread’s consistency and moisture level, resulting in a drier crumb.
• **Trust the Original Ratio:** We’ve experimented over the years trying to reduce the oil or increase the pumpkin content, but these adjustments consistently compromise the signature moist texture and rich flavor of this tried-and-true recipe. Stick to the specified amounts for the best results.

Creative Twists and Add-Ins

While the classic recipe is perfect as is, feel free to customize your pumpkin bread with these delicious variations:

• **Simplify Your Spices:** If you prefer, you can substitute the individual spices with a pre-made blend. Use approximately 2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice along with 3/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon. You might want to adjust the exact amount of pumpkin pie spice to your taste, as strengths can vary.
• **Crunchy Toppings:** For an extra layer of texture and flavor, sprinkle the top of the batter before baking with pumpkin seeds (pepitas), sunflower seeds, turbinado sugar (for a coarse, sparkly finish), demerara sugar, or simply granulated sugar.
• **Chocolate Lover’s Delight:** While some prefer pumpkin on its own, if you enjoy the combination, feel free to fold in about 1 cup of chocolate chips (dark, semi-sweet, or milk) into the batter before pouring it into the pan.
• **Nutty or Fruity Additions:** Enhance your loaf by mixing in 1/2 to 1 cup of chopped pecans, walnuts, or even dried cranberries or raisins for a chewy fruit burst.
• **Mini Loaves or Muffins:** This recipe is versatile! You can also bake the batter in mini loaf pans or as muffins. For mini loaf pans, the baking time will be approximately 30 minutes. For muffins, bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Adjust baking time and keep an eye on them, as smaller portions cook faster.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pumpkin Bread

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