Rich and Buttery Pumpkin Bread
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 1⅔ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp kosher salt (or ⅛ tsp table salt)
Wet Ingredients
- 1¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup warm milk (microwave ~30 seconds)
Canned pumpkin gives a smoother texture and deeper flavor, but fresh roasted pumpkin purée works beautifully too.
Instructions
- Prepare Your PanGrease and flour a 9-inch loaf pan (or line it with parchment paper). Butter the bottom and sides first — that’s your “glue” — then add your parchment strips. This makes removing the bread later almost too easy.
- Combine the Dry IngredientsIn a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, and salt. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and SugarIn another large bowl, use a hand mixer to beat the butter and sugar on high speed until light and fluffy — about 2 minutes. This step gives your bread its tender crumb.
- Add Eggs, Pumpkin, and VanillaBeat in the eggs one at a time until smooth. Then stir in the pumpkin puree and vanilla. The batter should look creamy and rich.
- Combine Wet and DryAdd the dry ingredients into the wet mixture and stir by hand just until no streaks of flour remain. Don’t overmix — that’s how you keep it soft.
- Add the Secret Ingredient: Warm MilkSlowly whisk in the warm milk. This is the secret step that makes this pumpkin bread irresistibly moist and buttery. The warmth helps blend the fats evenly through the batter.
- Bake to PerfectionPour your batter into the prepared pan.For a loaf pan: Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 50–55 minutes.For a 9-inch round pan: Bake for 45–50 minutes.Check with a toothpick — a few crumbs are okay! Overbaking will dry it out, so pull it just as it sets in the center.
- Cool and ServeLet the bread rest for 15 minutes before removing from the pan. Cool fully on a wire rack (if you can wait that long). Slice thickly and enjoy with a pat of butter or a drizzle of maple syrup.