I love the fall season and all things pumpkin (except for pumpkin spice lattes – not my jam)! This delightfully Healthy Pumpkin Bread is one dessert bread recipe you will not want to pass up this fall! As it bakes in the oven, your house will become enveloped with the best-smelling pumpkin spice bread out there (just ask my family who can’t get enough of this dessert bread recipe).
I’m devoting this blog to my inspiring and lovely neighbor, Tonya, who is one of the healthiest people I know. She’s always outdoors, exercising or indoors cooking up something healthy. She recently asked me if I had healthy pumpkin bread recipe and I could not stop thinking about how I needed to create the perfect healthy pumpkin bread recipe as I did not a pumpkin dessert bread recipe! This one is great as you can easily top it with chopped walnuts or pecans for added nutrition and crunch.
The fact that you can make a gluten free dessert bread such as this, and also produce the perfect crumb is unbeatable. How many dessert bread recipes are vegan, gluten free, and actually taste delicious as opposed to tasting like cardboard? Not very many in my opinion! Now that you realize you can make a healthy dessert or breakfast bread and not sacrifice taste, you need to try it! I love when my family enjoys eating my healthy dessert breads like this as it makes me feel good about baking something that they not only enjoy, but that actually contains numerous health benefits – read on to learn about how many health benefits lie within this dessert bread recipe!
My fluffy and moist Healthy Pumpkin Bread recipe contains pumpkin puree, coconut oil, eggs, milk, coconut sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, oat flour, baking powder, and salt, and is done in about 50 minutes. For the ultimate splurge, serve warm with smothered with my easy homemade butter – DROOL!
If you like this, then you’ll love my Healthy Blueberry Zucchini Bread, Lite Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread, My MIL’s Banana Bread, Blueberry Lemon Bread, and Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins recipes!
Benefits of pumpkin
Pumpkin contains antioxidants such as alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, and beta-crptoxanthin, which can neutralize free radicals, preventing them from damaging your cells. According to Healthline’s post, pumpkin is packed with nutrients that benefit your immune system. Pumpkin is loaded with beta-carotene which your body converts into vitamin A. It’s also rich in vitamin C which has been linked with increased white blood cell production, helping cells to work more effectively.
People who consume a lot of vitamin A are less likely to become blind as a vitamin A deficiency is a very common cause of blindness. Pumpkin is one of the best sources of lutein and zeaxanthin, two compounds linked to reduced risks of age-related macular degeneration as well as cataracts. Lastly, pumpkin contains vitamins C and E which act as antioxidants and can prevent free radicals from damaging eye cells, thereby improving eye health.
Benefits of oats
Oats are packed with health benefits such as weight loss, reduced blood sugar, and a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. According to Healthline’s article, oats are packed with protein and contain important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Oats are high in manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, iron, zinc, folate, as well as vitamins B1 and B5.
Whole oats are high in antioxidants and beneficial plant compounds known as polyphenols. Notably, a unique group of antioxidants, avenanthramides, are almost exclusively found in oats. Research has shown that avenanthramides may help oxidative stress by increasing nitric oxide gas which helps dilate (widen) blood vessels, leading to better circulation. Additionally, avenanthramides possess anti-inflammatory as well as anti-itching effects.
Why is it a healthy dessert bread recipe?
My Healthy Pumpkin Bread recipe contains coconut oil instead of vegetable oil, oat flour instead of all-purpose flour, and coconut sugar rather than granulated sugar. My recipe contains just the right amounts of each ingredient to produce the fluffiest, moistest crumb and bite with much less added sugar. You don’t need sugar to make a dessert bread and this recipe is evidence of that.
Can this be vegan?
For a vegan recipe, substitute vegan eggs such as Bob’s Red Mill Egg Replacer and plant-based milk.
Ingredients in Healthy Pumpkin Bread
Pumpkin. Use canned pumpkin puree to make this pumpkin bread recipe and make sure to avoid using pumpkin pie filling as this recipe will not work.
Coconut oil. Coconut oil contains healthy fats as well as antibacterial properties. Baking bread with coconut oil is ideal as it can withstand higher temperatures than other oils. According to All Recipes’ article, coconut oil is made of mostly lauric acid which provides a neutral effect on long-term heart health.
Egg. Eggs provide nutrition, flavor, and help bind the other ingredients. Eggs also affect the texture and they are also leavening agents like sugar and baking powder.
Milk. Use any milk you like; for vegan, use plant-based milk such as almond milk, cashew milk, or oat milk.
Coconut sugar. Coconut sugar provides a fluffy and moist texture. Sugar also interferes with gluten by limiting the amount of gluten that is developed which leads to leaven the bread, confirming that your bread will attain the perfect texture. Here’s the coconut sugar I use.
Cinnamon. Cinnamon blends perfectly with pumpkin and provides just the right amount of spice, along with numerous health benefits.
Nutmeg. A smidge of nutmeg adds a spicy flavor.
Oat flour. To make oat flour, blend oats in a blender or food processor.
Baking powder. Baking powder is a leavening agent that contains a mixture of baking soda and tartaric acid (cream of tartar) and a thickener such as cornstarch.
Salt. Salt enhances the flavors of the other ingredients and adds flavor.
How to make the best Healthy Pumpkin Bread
STEP 1: Preheat your oven to 350° F. Spray a 9×5-inch loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray.
STEP 2: In a large mixing bowl, whisk the pumpkin, coconut oil, eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg until smooth.
Pour in the oat flour, baking powder, and salt, mixing until incorporated. Don’t overmix.
STEP 3: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
STEP 4: Bake for 55-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
STEP 5: Let cool before slicing and serving.
STEP 6: If you make this recipe, don’t forget to leave a rating and comment!
Recommended tools to make this recipe
- Loaf Pan. This one makes perfect corners for your chocolate chip zucchini bread.
- Whisk. This whisk is study and expedites the mixing process.
- Mixing Bowls. The large bowl is great preparing the batter.
More recipes you can’t live without!
Lite Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread
Healthy Blueberry Zucchini Bread
Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins
The Real Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffin Recipe
Easy 5-Minute Chocolate Pudding Pie
Final Thoughts
Finally, if you make this Pumpkin Bread recipe, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I love to hear from everyone who makes this recipe and always try my best to respond to all comments.
If you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag #elisemccollister on Instagram! It makes me so happy to see your recipe photos!
Healthy Pumpkin Bread
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 15 oz. can pumpkin puree do not use pumpkin pie filling as it will not work
- ¼ c coconut oil
- 2 eggs
- 2 tbsp milk any type
- 1 c coconut sugar can sub any type of sugar
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- 3 c oat flour blend oats in a blender to produce the flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- pinch salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350° F. Spray a 9×5-inch loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, whisk the pumpkin, coconut oil, eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg until smooth. Pour in the oat flour, baking powder, and salt, mixing until incorporated. Don’t overmix.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
- Bake for 55-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let cool before slicing and serving.
- If you make this recipe, don’t forget to leave a rating and comment!
Nutrition (per serving)
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