Pumpkin Banana Bread

Name: Pumpkin Banana Bread
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 85 min
Total time: 95 min
Ingredients: 1 cup dark brown sugar; ½ cup sugar; ½ cup canola oil; 2 eggs, (room temperature); 1 cup canned pumpkin puree; 1 cup banana, (mashed ); ¼ cup whole milk; 1¾ cups flour; ½ teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon baking soda; ½ teaspoon baking powder; 1 teaspoon cinnamon; 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice; ½ cup pecans, (diced (or walnuts))

This easy, delicious, moist pumpkin banana bread recipe is so simple to make from scratch and offers fantastic banana and pumpkin flavor!

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Table of Contents

Substitutions And Additions
How To Make This Pumpkin Banana Bread Recipe
How To Serve This Banana Pumpkin Bread
Storage
Why We Love This Recipe
Frequently Asked Questions
More Recipes You’ll Love
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This easy pumpkin banana bread is a moist quick bread featuring the combination of pumpkin spice and the sweetness of bananas. It’s a great way to welcome the fall season and a lovely addition to your breakfast table.

Pumpkin Banana Bread Ingredients

Pumpkin Banana Bread raw ingredients that are labeled

This pumpkin banana bread combines dark brown sugar, sugar, and canola oil for depth and moisture, while pumpkin puree and mashed banana infuse a natural sweet flavor.

The addition of spices like cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice evokes autumnal warmth, and diced pecans or walnuts provide a delightful crunch and nutty richness.

You’ll need:

1 cup of dark brown sugar
½ cup of sugar
½ cup of canola oil
2 eggs, room temperature
1 cup of canned pumpkin puree
1 cup of mashed banana
¼ cup of whole milk
1¾ cups of all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of baking soda
½ teaspoon of baking powder
1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice
½ cup of diced pecans or walnuts

PRO TIP:

Watch out when you are at the grocery store that you buy pure pumpkin purée and not canned pumpkin pie filling.

Substitutions And Additions

FLOUR: You can make this yummy bread with whole wheat flour or all-purpose flour.

ADD-INS: There are fun ways to add a little something extra to your bread. You could add nuts, raisins, dried cranberries, or chocolate chips to the batter if you’d like.

OIL: Instead of the canola oil, you could substitute it with coconut oil or applesauce.

GLAZE: Adding a caramel glaze is optional, and we have provided the directions for it below. Sometimes I make this without the glaze and spread butter on it instead. Either way is so delicious.

DARK BROWN SUGAR: If you’re out of dark brown sugar, light brown sugar can step in with its slightly milder flavor.

You can also mix a tablespoon of molasses with regular granulated sugar as a dark brown sugar substitute for that rich caramel note.

PUMPKIN PIE SPICE: No pumpkin pie spice on hand? Create your own by combining cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and a dash of allspice.

Adjust the proportions to match your taste preferences for that delightful fall spice blend.

How To Make This Pumpkin Banana Bread Recipe

Let’s jump right into making the batter for this delectable pumpkin bread. Once baked, you will be ready to dive in.

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

This delicious recipe freezes really well. Make a double batch and freeze the second loaf for later.

STEP ONE: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a loaf pan with non-stick spray.

PRO TIP:

You can buy loaf pan parchment liners to make lining your pans quick and easy.

STEP TWO: Combine the brown sugar, white sugar, oil, and eggs in a medium bowl. Stir to mix.

brown sugar, sugar oil, and egg mixed together

STEP THREE: In a separate bowl, mix bananas, pumpkin puree, and whole milk. Add to the sugar and egg mixture.

bananas, pumpkin puree and milk mixed and then added to the sugar mixture

STEP FOUR: Sift the flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spices together in a large bowl. Add pecans or walnuts.

flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spices stirred together and add pecans and walnut

STEP FIVE: Slowly add one-third of the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients at a time, and mix as you add.

dry ingredients added to the wet ingredients

STEP SIX: Pour into the prepared pan.

STEP SEVEN: Bake at 350°F for 85 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean.

STEP EIGHT: Remove from oven and allow pumpkin bread to cool completely on a wire rack.

PRO TIP:

Optional Homemade Caramel Drizzle:

INGREDIENTS:

7 ounces of sweetened condensed milk
½ cup of firmly packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon of butter
¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. In a saucepan, combine milk and brown sugar.

2. Bring it to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly.

3. Reduce heat, and simmer for about 8 minutes, still stirring.

4. Remove from heat. Add the vanilla and butter.

5. Let it cool for about 5 minutes before drizzling it over the pumpkin banana bread.

How To Serve This Banana Pumpkin Bread

Enjoy all the lovely fall flavors in this sweet bread. It would be a delicious addition to any fall breakfast table, along with a warm homemade pumpkin spice latte or our Instant Pot hot chocolate.

Transform your bread into a decadent breakfast or brunch by making French toast. Dip slices in a mixture of eggs, milk, and a pinch of cinnamon, then cook them until golden brown.

Repurpose any leftover slices into a rich and comforting bread pudding. Tear the bread into chunks, soak it in a mixture of eggs, milk, sugar, and spices, then bake until it’s golden and custardy.

Top it with a drizzle of caramel sauce or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

For another simple recipe, check out our chocolate banana bread or our monkey bread.

MORE QUICK BREAD RECIPES

Quick Breads

Strawberry Bread

Quick Breads

Banana Bread Made With Buttermilk

Storage

Whether you plan to enjoy the bread over several days or want to save some for later, here’s what you need to know.

MAKE AHEAD: If you’re short on time in the morning but still crave that freshly baked taste, you can prepare the batter the night before.

Simply mix all your dry ingredients together in one bowl and all the wet ingredients in another, then cover and refrigerate them separately.

When you’re ready to bake, just combine the two, pour into your loaf pan, and pop it in the oven.

ON THE COUNTER: Any leftovers can be stored in either an airtight container or a Ziploc bag on the counter for two to three days.

IN THE FREEZER: To freeze this pumpkin banana bread, just make sure to wrap it well in plastic wrap or aluminum foil before placing it in the freezer.

close up overhead shot of slices of Pumpkin Banana Bread

Why We Love This Recipe

INCREDIBLE FLAVOR FUSION: This recipe combines the warm, comforting flavors of pumpkin and banana, creating a delightful fusion that’s perfect for autumn. The blend of spices adds depth and complexity, making each bite a flavorful experience.

MOIST TEXTURE: The use of both canned pumpkin puree and mashed bananas ensures that the bread stays incredibly moist. It’s a recipe that consistently delivers a soft, enjoyable crumb with every slice.

The pumpkin and banana flavors in this pumpkin banana bread are a brilliant combination. Moist, sweet, and spiced, this bread will be a welcome addition to the breakfast table.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you store this quick bread recipe?

You can store pumpkin banana bread in plastic wrap or an airtight container at room temperature for several days.

Can this bread be frozen?

You can freeze this great recipe by wrapping it in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil before putting it in the freezer.

Can I make my own homemade pumpkin puree?

If you would prefer to use homemade pumpkin puree rather than store-bought, you certainly can make this substitution.

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