Autumn Pumpkin Apple Loaf

Experience the ultimate taste of autumn with this incredible Pumpkin Apple Bread! You no longer have to choose between two beloved fall flavors. This tender, spiced pumpkin bread is generously studded with juicy chunks of fresh apples, creating a quick bread that’s exceptionally moist, fragrant, and truly captures the essence of the season.

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Embrace the Flavors of Fall with Pumpkin Apple Bread

As the leaves begin to turn golden and a crisp coolness fills the air, there’s an undeniable urge to retreat indoors and fill our kitchens with the comforting aromas of fall baking. For many, this brings about a delightful dilemma: team pumpkin or team apple? Why settle for just one when you can have the very best of both worlds in one irresistibly moist loaf?

This Pumpkin Apple Bread recipe is your perfect introduction to the cozy season. It beautifully marries the earthy sweetness of pumpkin with the bright, tart crunch of apples, creating a symphony of flavors that is both familiar and exciting. Imagine a golden-brown crust giving way to a soft, tender crumb, each slice bursting with warm spices and tender apple pieces. It’s more than just a quick bread; it’s a celebration of autumn in every bite.

The Allure of Fall Flavors: Pumpkin and Apple

Pumpkin and apple are the undisputed superstars of autumn, each bringing its unique charm to the table. Pumpkin, with its rich, velvety texture and mild, sweet flavor, forms the perfect base for a comforting quick bread. It provides unparalleled moisture and a beautiful golden hue, along with a healthy dose of vitamins and fiber.

Apples, on the other hand, offer a delightful contrast. Their crispness and tangy notes cut through the richness of the pumpkin, adding a textural dimension and a burst of fresh, fruity flavor. When baked, apples soften slightly, releasing their natural sweetness and creating pockets of tender fruit throughout the bread. The combination is simply magical, evoking memories of pumpkin patches and apple orchards – the quintessential fall experience.

Many bakers find themselves torn between these two seasonal favorites, often baking separate pumpkin loaves and apple pies. This recipe eliminates that culinary dilemma, bringing together the best qualities of each ingredient to create a harmonious and unforgettable treat. It’s the ultimate expression of fall, conveniently baked into one delicious loaf.

Why You’ll Love This Quick Bread Recipe

Quick breads are a favorite for a reason: they live up to their name! Unlike yeast breads that require extensive kneading and multiple proofs, quick breads come together with minimal effort and without the wait. This Pumpkin Apple Bread recipe is particularly forgiving and ideal for bakers of all skill levels, from novices to seasoned pros.

One of the biggest advantages is the simplicity of the process. You simply combine your dry ingredients in one bowl, your wet ingredients in another, and then gently mix them together. This straightforward approach makes it a fantastic recipe to whip up on a whim for breakfast, a delightful afternoon snack, or a thoughtful homemade gift. The entire preparation, from gathering ingredients to pouring the batter into the pan, takes less than 20 minutes.

Beyond its ease, this quick bread fills your home with an intoxicating aroma of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves mingling with sweet pumpkin and baking apples. It’s the smell of fall encapsulated, making your kitchen feel warm and inviting. Plus, the result is consistently moist, tender, and flavorful, guaranteed to be a hit with family and friends.

Essential Ingredients for the Perfect Loaf

Creating this delightful Pumpkin Apple Bread starts with understanding the role of each ingredient. High-quality components lead to superior flavor and texture.

Choosing Your Apples

The type of apple you use can significantly impact the final texture and taste of your bread. For baking, especially in quick breads, you want an apple that holds its shape well and offers a good balance of tartness to complement the sweetness of the pumpkin. Softer, sweeter apples can become mushy or lose their distinct flavor when baked.

Our top recommendation is a **Granny Smith apple**. These tart, firm apples retain their integrity beautifully during baking, providing tender, distinct chunks of fruit in every slice. Their acidity also brightens the overall flavor profile of the bread. Other suitable options include Honeycrisp, Braeburn, or Fuji, which offer a good balance of sweetness and tartness, and remain firm enough after baking. Remember to peel and dice your apple into roughly ½-inch pieces for optimal distribution and texture.

Pumpkin Puree: Canned vs. Homemade

Pumpkin puree is the star of the show, providing that signature pumpkin flavor and incredible moisture. While homemade pumpkin puree from fresh pumpkins can be a rewarding experience, canned pumpkin puree is perfectly acceptable and often more convenient. Just be sure to use 100% pure pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling, which contains added sugars and spices that will throw off the recipe’s balance.

Canned pumpkin puree offers consistent results and saves a considerable amount of time. If you opt for homemade, ensure your puree is smooth and free of excess moisture to maintain the desired batter consistency. Both options will yield a delicious loaf, so choose what works best for your schedule.

The Spice of Life: Pumpkin Pie Spice

The warm, inviting aroma of fall baking is largely due to the carefully blended spices. Pumpkin pie spice is a magical mix, typically featuring cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves. These spices perfectly complement both pumpkin and apple, elevating the bread’s flavor to new heights.

If you don’t have pumpkin pie spice on hand, you can easily create your own blend. A common homemade pumpkin pie spice recipe consists of 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon, 2 teaspoons ground ginger, 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg, and 1 teaspoon ground cloves. You can make a batch and store it in an airtight container for future fall baking endeavors!

Baking Essentials

Beyond the stars, reliable pantry staples form the backbone of this quick bread. All-purpose flour provides the structure, granulated sugar offers sweetness and contributes to the moist crumb, and baking soda acts as a leavening agent, creating a light and airy texture. Salt balances the flavors and enhances the overall taste, while eggs bind the ingredients and add richness. Vegetable oil keeps the bread incredibly moist, and a touch of water ensures the perfect batter consistency.

Simple Steps to Homemade Goodness

Making Pumpkin Apple Bread is a straightforward process. Follow these detailed steps for a perfect loaf every time.

Preparation is Key

1. Preheat your oven to 325ºF (160ºC). This slightly lower temperature ensures even baking and prevents the outside from browning too quickly while the inside remains raw.
2. Prepare your 9×5-inch loaf pan. For easy removal, we recommend lining it with parchment paper, allowing some overhang on the sides. This creates “handles” to lift the bread out once baked. If you don’t have parchment, grease the pan thoroughly with butter or nonstick cooking spray, and dust lightly with flour, tapping out any excess. Set the prepared pan aside.

Combining Dry and Wet

2. In a large mixing bowl, combine all your dry ingredients: the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, and salt. Use a whisk to thoroughly combine them, ensuring the leavening agent and spices are evenly distributed. This step is crucial for consistent flavor and rise.
3. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients: the pumpkin puree, water, eggs, and vegetable oil. Whisk until smooth and well combined.

Integrating the Apples

4. Carefully pour the wet ingredients mixture into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Using a wooden spoon or a spatula, mix just until the ingredients are combined. Be mindful not to overmix, as this can lead to a tough, dry bread. A few streaks of flour are perfectly acceptable.
5. Once the batter is mostly combined, gently fold in your peeled and diced tart apples. Distribute them evenly throughout the batter.

Baking and Cooling

6. Pour the completed batter into your prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top with a spatula if needed.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 1 hour, or until a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. If the top starts to brown too much before the center is cooked, you can loosely tent it with aluminum foil.
8. Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and let the bread cool in the pan for about 10-15 minutes. This allows it to set and makes it easier to remove without breaking. Then, use the parchment paper overhang (or a knife around the edges if no parchment was used) to carefully lift the bread onto a wire rack to cool completely before slicing and serving. Cooling completely is important for proper texture and ease of slicing.

Pro Tips for a Flawless Pumpkin Apple Bread

Even though this is a straightforward recipe, a few expert tips can elevate your Pumpkin Apple Bread from good to absolutely perfect.

Don’t Overmix – The Golden Rule of Quick Breads

This is perhaps the most crucial tip for any quick bread recipe. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour too much, leading to a dense, tough, and chewy texture instead of the desired tender, moist crumb. Once you combine the wet and dry ingredients, mix just until no streaks of dry flour remain. A few lumps are fine. Switch from a whisk to a wooden spoon or spatula for the final mixing to avoid overworking the batter.

Apple Perfection

We’ve discussed choosing tart, firm apples like Granny Smiths, but also consider the size of your dice. While the recipe suggests a medium apple, you can adjust the size of the chopped pieces. Some prefer smaller, more uniform pieces, while others, like us, enjoy larger, chunkier apple pieces for a more pronounced fruity bite within the bread. Experiment to find your preferred texture!

Pan Preparation Secrets

Nothing is more frustrating than a beautifully baked loaf that sticks to the pan. Using a piece of parchment paper that extends over the sides of the loaf pan is a foolproof method for easy removal. It acts as a sling, allowing you to lift the entire loaf out effortlessly. If you opt not to use parchment, be extra diligent in greasing and flouring your pan, especially the corners and bottom, to prevent sticking.

Know Your Oven

Every oven is a little different, and baking times can vary. Keep an eye on your bread as it bakes. If you notice the top browning too quickly before the center is fully cooked, lightly tent the loaf with aluminum foil. This will shield the top from direct heat, allowing the inside to catch up without burning the crust. Always rely on the toothpick test for doneness, rather than just the clock.

Creative Variations and Serving Suggestions

While this Pumpkin Apple Bread is perfect as is, it also serves as a fantastic canvas for creative additions and variations to suit your taste.

Amp Up the Flavor

• **Nuts:** Add ½ to 1 cup of chopped pecans or walnuts to the batter for an extra crunch and nutty flavor.
• **Chocolate Chips:** For a sweeter twist, fold in ½ cup of semi-sweet or white chocolate chips.
• **Streusel Topping:** For an extra layer of texture and sweetness, mix together ¼ cup flour, ¼ cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons cold butter, and ½ teaspoon cinnamon until crumbly. Sprinkle over the top of the batter before baking.
• **Simple Glaze:** A drizzle of a simple powdered sugar glaze (powdered sugar mixed with a splash of milk or apple cider) after the bread has cooled can add a touch of elegance and extra sweetness.

Best Ways to Enjoy

This versatile quick bread can be enjoyed in many ways. It makes a delightful breakfast with your morning coffee or tea, a satisfying snack any time of day, or a comforting dessert, perhaps warmed slightly and served with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It’s also fantastic packed in lunchboxes or shared at potlucks and gatherings.

Storing Your Delicious Loaf

To keep your Pumpkin Apple Bread fresh and moist, store it properly. Once completely cooled, wrap the loaf tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. It will stay fresh at room temperature for 3-4 days. For longer storage, you can freeze individual slices or the whole loaf, wrapped tightly, for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature or gently warm slices in the microwave or toaster oven.

More Quick Bread Recipes to Explore

If you loved this Pumpkin Apple Bread, you might enjoy these other delicious quick bread recipes:

• Zucchini Bread Recipe
• Coconut Bread
• Red Velvet Quick Bread with Cream Cheese Filling
• Pumpkin Coconut Bread
• Chocolate Cinnamon Bread

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Pumpkin Apple Bread

Author:
Deborah Harroun

Prep Time:
15 minutes

Cook Time:
1 hour

Total Time:
1 hour 15 minutes

Servings:
1 loaf, 12 slices

Course:
Quick Bread

Cuisine:
American

Print Recipe
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You don’t have to decide between apples and pumpkin – you get them both in this Pumpkin Apple Bread! A tender pumpkin bread is filled with chunks of fresh apples for a quick bread that is moist and tastes like fall.

Ingredients

• 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup canned or fresh pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 medium tart apple, peeled and chopped (about 1 cup)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 325ºF. Line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper or spray with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda and salt. Whisk to combine.
3. In another bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, water, eggs and vegetable oil.
4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix just until combined.
5. Add the apples and gently fold them in.
6. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
7. Bake in the preheated oven until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour.
8. Let the bread cool before removing from the pan and slicing to serve.

Recipe Notes:

Nutrition information provided as an estimate only. Various brands and products can change the counts. Any nutritional information should only be used as a general guideline.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1 slice,
Calories: 235 kcal (12%),
Carbohydrates: 40g (13%),
Protein: 3g (6%),
Fat: 7g (11%),
Saturated Fat: 1g (6%),
Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g,
Trans Fat: 0g,
Cholesterol: 31mg (10%),
Sodium: 232mg (10%),
Fiber: 1g (4%),
Sugar: 27g (30%)

Keywords:
apple bread, pumpkin apple bread, quick bread, fall baking