Perfect Pumpkin Bread with Streusel Topping: Your Ultimate Fall Baking Guide

Welcome to the cozy season! As autumn leaves fall and the air grows crisp, there’s nothing quite like the comforting aroma of freshly baked goods filling your home. This Pumpkin Bread with Streusel isn’t just another recipe; it’s a celebration of quintessential fall flavors, designed to bring warmth and joy to your kitchen. Perfect for a festive Thanksgiving breakfast, a cozy Sunday brunch, or an afternoon treat with your favorite warm beverage, this quick bread recipe promises an unforgettable experience.

We’ve meticulously crafted this recipe to ensure every slice of your pumpkin bread is incredibly moist, tender, and bursting with rich pumpkin flavor. It’s beautifully balanced with warm spices and crowned with an irresistible buttery cinnamon streusel. This combination creates a dessert that is perfectly sweet without being overwhelming, making it a crowd-pleaser for all ages. What’s more, this versatile recipe can easily be adapted into delightful pumpkin streusel muffins, offering another fantastic way to enjoy this seasonal favorite. Whether you’re an experienced baker or just starting your culinary journey, this guide provides clear, simple steps to achieve a truly spectacular result every time.

Looking for more pumpkin-inspired treats to celebrate the season? Don’t miss these other delightful recipes from our kitchen:

• Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread
• Easy To Make Pumpkin Roll Recipe
• Gooey Butter Pumpkin Cake Without A Box Mix

Why This Pumpkin Bread With Streusel Is a Must-Bake This Fall

If this recipe doesn’t immediately evoke the rich, comforting flavors of fall, we’re not sure what will! This incredibly easy pumpkin bread recipe is more than just a sweet treat; it’s an experience, a perfect addition to your Thanksgiving day or morning, and a wonderful way to welcome the autumn season into your home. Here’s why you absolutely need to make this recipe your new fall favorite:

Unrivaled Moist Pumpkin Bread Texture

Our recipe guarantees an exceptionally moist loaf every single time. The secret lies in a careful balance of high-moisture ingredients like pumpkin puree, eggs, and vegetable oil, combined with just the right amount of sugar. These components work together to create an irresistibly tender crumb that practically melts in your mouth. Unlike some quick breads that can turn dry after a day, our moist pumpkin bread remains deliciously fresh and tender for days, making it perfect for preparing ahead of time or enjoying leftovers throughout the week.

A Symphony of Warm Spices

This pumpkin bread is generously infused with a cozy, aromatic blend of ground cinnamon and classic pumpkin pie spice. These warm spices are not just flavor enhancers; they are the heart of fall baking, creating an inviting aroma that will fill your kitchen and a taste that truly captures the essence of the season. Each bite offers a delightful burst of fragrant spice, perfectly complementing the natural sweetness of the pumpkin and ensuring a deeply satisfying flavor profile.

Irresistible Buttery Crumb Topping

The crowning glory of our pumpkin bread with streusel is undoubtedly its glorious crumb topping. A generous layer of buttery streusel, made from a simple yet perfect combination of cold butter, light brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and all-purpose flour, provides a sweet, slightly crunchy, and utterly delightful texture contrast to the soft bread below. The streusel bakes into a golden-brown, crumbly crust that adds an extra layer of flavor and indulgence, making this pumpkin bread truly stand out as a homemade masterpiece.

Effortless Preparation for Busy Bakers

Despite its gourmet taste and appearance, this easy pumpkin bread recipe is surprisingly simple and quick to prepare. It’s classified as a “quick bread” because it uses baking soda and baking powder for leavening, rather than yeast, significantly reducing preparation time. This means you can whip up a comforting loaf without needing hours for proofing, making it ideal for spontaneous baking urges or when you need a delicious treat in a hurry.

Key Ingredients for Your Perfect Pumpkin Bread With Streusel

While a full list of ingredients with precise measurements can be found in the recipe card below, understanding the role of each key component will help you achieve the best possible homemade pumpkin bread. Here are some essential ingredients and tips to ensure you have everything on hand:

• Vegetable Oil: Essential for the pumpkin bread batter, a neutral-flavored oil like canola or sunflower oil is ideal. Unlike butter (which can sometimes make quick breads dense), oil contributes to a consistently moist and tender texture throughout the bread, ensuring it stays fresh and soft for longer without drying out.
• All-Purpose Flour: The fundamental building block of our quick bread. For the perfect texture, always measure your flour using the “spoon and leveled” method – spoon flour into your measuring cup and then level it off with a straight edge. This technique prevents over-packing the flour, which can lead to a dense, heavy, and dry bread. Reputable brands like King Arthur are always a good choice for consistent baking results.
• Vanilla Extract: A splash of high-quality vanilla extract, such as Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract, is crucial. It elevates all the other flavors in the bread, adding a subtle depth, warmth, and aromatic complexity that makes a significant difference in the overall taste.
• Streusel Ingredients: The magic behind the irresistible crumbly topping.
  • Cold Unsalted Butter: The “cold” aspect is critical here. Using cold butter, cut into small, pea-sized pieces, helps create those delightful, distinct crumbs when mixed with the dry ingredients. If the butter is too warm, it will melt into the flour, resulting in a greasy paste instead of a crumbly streusel.
  • Light Brown Sugar: Adds a rich, molasses-like sweetness and contributes to the streusel’s moisture and its beautiful golden-brown color when baked.
  • Ground Cinnamon: The quintessential warm spice that ties the streusel perfectly into the pumpkin bread’s comforting fall flavor profile.
  • All-Purpose Flour: Provides the necessary structure to bind the streusel ingredients into perfect, crispy crumbs.
• Pure Pumpkin Puree: This is absolutely vital! Make absolutely certain you are using 100% pure pumpkin puree and NOT pumpkin pie filling. Pumpkin pie filling contains added sugars, spices, and sometimes other ingredients that will significantly alter the flavor, sweetness, and consistency of your bread. Look for trusted brands like Libby’s 100% Pure Pumpkin Puree for reliable results.
• Large Eggs: Eggs act as a binding agent, providing structure and richness to the pumpkin bread. They also contribute to the bread’s rise and overall moistness. For best results, allow your eggs to come to room temperature before mixing, as they incorporate more smoothly and create a better emulsion with other wet ingredients.
• Granulated Sugar & Light Brown Sugar: A careful combination of both sugars ensures the perfect balance of sweetness and moisture. Granulated sugar provides foundational sweetness, while light brown sugar adds a deeper, more complex caramel note and significantly contributes to the bread’s moistness and tender crumb.
• Baking Soda & Baking Powder: These are your powerful leavening agents, responsible for the bread’s beautiful rise and tender texture. Baking soda typically reacts with acidic ingredients (like pumpkin) to create lift, while baking powder is often double-acting, providing a lift in two stages for consistent results.
• Salt: A small but mighty ingredient, salt is essential to balance and enhance all the sweet and spicy flavors in the pumpkin bread, preventing it from tasting flat and bringing out the best in the other ingredients.
• Pumpkin Pie Spice: This convenient pre-blended spice mix typically includes a harmonious combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and sometimes allspice, making it easy to achieve that classic, beloved fall flavor profile in your pumpkin bread.

Expert Tips and Tricks for Baking the Best Pumpkin Bread

Crafting the perfect loaf of Pumpkin Bread with Streusel is easier than you think, especially with these helpful tips and insights. For a detailed, step-by-step guide, please refer to the complete instructions in the recipe card below. These additional pointers will help you achieve baking success every time:

• Begin with a Flavorful Cinnamon Swirl: Start by combining the measured brown sugar and ground cinnamon in a small bowl. Use a fork to mix them thoroughly until no lumps remain. This simple mixture will be sprinkled into the middle of your batter, creating a beautiful and flavorful swirl that adds an extra layer of sweetness and spice to every slice. This not only enhances the taste but also creates an appealing visual element when the bread is cut.
• Crafting the Perfect Streusel Topping: For the streusel, combine your cold, cubed European-style unsalted butter with light brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and all-purpose flour in a medium bowl. The key here is to work quickly with your fingertips or a pastry blender until the butter is incorporated and the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some larger “shaggy” pieces. Avoid overworking it, as this can warm the butter too much. Refrigerating the streusel after preparation is crucial; it helps maintain those distinct crumbs during baking, preventing it from melting into the bread and ensuring a wonderfully crisp texture.
• Mastering the Pumpkin Bread Batter:
  • Combine Dry Ingredients Thoroughly: In one bowl, whisk together all the dry ingredients – all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, ground cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice. This seemingly simple step is important because it ensures that the leavening agents and spices are evenly distributed throughout the batter, leading to an even rise and consistent flavor in every bite.
  • Cream Wet Ingredients for Airiness: In a separate, larger mixing bowl, use an electric hand mixer or a stand mixer to beat the eggs, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar together for about 1-2 minutes on medium-high speed. Continue until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and visibly pale yellow. This step is vital for incorporating air into the batter, which contributes significantly to the bread’s light and tender crumb. Remember to scrape down the sides of the bowl periodically to ensure even mixing.
  • Add Liquids Gradually: With your mixer still on low speed, gradually drizzle in the vegetable oil, mixing only until it is fully combined (typically about 30 seconds). Then, add the pure pumpkin puree and pure vanilla extract, continuing to mix just until everything is well incorporated and the batter appears smooth.
  • Gentle Combination of Wet and Dry: Gradually add the whisked dry ingredients mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed. Mix just until the wet and dry ingredients are fully combined and no streaks of flour remain. This is a critical point: be very careful not to overmix the batter. Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour too much, resulting in a tough, dense, and chewy pumpkin bread instead of a wonderfully tender one. Always scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure a thoroughly combined batter.
• Assemble the Loaf with Care: Pour approximately half of your prepared pumpkin bread batter into the greased and lined loaf pan, spreading it out evenly with a spatula. Generously sprinkle the prepared cinnamon swirl mixture evenly across this first layer of batter. Then, carefully spoon the remaining batter on top, gently spreading it to cover the cinnamon swirl completely. Finally, retrieve your refrigerated streusel topping and distribute it evenly over the entire surface of the pumpkin batter, ensuring good coverage for maximum flavor and crunch.
• Bake to Perfection: Bake your pumpkin bread with streusel topping in a preheated oven at 325°F (165°C) for 50-55 minutes. Baking at a slightly lower temperature helps ensure a moist interior and prevents the outside of the bread from browning too quickly before the center is cooked through. To check for doneness, insert a clean toothpick into the very center of the loaf. It should come out with a few moist crumbs attached, but not wet batter. If it comes out completely clean, it might be slightly overbaked, though still delicious. Baking times can vary depending on your oven and loaf pan material, so begin checking around the 50-minute mark.
• Cooling for Optimal Texture: Once baked, resist the urge to immediately remove the bread from the pan. Allow the loaf to cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes. This crucial resting period allows the bread to set and prevents it from collapsing or breaking apart. After this initial cooling, carefully transfer the loaf to a wire rack to cool completely. Cooling on a rack ensures proper air circulation around all sides, preventing a soggy bottom and promoting an even texture throughout the entire loaf.

Essential Tools for Baking This Pumpkin Bread With Streusel

Having the right tools can make your baking experience smoother, more efficient, and ultimately more enjoyable. Here’s a list of essential equipment we recommend for making this delicious Pumpkin Bread with Streusel, along with why each item is useful:

• Mixing Bowls: You’ll need at least two – a large bowl for combining the wet and dry ingredients of the bread batter, and a medium bowl for preparing the streusel topping. Having separate bowls keeps your ingredients organized and your workflow efficient.
• Whisk: A good whisk is indispensable for thoroughly combining your dry ingredients (flour, spices, leavening agents) to ensure they are evenly distributed, which is crucial for a consistent rise and flavor in your pumpkin bread.
• Electric Hand Mixer or Stand Mixer: While you can certainly mix by hand, an electric mixer makes beating the eggs and sugars until light and fluffy much easier and ensures consistent aeration. This consistent air incorporation contributes significantly to a lighter, more tender crumb in your bread.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Accuracy is paramount in baking. A reliable set of measuring cups and spoons is essential for precise measurements of flour, sugars, oil, and spices, directly impacting the success and consistency of your recipe.
• Loaf Pan (9×5-inch): This is the standard size for this recipe, ensuring the correct baking time and loaf shape. A light-colored metal pan is generally recommended for even heat distribution and browning. Remember to grease and flour it thoroughly, or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
• Parchment Paper: An optional but highly recommended item to line your loaf pan. It makes lifting the baked bread out of the pan incredibly easy, prevents sticking, and makes cleanup a breeze.
• Cooling Rack: Absolutely essential for allowing your baked pumpkin bread to cool evenly after it comes out of the oven. Cooling on a rack allows air to circulate around all sides, preventing the bottom from becoming soggy and ensuring an even texture throughout the loaf.
• Small Bowl for Cinnamon Swirl: A dedicated small bowl keeps your cinnamon and brown sugar mixture separate, organized, and ready for layering, ensuring a clean and efficient preparation process.
• Medium Bowl for Streusel Topping: Similarly, a medium bowl for mixing your streusel ingredients helps prevent cross-contamination and ensures you can properly combine the butter and dry ingredients for the perfect crumbly texture.
• Spatula: A flexible spatula is ideal for scraping down the sides of your mixing bowls, gently folding ingredients, and smoothly transferring the batter into the loaf pan, minimizing waste and ensuring all ingredients are incorporated.
• Baking Sheet (Optional): Placing your loaf pan on a baking sheet before putting it in the oven provides an extra layer of insulation to prevent the bottom of the bread from over-baking. It also serves as a convenient catch-all for any potential spills or drips.
• Cooking Spray or Oil: Essential for properly greasing your loaf pan (unless you are using parchment paper), ensuring the bread releases easily and beautifully without sticking.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pumpkin Bread With Streusel

Why did my pumpkin bread sink in the middle?

There are a few common culprits for a sunken bread. Overmixing the batter is a primary cause, as it can overdevelop gluten, leading to a weak structure that collapses. Opening the oven door too early during baking can also cause a sudden temperature drop, making the bread sink before it’s fully set. Additionally, underbaking – not allowing the center to fully cook and set – can lead to sinking. To prevent this, ensure you follow recommended mixing times, resist the urge to peek inside the oven before the specified baking time is almost up, and always perform the toothpick test for doneness.

How do I know when the bread is done baking?

The most reliable method for checking doneness is the classic toothpick test. Insert a clean wooden toothpick or a thin skewer into the very center of the loaf. If it comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, your pumpkin bread is perfectly done and should be removed from the oven. If it comes out wet with raw batter, it needs more time. If it comes out completely clean, it might be slightly overbaked, which can result in a drier texture, so aim for those moist crumbs!

What do I do if my streusel is too crumbly or too dry?

If your streusel mixture is too dry and doesn’t clump together to form noticeable crumbs, it needs more fat. Add a tiny bit more cold butter (start with a teaspoon) and mix again with your fingertips until you achieve the desired crumbly texture. If, on the other hand, it’s too wet and forms a paste, it needs more dry ingredients. Add a little more all-purpose flour (a teaspoon at a time) until it’s perfectly crumbly and holds its shape loosely.

Can I make this recipe into muffins?

Absolutely! This pumpkin bread with streusel recipe converts beautifully into delicious muffins. Simply line a standard muffin tin with paper liners or grease it well. Fill each muffin cup about two-thirds full with batter, then generously sprinkle with the streusel topping. Adjust the baking time to approximately 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out with a few moist crumbs attached.

Can I add mix-ins like chocolate chips or nuts to the pumpkin bread?

Yes, you can! For an extra layer of flavor and texture, feel free to fold in about 1/2 to 1 cup of your favorite mix-ins, such as semi-sweet chocolate chips, chopped pecans, walnuts, or dried cranberries, into the batter just before pouring it into the loaf pan. Be sure to mix them in gently with a spatula to avoid overmixing the batter, which could make the bread tough.

Can I use fresh pumpkin instead of canned pumpkin puree?

While technically possible, it’s generally recommended to use canned 100% pure pumpkin puree for this recipe. Canned pumpkin puree has a consistent moisture content and texture, which is crucial for reliable baking results. Fresh pumpkin often contains more water and can vary greatly in consistency, which could affect the bread’s texture and baking time. If you do opt for fresh pumpkin, ensure it’s thoroughly cooked, pureed very smoothly, and most importantly, drained of any excess moisture to avoid a watery batter.

Storing and Freezing Your Pumpkin Bread With Streusel

Storing

To keep your delicious Pumpkin Bread with Streusel as fresh and moist as possible, it’s crucial to store it correctly. First, allow the baked loaf to cool completely on a wire rack. This prevents condensation from building up, which can make the streusel soggy and the bread gummy. Once fully cooled, wrap the loaf tightly in plastic wrap, then add an additional layer of aluminum foil to seal in moisture and protect it from air. For the first day or two, you can keep the wrapped loaf in an airtight container at room temperature. For an extended shelf life, especially if you live in a warm or humid climate, refrigerate the wrapped bread for up to one week. Bring it to room temperature or gently warm it before serving for the best experience.

Freezing

This homemade pumpkin bread freezes wonderfully, making it perfect for preparing ahead for holidays, meal prep, or simply having a delightful treat on hand for later. To freeze, ensure the cooled pumpkin bread with streusel is wrapped exceptionally well to prevent freezer burn, which can dry out and alter the texture of baked goods. Start by wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap, ensuring no surface is exposed to air. Follow this with a layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil, or place the plastic-wrapped loaf inside a large, labeled, airtight freezer-safe bag. Label it with the date and freeze for up to three months. When you’re ready to enjoy, thaw the bread overnight in the refrigerator, or at room temperature for a few hours. You can gently warm individual slices in the microwave or oven for that fresh-baked taste experience.

Don’t forget to check out these other delightful fall dessert recipes, perfect for any autumn gathering or cozy evening:

• Easiest Fall Pumpkin Brookies
• Frosted Pumpkin Sugar Cookie With Cream Cheese
• A Great Pumpkin S’more Cake Recipe

We absolutely love hearing from you! Remember to LEAVE A 5 STAR REVIEW AND A COMMENT below if you tried and loved this recipe or have any questions. Your feedback means the world to us and helps other bakers discover this amazing recipe. You can also follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok for more fun baking ideas, behind-the-scenes content, and delicious inspiration!

Recipe

Pumpkin Bread With Streusel

Molly Murphy

Moist and soft pumpkin bread with a brown sugar swirl and topped with a buttery cinnamon streusel topping.

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Course
Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine
American, Bread, Cake

Servings
10

Ingredients

For the cinnamon swirl

• ¼ cup brown sugar packed
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

For the pumpkin Bread

• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup light brown sugar packed
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup Libby’s pumpkin puree not pumpkin pie filling
• 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour spoon and leveled.
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

For the Streusel topping

• 4 tablespoon unsalted butter cold cut to pea size.
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ cup All Purpose Flour

Instructions

For the cinnamon swirl

• In a small bowl combine the brown sugar and the cinnamon and use a fork to combine evenly. Set aside.

For the streusel

• In a medium-size bowl, using your hands, mix all the ingredients until they are combined and have a “shaggy” look. There should be no flour streaks. This will take a few minutes, but make sure you can’t see any more flour. You want big chunks
• Once the crumb topping is done, set in the fridge while you make the pumpkin bread

For the bread

• Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (165 degrees Celsius). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray, and you can also line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
• In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, ground cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice.
• In a medium to large mixing bowl, using an electric hand mixer or stand mixer, beat the eggs, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar together for about 1-2 minutes on medium-high speed. Make sure the mixture becomes light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure even mixing.
• With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the vegetable oil and mix until fully combined, about 30 seconds. Then, add the pumpkin puree and pure vanilla extract, mixing until everything is well incorporated.
• Gradually add the dry ingredients mixture to the wet ingredients, and mix on low speed just until the wet and dry ingredients are fully combined, ensuring there are no flour streaks remaining. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure thorough mixing.
• Pour half of the batter into the prepared loaf pan, spreading it out evenly. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar evenly across the top. Pour the rest of the batter on top of the cinnamon sugar. Then evenly distribute the streusel on top of the pumpkin batter making sure it is covering the entire
• Bake in the preheated oven for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out with a few moist crumbs attached. Baking times may vary, so keep an eye on it after the 50-minute mark.

Keyword
cinnamon, bread, pumpkin loaf

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