Jump to Recipe
Get a chocolate pumpkin bread recipe that the whole family with love! This delicious dessert is loaded with fall spices and topped with a drizzle.
If I ever get to choose my last meal, you can skip serving me the main course – I’m going right for a pumpkin spice dessert, and it’s going to be pumpkin bread.
When I pass from this earth, I’d also like to be surrounded by Halloween balloons and painted pumpkins, but that’s a different discussion for a different day. Back to fall desserts.
There’s absolutely no question that this dessert bread is my favorite dessert of all time, and I’ll take it any way I can get it.
There’s (of course) the standard pumpkin bread recipe, which is tasty . . . but then there’s this chocolate pumpkin bread recipe.
Tips for Making Pumpkin Bread
I love this particular pumpkin dessert recipe because it’s the more sophisticated older sister of the standard. The chocolate and drizzle kick it up a notch and keep the bread very moist for longer (in my experience).
Before you grab the recipe, check out these FAQs. If you’re not interested, go ahead and scroll down to learn how to make this bread.
Why is my pumpkin bread dry?
It’s probably due to overmixing. It’s important with this bread to mix the ingredients until only just mixed. Overbeating adds too much air and can cause extra gluten production. Both can lead to dried out bread.
Why is my pumpkin bread so wet?
You may have added more wet ingredients than necessary (did you measure carefully?). Letting the batter sit around too long before baking or not baking the bread for long enough are likely causes.
Why is pumpkin bread good for you?
Let’s not get crazy . . . this is dessert! Having said that, pumpkin does have good vitamins like A and C, B, and E. It also features minerals like fiber, potassium, copper, manganese, and iron.
How do you keep pumpkin bread from getting soggy on the bottom?
It helps to have all the ingredients at room temperature so that they get evenly combined and the bread rises correctly while baking. Also after baking the bread, let it set 10 minutes in the pan. Then remove to cool completely on a wire rack so the bottom doesn’t steam.
Are you ready to jump in? Learn how to make this pumpkin recipe below.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time50 minutes
Total Time1 hour 5 minutes
Ingredients
Bread
- 1⅓ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 stick butter, high-quality
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 egg(s)
- 1 cup canned pumpkin
- ½ cup dark chocolate chips, high-quality
- ¼ cup milk
Chocolate Drizzle
- 2 T half & half
- ½ T butter
- 4 T dark chocolate chips, high-quality
Instructions
Pumpkin Bread
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease & flour a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
- Combine sifted flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and baking powder in a large bowl. Set aside.
- Cream butter and sugars together until fluffy in a bowl.
- Stir eggs, pumpkin, and milk into the mixture just until combined.
- Add your batter and the chocolate chips to the flour mixture. Stir just until combined.
- Spread into prepared pan (the batter will be pretty thick).
- Bake 45-55 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Make sure you check it regularly, starting at 40 minutes.
- Remove the bread from the oven and let sit for 10 minutes. The remove the bread from the pan and let cool completely on a wire rack.
Chocolate Drizzle
- Heat cream and butter in the microwave for about 20 seconds. Remove and add chocolate chips. Set aside, without stirring, for about five minutes.
- Beat the mixture until glossy and then drizzle over bread. Let the glaze set before serving.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1 piece
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 397Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 82mgSodium: 316mgCarbohydrates: 50gFiber: 4gSugar: 27gProtein: 6g
Did you make this recipe?
Please leave a rating or share a photo onPinterest!
If you like this recipe – check out this pumpkin pie bread variation! I’d also love for you to take a peek at these other recipes:
Bagels • Blondies • Cheesecake Brownies • Chocolate Chip Cookies • Cranberry Muffins • Cream Cheese Bars • Creme Brulee • Cupcakes • Dessert Dip • Donut Holes • Fat Bombs • Fudge • Icebox Cake • Linzer Cookies • Mini Pies • Monkey Bread • Mousse • Mug Cake • Pancakes • Pecan Bars • Pie Spice • Pudding • Rice Pudding • Seeds • Smoothie • Soup • Sugar Cookies • Trifle • Whoopie Pies
FAQs
You might think you could overcome the lack of flavor by adding more pumpkin purée to your recipe, but you'd be mistaken: By the time you've added enough purée to taste it, your baked good would have a soggy texture on account of all that moisture.
Why does my pumpkin bread taste bland? ›
Why does my pumpkin bread taste bland? Make sure to follow the recipe exactly. That means—don't leave out the salt, don't cut the amount of sugar, and use the specified amount of cinnamon. This is important because flour is what I like to call a “flavor thief”— it sucks the flavor out of ingredients.
Why is my pumpkin bread so dry? ›
Our Every Day Life notes that setting your oven too high and baking your bread too long could also be the source of dryness. Tenting a piece of tin foil on top of the loaf half way through the baking time helps to avoid drying out the top while the inside cooks. Time to test out these techniques and get baking!
Why is my pumpkin bread so dense? ›
Pumpkin bread can become dense if there is not enough hydration or wet ingredients in the recipe. Another cause is overcooking the bread which can cause it to dry out. Remember, it's always easy to keep cooking if it isn't done but impossible to take cooking time back.
Can I use pumpkin pie mix instead of pumpkin purée? ›
You'll need to add sweetener, spices, and possibly a thickener (like eggs). However, you cannot use pumpkin pie filling in place of pure pumpkin unless you are making a pie or dessert that calls for the extra ingredients.
Why is canned pumpkin better to use in baking? ›
So, Why Used Canned Pumpkin Instead of Fresh?
- Canned Pumpkin Saves Time and Effort. “Making pumpkin puree is time-consuming,” says Maggie. ...
- Canned Pumpkin Delivers Consistent Results. ...
- Canned Just Tastes Better. ...
- Canned Pumpkin Is Cost-Effective. ...
- Canned Pumpkin Is Readily Available.
Why is my pumpkin bread still gooey in the middle? ›
Setting the Oven Temperature Is Too Hot
If your oven runs hot, your bread is likely to brown and bake up on the outside before the center has a chance to fully cook. Invest in a simple oven thermometer to help verify the temperature. Make sure you have other bread baking essentials in your kitchen, too.
How do I tell if my pumpkin bread is done? ›
So, to know when pumpkin bread is done, look for the crack on the top of the bread, which is a tell-tale sign it's either done or close to being done. Then stick a skewer or toothpick into the center of the bread. If it comes out clean, it's ready to come out of the oven.
What does Starbucks pumpkin bread taste like? ›
A gently spiced bread with pumpkin flavors and pepitas.
It's a little bit spicy, a little bit creamy, a little bit chewy, and perfect with your favorite Starbucks beverage.
Should pumpkin bread be refrigerated after baking? ›
Once bread is cool, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. Store Pumpkin Bread at room temperature for up to five days. After three days, you may want to place the Pumpkin Bread in the refrigerator to prolong its life. Pumpkin Bread can keep in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
You can brush butter or oil on the crust before slicing the loaf for added flavor and moisture. Finally, if you need more time to finish the loaf, freeze portions for later use, and it will help keep the bread from going stale and allow you to enjoy it fresh later.
Why does my pumpkin bread crumble when I cut it? ›
Too much flour and not enough water can cause crumbly bread – people often do this if the dough is too sticky and they add more flour rather than kneading through it. Other culprits can be overproving or not kneading enough – the things you need to do to get a good structure.
How can I make my bread lighter and fluffy? ›
All it takes is a small amount of dough enhancer per loaf to create a much lighter and fluffier result. Using a dough enhancer like Vital Wheat Gluten works to improve the texture and elasticity of the dough and elongate the strands of gluten. Doing so allows more room for the gas in the dough to develop and rise.
What happens if you use too much baking soda in pumpkin bread? ›
It's important not to use too much baking soda in recipes, as it can result in a metallic, soapy flavor. It is much more powerful than baking powder – you only need about 1/4 teaspoon baking soda per cup of flour to leaven baked goods.
What is the best flour for bread? ›
While bread flour is the best option, it can sometimes be used if you don't have bread flour. “Check the protein content,” advises Chef Jürgen, since it can vary from brand to brand, and an all-purpose flour that contains protein on the higher end of the range, 12 to 13 percent, will produce a better outcome.
What are the side effects of too much pumpkin? ›
When taken by mouth: Pumpkin is likely safe when eaten in foods. It is possibly safe to take pumpkin seed or pumpkin seed oil in medicinal amounts. Side effects from pumpkin products are rare, but might include stomach discomfort, diarrhea, and nausea.
How does pumpkin affect baking? ›
Not only does pumpkin purée act as a sweetener, a creamy moisturizer, and a fat substitute in everything from muffins to soup — but it also tastes delicious in everything! But because canned pumpkin is unlike any other baking ingredient, it tends to be mistreated in recipes.
How do you tone down pumpkin spice? ›
6 Quick Ways to Tone Down a Dish That's Too Spicy
- Add more ingredients to dilute the spiciness. The easiest way to tone down a dish that's too spicy is to add more ingredients to lessen the proportion of the spicy element. ...
- Add dairy. ...
- Add acid. ...
- Add a sweetener. ...
- Add nut butter. ...
- Serve with bland, starchy foods.
How to tell if pumpkin bread is done? ›
So, to know when pumpkin bread is done, look for the crack on the top of the bread, which is a tell-tale sign it's either done or close to being done. Then stick a skewer or toothpick into the center of the bread. If it comes out clean, it's ready to come out of the oven.