Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Bread

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If you love Starbucks signature sweet and spicy pumpkin bread check out this simple delicious copycat recipe, only your wallet will be able to tell the difference.

picture of pumpkin bread with pumpkin seeds baked onto the top sliced on a table

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Easy Pumpkin Loaf Bread
How to Make Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Bread
What to Serve With Pumpkin Bread
Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Bread Recipe

Easy Pumpkin Loaf Bread

I am a sucker for a slice of pumpkin bread and have always been partial to Starbucks pumpkin bread with its strong spices and pumpkin seeds on the top, yum! After years of making pumpkin bread I have finally figured out how they make their signature fall treat.

For years I was trying to just use pumpkin spice but have found that using pumpkin pie spice mix that has been elevated with extra spices gives you that strong pumpkin and spice dynamic that makes this fall bread a classic.

How to Make Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Bread

To make this recipe, you’ll need:

White sugar – I use white sugar to sweeten the pumpkin bread since it gives the bread a pure sweetness without any added flavors.
Light brown sugar – light brown sugar gives the bread a slight molasses flavor that blends perfectly with the spices in this pumpkin bread.
Vegetable oil – you can use any oil for this recipe to add fat that will help the bread come together. Avoid any type of oil that has a distinct flavor of its own such as olive oil since you want the pumpkin bread to taste like the pumpkin and spices.
Eggs – eggs will give the pumpkin bread richness and structure because of their high protein content. I always use farm fresh eggs since they have a darker, richer yoke.
Pureed pumpkin – pumpkin puree adds an earthy, nutty, sweet flavor and moisture to the pumpkin bread. I use canned pumpkin puree for this recipe but you can use fresh, see tip #1 below for more info.
Water – I use water to thin the pumpkin puree so the end result is a light rich pumpkin bread.
Flour – use all purpose flour in this pumpkin bread to bring the dough together and give it a good structure. If you use bread flour, the end result will be chewier and more like a conventional yeasted sandwich bread.
Baking soda – baking soda will give the bread a good rise since it doesn’t have yeast. You want to make sure you don’t add too much baking soda or your pumpkin bread will have a bitter taste.
Salt – I use fine grain sea salt in my pumpkin bread. It distributes evenly throughout the bread and draws out the flavor of the ingredients, especially the pumpkin puree.
Cloves – cloves are the flower buds from a tree found in the forests in Indonesia. It has a very strong woody fruity flavor so use sparingly.
Pumpkin pie spice – similar to the English Commonwealth mixed spice, pumpkin pie spice is a mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and allspice. If you don’t have any pumpkin pie spice on hand, see tip #2 below to make your own.
Cinnamon – cinnamon is the bark of the Cinnamomum tree commonly found in tropical regions of the world and is one of the oldest known spices dating back to the Chinese in 3000 BC. It has a sweet, warm, earthy flavor that pairs well with pumpkin. I use extra cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves to enhance the pumpkin pie spice mixture.
Nutmeg – nutmeg is the kernel of the seed from Nutmeg trees found in the tropical islands of the East Indies. It has a warm, sweet, very strong flavor.
Pepitas – pepitas are roasted pumpkin seeds without the shells. These will be available at most supermarkets in the baking department but the other nuts.

Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, we will use the following method:

Step 1 – In a large bowl mix the sugars, eggs, oil and pureed pumpkin. Once it has come together add the water and whisk until homogeneous. In another smaller bowl, sift together all the remaining dry ingredients.
Step 2 – Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and stir until combined, don’t overmix since that will make the pumpkin bread tough.
Step 3 – Separate the mix into 2 greased loaf pans and sprinkle with the chopped pepitas.
Step 4 – Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes to an hour or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center. Let it cool to retain moisture.
Step 5 – Slice and enjoy!

Tips and Tricks to Perfect Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Bread:

You will love these tips and tricks for your copycat Starbucks pumpkin bread.

Fresh vs. Canned Pumpkin. Fresh pumpkin has a different flavor (more like butternut squash) than canned pumpkin. If you want to use fresh puree you can cut a pumpkin in half, clean out the seeds, then place it on a roasting pan with the flesh down and bake it at 375 degrees until a knife inserted into the outer skin inserts easily (about an hour). Then scoop out the inside and mash it to make a puree.

Make Your Own Pumpkin Pie Spice. To make your own pumpkin pie spice, mix 2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1 tsp ground cloves, 2 tsp ground ginger, and ½ tsp ground nutmeg in a glass jar and shake to combine. It will keep for up to 4 years at room temperature.

FAQ’s:

Whats the best way to keep leftovers?

If you have leftovers you can wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and leave them at room temperature for 3-4 days.

Can I freeze this bread?

Yes! If you want to freeze it, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap after it has completely cooled and freeze for up to 4 months. I often will bake a bunch of loaves of pumpkin bread before Thanksgiving, freeze them, then wrap them in ribbon and give them out as gifts for Christmas.

What should I bake this bread in?

I love these loaf pans because I can see how done my pumpkin bread is and they come with a lid for easy leftover storage!

What to Serve With Pumpkin Bread

If you enjoyed this delicious copycat starbucks pumpkin bread you will also love, Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins loaded with creamy flavor, fun and delicious Pumpkin Magic Bars, try a similar Pumpkin Loaf Bread, a simple, budget-friendly Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe our delicious, easy Pumpkin Hand Pies and our Pumpkin Pie Punch! Or our deliciously Easy Spider Decorated Cookies!

Try this bread with some of our other breakfast favorites: