Cake mix pumpkin bread, an easy pumpkin bread recipe! (2024)

Cake mix pumpkin bread, an easy pumpkin bread recipe! (1)

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It’s cake mix pumpkin bread and it couldn’t be easier! Made with cake mix and canned pumpkin, this easy pumpkin bread recipe is a crowd favorite! It’s perfect for a potluck, a brunch treat or just an afternoon snack with a cup of coffee!

Cake mix pumpkin bread, an easy pumpkin bread recipe! (2)

Welcome to this site’s most popular recipe! It’s been pinned over 1,000,000 times on Pinterest, and I’m so happy to know that I’m not the only one who loves it!

This sweet bread is still a family favorite – I make it every fall, and it’s definitely one of my go-to recipes to take along when we visit friends or family.

It’s been a few years since originally publishing this post, so it’s been updated as of September 2022 with additional information and accurate details. All of the original content is still here, it’s just better than it was before.

If you’ve made this quick bread before, I’d love to hear your thoughts. What kind of cake mix did you use? Did you make the recipe as written or did you put your own spin on it?

If you’re here for the first time, I hope you’re ready. You’re going to love it!

If you like this recipe please pin it on Pinterest,then follow me on Pinterest!

Sometimes I bake something that’s so easy, so super-good that I tell myself I need write about it. Then, it gets buried in all theother stuff I’m far more likely to share with you.

Then, I make that recipe later and think, ok, now I really need to share that recipe with readers who don’t know what they’re missing.

Why? Because it’s a sweet bread made with a cake mix, one can of pumpkin and a few other ingredients. It couldn’t get any easier, and it tastes delicious!

I absolutely need to share what I think is a perfect fall recipe: pumpkin bread. Even better, this is a quickbread recipe made with cake mix!

Cake mix pumpkin bread, an easy pumpkin bread recipe! (3)

Before you start baking I have a few tips for you:

About your Mixer

I usually use a hand mixer when a recipe (like this one) requires only a minute or two of speedy mixing. You can always use a stand mixer if you prefer.

I’ve broken more than a few mixers in the past by expecting more from them than they could handle (have you ever heard your mixer shriek and whine, then suddenly stop? Have you ever held a smoking mixer in your hand? It happens!).

Fortunately, this hand mixer has been one of my best small kitchen appliances for ten years. It’s pricier than a lot of other brands, but I haven’t broken mine yet, which says a lot!

Can you use fresh pumpkin in this recipe?

I would not use anything but canned pumpkin here. Canned pumpkin is cooked and strained and drained and squeezed. Then pureed and drained again.

My point is, there’s a ton of water in regular pumpkin before it’s processed and packed into cans.

If you’re experienced in cooking and processing your own and you can get it to the same consistency you find in a can, then go for it!

If you just decided to salvage those last jack-o-lantern bits after halloween, it’s better to go for the supermarket goods, just to be sure you end up with delicious bread when the timer dings.

Do I need to use yellow cake mix in this recipe?

Nope. You can use whatever kind of cake mix your little heart desires. Just make sure the flavor combination appeals to you.

I almost always use white and yellow cake mix because that vanilla flavor has a broad appeal. I think spice cake mix would make a delicious bread.

I’ve tossed around the idea of using chocolate cake mix, but I’m not 100% confident in that idea, so it’s still just in the back of my mind for now.

Easy Pumpkin Bread Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 box white oryellowcake mix
  • 1 15-ounce can pumpkin puree
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon (or 1.5 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice – I buy 16 ouncesof pumpkin pie spice at one time to take advantage of a far lower price. I use so much of it during the fall and winter months it just makes sense!)
  • 1-3 eggs (see cake mix directions for amount)
  • Vegetable oil (see cake mix directions for amount)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and grease a loaf pan. (I’m not an expert, but I’ve tried a lot of different loaf pans. This Wilton loaf pan is my favorite. It’s seamless, nothing sticks to it and it cleans up quickly.)
  2. Consult your cake mix box to find the amount of eggs and oil as directed on the box.
  3. Combine cake mix, eggs and oil in a bowl and mix on medium speed until smooth and well-blended.
  4. Add pumpkin and cinnamon. Mix on low until incorporated.
  5. Pour mixture into prepared loaf pan.
  6. Bake at 375 for 50 minutes or until a toothpickinserted into the center comes out clean.
  7. Cool and serve with butter or frost with cream cheese frosting.

Yield: 20

Easy Pumpkin Bread with Cake Mix

Cake mix pumpkin bread, an easy pumpkin bread recipe! (4)

Easy pumpkin bread recipe made with cake mix. This moist 1-bowl cake mix pumpkin bread is the best homemade fall brunch, breakfast or dessert for families!

Prep Time5 minutes

Cook Time50 minutes

Additional Time20 minutes

Total Time1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 box white or yellow cake mix
  • 1 15- ounce can pumpkin puree
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon, or 1.5 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
  • 1-3 eggs, see cake mix directions for amount
  • Vegetable oil, see cake mix directions for amount

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and grease a loaf pan. (I'm not an expert, but I've tried a lot of different loaf pans.
  2. Consult your cake mix box to find the amount of eggs and oil as directed on the box.
  3. Combine cake mix, eggs and oil in a bowl and mix on medium speed until smooth and well-blended.
  4. Add pumpkin and cinnamon. Mix on low until incorporated.
  5. Pour mixture into prepared loaf pan.
  6. Bake at 375 for 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  7. Cool and serve with butter or frost with cream cheese frosting.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

20

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 319Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 28mgSodium: 584mgCarbohydrates: 66gFiber: 2gSugar: 35gProtein: 4g

If you love pumpkin you must try my Vanilla Pumpkin Smoothie recipe!

It’s just the right time of year to talk about everything pumpkin! Check out one of my most popular posts with over 700 FREE pumpkin carving patterns!

Cake mix pumpkin bread, an easy pumpkin bread recipe! (6)

Photo credits: the delicious and mccun934.

Cake mix pumpkin bread, an easy pumpkin bread recipe! (2024)

FAQs

Why is my pumpkin bread not moist? ›

Try cutting the amount of flour, or adding more milk. It's also possible your oven was too hot, or you baked the pumpkin bread for too long. Try reducing the oven temperature and cutting the baking time.

Why does my pumpkin bread fall apart when I cut it? ›

You will have less luck with a low-fat recipe or one that is high in sugar. Ones with a lot of mix-ins like nuts, chips, crumble etc. tend to fall apart more easily than a pumpkin bread that has less texture.

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.

What happens if you put too much pumpkin in pumpkin bread? ›

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.

How can I make my bread more moist? ›

Try adding shortening to the recipe. Shortening keeps the bread more moist and airy. If you're health conscious, then using vegetable shortening instead of animal shortening would be a good choice.

How do you know when pumpkin bread is done baking? ›

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.

Why won t my pumpkin bread cook 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 you keep pumpkin bread from sinking in the middle? ›

If your oven isn't up to temperature consistently during the baking time, you may experience sunken cakes or loaves. Use an oven thermometer to gauge the accuracy of your oven. At the very least, try waiting 10 minutes after the oven has beeped to signify it has preheated before actually baking anything.

How can I make my bread lighter and fluffy? ›

Simply put, you have to control the temperature of the bread. Allowing ample time for your bread dough to rise and the yeast to form will create the holes in the bread that give it a lighter texture. Letting your dough get puffy and grow before it goes into the oven is critical.

What happens if you use too much baking soda in pumpkin bread? ›

Here's what could happen if you use too much baking soda: Bitter Taste: Excessive baking soda can leave a bitter taste in the bread. Baking soda is alkaline, and an excessive amount of it can result in an unpleasant flavor. Unpleasant Texture: Too much baking soda can lead to a coarse and crumbly texture in the bread.

Why does pumpkin bread sink? ›

Check your leavening agent

Expired or ineffective baking powder and baking soda will not leaven your quick bread. Adding too much or insufficient leavening agents: Adding too much leaveners will cause your quick bread to sink in the middle.

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.
Nov 21, 2022

How to make pumpkin taste better? ›

Cook It on the Stove

Briefly cooking your canned pumpkin purée on the stove can help improve both the flavor and texture. This method helps reduce excess moisture, which gives the pumpkin a superior texture. It also releases the natural pumpkin flavor and helps reduce the metallic taste from the can.

Is pumpkin bread good or bad for you? ›

Pumpkin bread is the perfect food to have on hand morning, noon, or night. Since it contains ingredients that pack a nutritional punch it is delicious anytime of the day. Starting out the day with nut butter spread on a slice provides some satiating protein and fiber.

Why is my bread not moist? ›

Fats keep your bread moist. If your loaf was too dry, try adding a tablespoon or two more oil next time you make it. Likewise, water does more than hydrate your dough. It helps yeast do its thing, activates gluten and determines the volume of your loaf—all crucial for the right results.

Why is my bread always so dry? ›

Your Bread Has Too Much Flour

Adding too much flour is one common mistake for beginning bakers. This produces dry bread with more crumbs. The key is to find a balance between the flour and liquid ingredients in your recipe. It can be tricky because bread recipes don't always give you an exact amount of flour.

Why was my bread so dry? ›

Leaving the bread in the oven too long will dry out bread. If the bread has finished baking before the minimum time stated in the recipe, the oven temperature may not be correct. To insure the correct temperature each time you bake, always use an oven thermometer. Place it in the center of the oven.

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