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Pumpkin Banana Bread - Cozy, Moist, and Perfectly Spiced

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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • All-purpose flour (1 3/4 cups)
  • Baking soda (1 teaspoon)
  • Salt (1/2 teaspoon)
  • Ground cinnamon (1 1/2 teaspoons)
  • Ground nutmeg (1/4 teaspoon)
  • Ground ginger (1/4 teaspoon)
  • Ripe bananas (2 medium, very spotty)
  • Canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling; 1 cup)
  • Granulated sugar (1/2 cup)
  • Light or dark brown sugar (1/2 cup, packed)
  • Neutral oil (1/3 cup; canola, vegetable, or light olive)
  • Large eggs (2)
  • Vanilla extract (2 teaspoons)
  • Optional add-ins: chocolate chips, chopped walnuts or pecans, pepitas for topping
  • Nonstick spray or butter for the pan

Method
 

  1. Prep the pan and oven. Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan and line it with a parchment sling for easy removal.
  2. Combine dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. Set aside.
  3. Mash the bananas. In a large bowl, mash the bananas with a fork until mostly smooth. A few small lumps are fine.
  4. Add wet ingredients. Whisk in the pumpkin puree, granulated sugar, brown sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla until the mixture is well combined and glossy.
  5. Bring it together. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Stir with a spatula until just combined. Stop mixing as soon as no dry streaks remain to avoid a tough loaf.
  6. Fold in extras (optional). Gently fold in 1/2 to 3/4 cup chocolate chips or chopped nuts. Sprinkle pepitas on top for crunch if you like.
  7. Fill the pan. Scrape the batter into the loaf pan and smooth the top. Tap the pan once on the counter to release air bubbles.
  8. Bake. Bake for 55–70 minutes, until the top is browned and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs. If the top is browning too fast, tent loosely with foil for the last 15 minutes.
  9. Cool. Let the bread cool in the pan for 10–15 minutes, then lift it out using the parchment and cool completely on a wire rack. Slicing too soon can make it gummy.
  10. Serve. Slice with a serrated knife. Enjoy plain, or spread with butter, cream cheese, or almond butter.