Easy and delicious Pumpkin Bread: Kid & Dietitian Mom Approved!
I love making muffins, especially in the FALL! Nothing says fall like pumpkins and, of course, pumpkin bread.
If you've been following me for a while, you know I like making muffins. They are the perfect snack, great for breakfast, and fit nicely in a lunch box.
This recipe is very simple to make and will make moist and delicious bread or muffins. They are nutritious, you can decide to make them lower in sugar if desired, and I usually amp up the nutrition by adding nuts and flax seeds. This pumpkin bread will be your kid's favorite for the Thanksgiving holidays and, frankly, for all fall. We've been making it since before Halloween.
This recipe actually comes from my Godmother, Nina Elea, who just makes the best bread. Her double chocolate cake is by far the best chocolate cake out there and has become a staple in my daughter's birthdays.
Why I like this recipe
What makes this bread unique is that it has a touch of orange juice which gives it a sweetness and tanginess without adding extra sugar. Additionally, the apple puree + the pumpkin puree keep it super moist without having to add too much fat. You can also add canned peach puree or orange juice if you don't have any of those at home.
Invite your kids to the kitchen
As a registered dietitian and mom, I'm a huge believer in involving kids in the kitchen from a young age. And there is good reason to do so! Cooking with kids can help them:
- Build an adventurous palette
- Practice math and motor skills
- Build confidence around food
- Create a positive relationship with food because it makes it fun!
How can your kids help:
- Greasing the loaf pans
- Serving dry ingredients
- Breaking the eggs & whisking
- Reading instructions
- Chopping with age-appropriate knives.
- Sprinkling walnuts on top
Check out my amazon store, where you will find some of my favorite cooking wear for kids to help out SAFELY in the kitchen! One of my all-time tips for baking with kids is to create a station to let them get dirty, and they can play with the ingredients without necessarily "messing up the recipe." A mixing station allows them to mix, pour and get familiar with many new foods.
Caution: don't expect your kitchen to be clean afterward. Lots of mess with happening, but that's ok with me!😆
Try it out and let me know how it goes!
Pumpkin Bread Recipe
- 2/3 cups canola oil
- 1 2/3 cups sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup canned pumpkin
- 1 cup apple puree
- 3 1/3 cup flour
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 2/3 cup orange or apple juice
- 1 cups walnuts
- 1/2 cup of roasted pumpkin seeds (optional)
- 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds
- Preheat the oven to 350° F and generously grease two loaf pans with butter and dust with flour (you could also use baking spray with flour in it)
- In a bowl, blend the oil and sugar together.
- Add the eggs (1 at a time) while whisking.
- Add the apple puree and pumpkin puree to the mixture.
- In a separate bowl, mix the dry ingredients (flour, salt, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda).
- Add the dry and wet ingredients and mix until combined.
- Add the orange juice and blend well.
- Turn the batter into the prepared pans, dividing evenly, and add the walnuts (and the roasted pumpkin seeds if you like)
- Bake for 1 hour or until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the loaves cool in the pans for about 10 minutes, then turn them out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Note: You could prepare the mixture in muffin molds and you won't regret it either, they are delicious.
