Pumpkins are something that truly defines fall. We all love pumpkin-flavored everything, especially even more around Thanksgiving time. If you want to experiment with pumpkin flavors this Thanksgiving, then you need to try this exceptionally easy recipe of Downeast Maine Pumpkin Bread! 

Just like everyone else, I, too, get obsessed with everything pumpkin flavored when it is fall. Of course, it is one of the most soothing things to have when it’s all windy outside! This means I always end up buying more cans of pumpkin puree than I ever thought I would eventually use. 

So, there are always leftover cans of pumpkin puree, with which I wonder if there is something quick and easy to make. Probably, some of you may have been in a similar situation at least at one point around fall. Well, the solution to overstocking pumpkin puree cans is really to make this pumpkin bread! 

Now I know that making bread from scratch may sound like a task. But the good news here is that this is actually a type of quick bread! What is that? Quick breads are loaves that don’t need any yeast or kneading. Hence there is no gluten formed. This means to make quick breads, all you have to do is mix a bunch of ingredients together and bake the bread! 

Sounds easy, right? It surely is! So, in this recipe, you will find a complete guide on how to make this exceptionally delicious pumpkin bread from scratch. From the equipment and ingredients to the method and nutritional values, it’s all in this article! Now, let us discover this recipe. 

What Equipment Will You Need To Make Downeast Maine Pumpkin Bread? 

• Bowl – You will need two large bowls to make this pumpkin bread. One of them will be to mix all the ingredients together, and the other one to sift in the dry ingredients. 
• Sieve – To make sure your bread does not get any lumps, it would be best to sift the dry ingredients first, for which you will need a sieve. 
• Measuring Cups – It is really important to be precise with the number of ingredients you add to a recipe in baking. So, measuring cups will be needed to make this recipe. 
• Measuring Spoons – Again, to get a precise measurement of the ingredients needed in smaller quantities, you will need a set of measuring spoons. 
• Whisk – To mix all the wet ingredients together, you will need a large whisk. 
• Silicone Spatula – After adding the dry ingredients to the wet ones, we will carefully fold everything together, for which you will need a silicone spatula. 
• Loaf Pans – You will need two loaf pans which are around 9 inches into 5 inches, for this recipe. This is the ideal size to get two loves, but you can use whatever you have. 
• Skewers – You will need a skewer or a toothpick to check whether the pumpkin bread is ready or not. 
• Baking Tray – Lastly, to place the loaf pans into the oven, you will need a baking tray. 

How Much Time Will You Need To Make Downeast Maine Pumpkin Bread? 

Preparation Time	Baking Time	Total Time
15 Minutes	55 Minutes	1 Hour 10 Minutes

What Ingredients Will You Need To Make Downeast Maine Pumpkin Bread? 

• All-Purpose Flour – One of the main ingredients in this recipe is, of course, all-purpose flour. You will need 3 ½ cups of it to get a yield of two loaves. Please don’t use bread flour or cake flour as the gluten content varies very highly in the two and will eventually change the texture of the bread from what it is supposed to be like. 
• Sugar – Quick breads are usually a little sweet, so they need a decent amount of sugar. For this recipe, you will need three cups of caster sugar. 
• Baking Soda – Baking soda is the leavening agent in this recipe and will give the bread a soft and spongy texture. You will need two teaspoons of the same. 
• Pumpkin Puree – It isn’t pumpkin bread without pumpkins! You will need around 15 ounces of pumpkin puree, which should almost be as much as a single can. 
• Eggs – Eggs help bring all the ingredients together and also help provide moisture, so you will need four large eggs for this recipe. 
• Vegetable Oil – Oil will again provide moisture and help with keeping the bread soft once it is done baking. You will need one cup of vegetable oil for this recipe. You can also use any other type of oil that does not have a pungent smell or flavor. 
• Water – For this recipe, you will need ⅔ cups of room temperature water. 
• Salt – Salt is a seasoning that will help enhance the flavor of the bread, so you will need one teaspoon of the same. 
• Cinnamon and Nutmeg – Pumpkin spice tastes incredible, and hence, we will be adding some spice to this bread recipe. You will need a teaspoon each of ground cinnamon and nutmeg. 
• Cloves and Ginger – Lastly, to give the bread a warm and fuzzy flavor for autumn, you will need ½ teaspoon each of ground cloves and cinnamon. 

Steps To Make Downeast Maine Pumpkin Bread

1. Preheat The Oven And Finish Pre-Preps

Firstly, start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, grease the loaf pans with some of the oil and then dust them with flour, just enough to cover all the sides of the pans. This is to ensure that the bread does not stick to the pans. Then, sift the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger into a large bowl and keep it aside. 

2. Prepare The Batter

Once your pre-preps are done, you can start preparing the batter for the bread. For that, in a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, pumpkin puree, oil, water, and sugar, until everything is well combined together. 

Then, add the sifted dry ingredients, bit by bit, to the wet ingredients and fold them in with the help of a silicone spatula. Make sure you don’t overmix the batter, as that will create gluten and make the bread tough. Once everything is mixed in, pour the batter into the greased loaf pans. 

3. Bake And Serve

After pouring the batter into the greased loaf pans, put them on a baking tray and place the tray in the preheated oven. Let the bread loaves bake for around 50 minutes, keeping 5-10 minutes as a variable time. 

Once the oven alarm buzzes, take the bread out and check if they are thoroughly cooked. For that, insert a skewer or a toothpick right in the center of the bread. If it comes out clean, your bread is done. If not, let it bake for another 5-10 minutes. 

Once the bread is done, take it out of the oven and let them cool down in the loaf pans. After they cool down, carefully remove them from the pans by tapping them gently on all sides. Then slice the bread and serve! 

How To Enjoy Pumpkin Bread? 

There are various ways in which you can enjoy a loaf of pumpkin bread. Some of my favorite ways are as given below. 

• As It Is – This pumpkin bread is so rich and sweet that it actually tastes great, just as it is! However, I would suggest heating the bread a little bit before serving if you are planning to have it as it is. 
• With Condiments – A number of condiments go really well with pumpkin bread. Some of them are hot honey, various jams, nut butter, and even maple syrup. 
• As French Toast – Bored of the same old french toast? Try making yourself a hearty breakfast with this pumpkin bread, and I can guarantee you that you will never go back to regular french toast! 
• In Bread Puddings – If you want to take this bread up a notch, you can make a decadent bread pudding with it, which is actually quite easy. 
• With Soup – You can either make this bread into croutons or serve a slice as it is, with a number of hearty soup options. 

Nutritional Information

Calories	263 kcal
Fat	10 grams
Saturated Fat	2 grams
Cholesterol	31 milligrams
Sodium	305 milligrams
Carbohydrates	41 grams
Fiber	1 gram
Sugar	26 grams
Protein	3 grams
Calcium	14 milligrams
Iron	1 milligram
Potassium	69 milligrams
Vitamin C	1 milligram

What Will The Downeast Maine Pumpkin Bread Look And Taste Like? 

If you haven’t made any sort of quick bread before or, just in general, are new to baking, you may wonder what the end product is supposed to turn out like. So, when it comes to what the bread is supposed to look like, it will actually look like a cross between bread and a cake. 

The bread will be in the form of a loaf, with a deep orange hue, and yes, while baking, the top will tear so that the excess air can escape. In fact, even the texture will be somewhat similar to what you would expect out of a moist cake rather than bread, which is exactly what it is supposed to be like!

When it comes to flavor, this bread has the perfect autumn vibes. The pumpkin puree combined with sugar creates a sweet flavor. However, the spices added to the bread create a wonderful contrast, which will make you feel warm and fuzzy with every bite! 

Recipe Card

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion

Warm with the spices and sweet with the pumpkin, this bread is the perfect combination of fall flavors. It is, moreover, exceptionally easy to make as compared to regular bread and can be made by beginners, too, following just a few simple steps.