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Pumpkin Bread With Cream Cheese Frosting

Pumpkin bread with cream cheese frosting—tender, spiced loaf baked until a toothpick comes out clean. Finished with a thick, spreadable cream cheese swirl and a cinnamon dusting.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Calories: 380
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the bread
  • 1.75 cup flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree
  • 0.75 cup sugar
  • 0.5 cup brown sugar
  • 0.5 cup oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
For cream cheese frosting
  • 6 oz cream cheese softened
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter softened
  • 2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 tbsp milk as needed for thick but spreadable

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan
  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Bake the pumpkin bread
  1. Preheat oven to 350F, then grease a 9x5 loaf pan.
  2. Whisk together the dry ingredients until evenly combined.
  3. Whisk together the wet ingredients until smooth.
  4. Fold the wet into the dry just until combined, then pour the batter into the loaf pan.
  5. Bake 60-65 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
  6. Cool the loaf completely before frosting.
Make and spread the frosting
  1. Beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth.
  2. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and enough milk to make a thick but spreadable frosting; beat until smooth.
  3. Spread generously over the cooled loaf, then dust with cinnamon and serve.

Notes

For clean slices, cool the loaf fully before frosting and let the frosting set for about 10 minutes. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days; freezing is yes—freeze unfrosted slices for up to 2 months, then thaw overnight in the fridge and frost before serving. For a lighter option, use low-fat cream cheese and replace part of the powdered sugar with a powdered monk fruit blend to reduce calories (texture may be slightly less rich).