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    Home » Desserts » Cake

    Published Sep 1, 2022 (Updated Aug 8, 2024) by Heather Bilyeu

    Old Fashioned Pumpkin Loaf with Cream Cheese Frosting

    5 from 2 reviews
    4 Comments
    This post may contain affiliate links
    Jump to Recipe

    This old-fashioned pumpkin loaf is a one-bowl wonder, mixed with a whisk and made with canned pumpkin puree for convenience. It's full of pumpkin pie spice, making each tender slice a burst with fall flavor, and after an hour of baking in a loaf pan, it's topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting that takes it over the top. Yields 10-12 slices.

    The end slice of pumpkin loaf with cream cheese frosting cut off on a cutting board.

    Heather's Thoughts on All Things Pumpkin #PSL

    Listen. I used to be all #pumpkinspiceeverything a while ago. My college roomies and I would go CRAZY over PSL's when they came out and I even remember when Starbucks started launching them on September 1 for all the crazies like us - now it's even easier! But over the years the pumpkin craze has died down for me and I am only a die-hard pumpkin fan for a few things. Pumpkin cinnamon rolls, soft pumpkin cookies, my mom's pumpkin pie, and this old-fashioned pumpkin loaf with cream cheese frosting.

    BLESS YOU!

    That is all the pumpkin you need. Basically, anything soft and tender that is slattered in a cream cheese frosting of some sort. Hold me back because I have zero self-control.

    This loaf is tender and moist and bursting with fall flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger. Using canned pumpkin puree makes things easy. The best thing?! It's all whisked together in one bowl (hello easy clean up!), baked in the oven for an hour-ish, and topped off with a creamy smooth homemade cream cheese frosting. Yes, please!

    Reader Review

    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    "If I could Mz. Lady I would give it more than 5 stars. YES it was FAR BEYOND delicious. I made it and it was gone with in 1hr. Thank you and I believe I need your cookbook!"

    - JEANNETTE

    Welcome to My Kitchen, Let's Bake!

    a clear glass mixing bowl with pumpkin puree and eggs in it.
    STEP 1 - preheat the oven to 350. Add eggs and pumpkin to a large bowl...
    A clear mixing bowl with pumpkin puree, sugar, brown sugar, and eggs in it with a whisk.
    ...followed by sugar, brown sugar, milk, and oil. Using a whisk, whisk until combined.
    Adding flour into a mixing bowl with the wet ingredients for a pumpkin loaf.
    Step 2 - Add in flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, salt, and baking soda...
    Mixing the batter for pumpkin loaf with a spatula inside a clear glass mixing bowl.
    ...use a spatula to thoroughly mix the batter until no flour is remaining and visible...
    Pumpkin loaf batter in a clear glass mixing bowl with a spatula inside it.
    ...the batter will be quite thick.
    Pumpkin batter inside a loaf pan getting ready to be put in the oven.
    STEP 3 - Grease a 9x5 loaf pan very well and pour the batter in...
    Pumpkin bread in a loaf pan that has just come out of the oven - cooling on the counter.
    ...place in oven and bake for 55-60 minutes. Check the center with a toothpick to make sure it is finished (it will come out clean when fully baked). Let cool completely.
    Mixing together butter and cream cheese in a glass bowl with a hand mixer.
    STEP 4 - while the loaf is cooking and/or cooling, mix room-temperature cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy.
    Adding powdered sugar to a mixing bowl for cream cheese frosting.
    Add in the cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla. Mix until smooth. Scrape the sides of the bowl down with a spatula and mix one final time.
    Pumpkin loaf on a serving platter with a bowl of cream cheese frosting next to it.
    STEP 5 - once the loaf is completely cooled, place it on a platter and ice. You can spoon on and spread out over top or pipe on - whichever you prefer.
    A frosting loaf of pumpkin bread on a platter.
    Slice and enjoy!
    Old Fashioned Pumpkin Loaf on a cutting board that has just been topped with cream cheese frosting. The frosting bag is next it along with 2 cups of coffee, a knife, and a towel.

    There have been many of a time I go to make a pumpkin recipe and find no pumpkin pie spice in my spice cabinet. When that happens, I usually have the following spices below always stocked, so I will just make my own.
    Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice
    4 Tablespoons Cinnamon
    2 Teaspoons Ground Ginger
    1 Teaspoon Nutmeg
    1 Teaspoon Allspice
    ½ Teaspoon Ground Cloves
    Mix well and keep in an airtight container with your spices. Use 1 ½ teaspoons of this mix for this recipe.

    This freezes well too! I will slice it up (without icing), lay it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and place it in the freezer for 30ish minutes just to flash freeze. Then place it in a freezer-safe ziptop bag and store for up to 6 months. You can enjoy plain or just put a dollop of icing on the center when you serve. You can also just wrap the entire loaf (unsliced without frosting) in plastic wrap a couple of times then stick it inside a freezer-safe zip-top bag. Place in the fridge for 24 hours before serving to thaw. Remove the plastic wrap and top with the cream cheese frosting.

    3 Slices of pumpkin bread on small blue plates with a cup of coffee,  the whole pumpkin loaf and the frosting bag next to them.
    Print

    Recipe

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    pumpkin loaf with cream cheese icing sliced on a cutting board

    Old Fashioned Pumpkin Loaf with Cream Cheese Frosting


    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    5 from 2 reviews

    • Author: Heather Bilyeu
    • Total Time: 70 minutes
    • Yield: 10-12
    Print Recipe
    Save Recipe Recipe Saved

    Description

    This old-fashioned pumpkin loaf is a one-bowl wonder, mixed with a whisk and made with canned pumpkin for convenience. It's full of pumpkin pie spice, making each tender slice a burst with fall flavor, and after an hour of baking in a loaf pan, it's topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting that takes it over the top. 


    Ingredients

    Scale

    Pumpkin Loaf

    • 2 Eggs
    • 1 - 15 Ounce Canned Pumpkin Puree
    • ½ Cup Sugar
    • ½ Cup Brown Sugar
    • ½ Cup Milk
    • 1 Tablespoon Oil
    • 2 Cups Flour
    • 2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
    • 2 Teaspoons Pumpkin Pie Spice
    • 1 Teaspoon Salt
    • ½ Teaspoon Baking Soda

    Cream Cheese Frosting

    • 4 Ounces Cream Cheese - softened
    • 2 Tablespoon Butter - softened
    • ¾ Cups Powdered Sugar
    • 1 Tablespoon Cream
    • ¼ Teaspoon Vanilla


    Instructions

    Pumpkin Loaf

    1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    2. In a large bowl, add eggs, pumpkin, sugar, brown sugar, milk, and vegetable oil. Using a whisk, mix until combined.
    3. Add in flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Use a spatula to thoroughly mix the batter until no flour is remaining and visible.
    4. Grease a 9x5 loaf pan very well and pour the batter in.
    5. Place in oven and bake for 60-65 minutes. Check the center with a toothpick to make sure it is finished (it will come out clean when fully baked).
    6. Remove and let cool in the pan for 10 minutes and then move to a cooling rack until completely cooled.

    Cream Cheese Frosting

    1. Mix the softened cream cheese and butter with a stand or handheld mixer until fluffy and no clumps remain.
    2. Add in 1 cup of sifted powdered sugar and mix until everything is smooth and incorporated.
    3. Add in milk and vanilla. Mix again.
    4. Add in the final cup of powdered sugar and mix until smooth and mixed well.
    5. Spread or pipe out evenly onto the cool pumpkin cake.
    6. Enjoy!

    Notes

    To Freeze

    1. Slice the cooled and frosted pumpkin loaf and place it on a baking sheet - without frosting.
    2. Place in the freezer for 1 hour until each slice if frozen solid.
    3. Vacuum seal or store in a freezer-safe zip-top bag.
    4. Place in the freezer for up to 2 years if vacuum sealed and 6 months if not.
    • Prep Time: 10 Minutes
    • Cook Time: 60 minutes
    • Category: Dessert
    • Method: Baking
    • Cuisine: American

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 slice
    • Calories: 333
    • Sugar: 33.8 g
    • Sodium: 329.6 mg
    • Fat: 11.7 g
    • Carbohydrates: 53.3 g
    • Fiber: 1.8 g
    • Protein: 5.3 g
    • Cholesterol: 58 mg

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @fuelingasouthernsoul on Instagram and hashtag it #fuelingasouthernsoul

    Please rate and review below!

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    Filed Under: Bread, Cake, Christmas, Fall, Recipe Video, Thanksgiving Tagged With: Cream Cheese, Pumpkin

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Comment & Rate this Recipe Cancel reply

      Thank you so much for making this recipe and taking time out of your day to leave a star rating and comment review. I do not take it for granted and I appreciate you being here and sharing your thoughts on the recipe with me!

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      Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    1. Jeannette says

      October 23, 2023 at 4:31 pm

      If I could Mz. Lady I would give it more than 5 stars.
      YES it was FAR BEYOND delicious.
      I made it and it was gone with in oh 1hr.
      Thank you and I believe I need your cookbook!

      Reply
      • Heather Bilyeu says

        October 24, 2023 at 10:24 am

        This makes me so happy to hear Jeannette!! So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much!

        Reply
    2. Delicious says

      October 22, 2024 at 12:31 pm

      The flavor is perfect and the icing delicious. But the texture of the loaf was a bit "gummy". What did I do wrong?

      Reply
      • Heather Bilyeu says

        October 23, 2024 at 1:15 pm

        Oh no! I am sorry. Potentially over mixed the batter? I just gently mix the batter until the flour is just combined. Maybe that will help next time. Thanks for making it!!

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Heather! Grab a glass of wine, a blanket, and a cozy seat on your back porch. I am so glad you are here! Born and raised in Kentucky and with proper southern roots, my love for entertaining and hospitality runs deep within my soul. There is nothing that I love more than having people around my table and loving them through food and drink!

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