Healthy Pumpkin Bread
A delicious, healthy pumpkin bread recipe – the BEST pumpkin bread I’ve ever had! And, it’s made with half the amount of sugar, half whole wheat flour, greek yogurt and coconut oil. A healthier pumpkin bread you can enjoy without the guilt!
Every laundry day, I like to play a little game. It’s called “How Many Things Can I Find in Shawn’s Pocket”. My guy is a pocket hoarder. And he never cleans out his pockets before throwing his clothes in the laundry basket.
Wait, did I say in the laundry basket? I meant on the floor in front of the laundry basket. Because actually putting his dirty clothes in the laundry basket is apparently my job. That’s ok, he works hard. I can lift his clothes the extra 2 feet for him to put them in the basket.
At least he puts them very close by, right?
At his job his jeans get really dirty, so he goes thru at least about 4 pairs of jeans a week. And there is an endless amount of goodies in those jeans.
This week I found 2 sharpies, 1 ball point pen, 1 construction pencil, 4 different drill bits, some plastic zip ties, a piece of paper folded up about a million times with measurements written on it, and a business card.
I forgot to check his shirt pockets before doing a load this week. Big mistake because there was a sharpie in one of those pockets. I didn’t realize that until putting the clothes in the dryer. Thank goodness the cap stayed on. That would have been an ink stain disaster!
Another fun game I’ve been playing the past few week is “Create the Perfect Healthy Pumpkin Bread Recipe”. And after attempt number 3, I nailed it!
Of course I wanted to make a healthy pumpkin bread recipe. The ones I’ve made in the past have oh so much sugar and butter in them, they’re really cake in bread form. I was determined to make a healthier version that still tasted great.
I started off with my healthy zucchini bread recipe that I perfected this summer, which is seriously amazing. It uses half the amount of sugar than normal quick breads. And it uses coconut oil instead of butter, half whole wheat flour, and non fat greek yogurt to keep it extra moist.
After making a few minor tweaks, I had the perfect healthy pumpkin bread recipe. Shawn and I cannot get enough. Ummm, we ate a whole loaf of this in 3 days. It’s healthier, so that’s ok, right? Right?!
My favorite part of this healthy pumpkin bread is the delicate crumb. Usually when I eat pumpkin bread it’s really dense and “spongy”, usually because it has so much oil and sugar in it. But this is light and fluffy, and really does taste like a bread instead of a cake. It tastes like you’re eating a pumpkin cloud.
So delicious, especially when you spread on a little butter.
Healthy Pumpkin Bread
Ingredients
- 1 cup white, unbleached all purpose flour
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 15-oz can pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling!)
- ½ cup white granulated sugar
- ¼ cup honey
- ½ cup plain, non fat greek yogurt
- 2 large eggs
- 6 tablespoons coconut oil, melted and cooled
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with the rack in the center. Line a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan with 2 sheets parchment paper, 1 running the length and 1 running the width, both cut to fit. This will make it extremely easy to lift the pumpkin bread out of the pan. I use binder clips to clamp down the parchment paper so it stays in place.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flours, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Whisk to combine.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the pumpkin puree, sugar, honey, greek yogurt, eggs, and coconut oil. Stir to combine.
- Transfer the pumpkin mixture into the flour mixture. Fold until combined.
- Transfer the batter to the parchment lined loaf pan. Bake for 60 minutes, or until a wooden inserted in the center comes out with a few crumbs attached. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then lift it out of the pan using the parchment paper and cool on a wire rack for another 10 minutes. Slice and serve.
- Wrap bread in plastic wrap and store at room temperature for 3 days.
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83 Comments on “Healthy Pumpkin Bread”
This bread looks like perfection and I’m obsessed with those shots of your pouring and mixing the batter! So gorgeous.
Hahaha, I feel your pain. My biggest problem is trying to get my husband to actually put his clean clothes away. I mean, I will wash them, and fold them, and all that but you can handle putting them back in the drawers yourself. Remember what it was like before you had a wife?? Lol. This breads looks so moist — I love that it’s healthier!
Ha! That would have been such a mess! I am in love with this bread! Looks downright amazing!
I need to start playing that game with Eric’s pants because I’ve ruined so many of my clothes because Eric had a pen in his pants! This pumpkin bread is making me so hungry right now!! I wish I had that buttered piece in my hand :)
I’ve always loved pumpkin bread – I have my great grandmother’s recipe, which is FULL of tons of sugar and vegetable oil. It’s absolutely delicious, of course, but I don’t make it anymore because I have no self control with it. This healthy version looks amazing, Natalie!
This bread certainly does look like you nailed it — it looks so perfectly moist! And eating it without guilt is always a bonus!
I’ve had TWO loads ruined by ink recently!! GRRRR!! And don’t get me started on greasy Chapstick stains. Why do boys have to be weird little squirrel men? Who even puts that much stuff in pockets!? LOL! This bread looks soooo yummy! And good that it’s healthy, too, because I’d probably end up eating the entire loaf!
Yes, I agree, pumpkin bread can be too heavy! This version looks and sounds much tastier!
I love pumpkin bread and this recipe looks delicious. My mom used to make pumpkin bread every Christmas and go door to door passing it out to the neighbors. ?
We have similar laundry issues in our house too. :) And you’re right – this pumpkin bread does look PERFECT. Oh man I’m craving a piece now!!
Haha my husband is a pocket hoarder and puts his clothes but not his socks in the laundry basket. No idea why but he does help out with laundry so I’ll guess I’ll take it. This pumpkin bread looks so fluffy and amazing! I love the healthier ingredients in here!
My husband ALWAYS leaves his socks in the floor. He puts the rest of his clothes in the basket but not his socks. What in the world is that about?! But I eventually decided if that is my biggest issue with him, I’ve got it pretty good! ;)
This pumpkin bread looks SO GOOD! I haven’t made any pumpkin bread yet this year so it was WAY overdue!
OH HOLD ME BACK! HOLD ME BACK!!
This looks like the ultimate healthy pumpkin bread! I would love a slice or two right now!
LOL! What is it about getting those clothes IN the laundry basket.. I mean, a few feet away? It’s the same around here, yet sometimes it’s more like 20′ away! Oh and we seem to have a shoe problem too. They go everywhere else but the closet! OMGeeee!
I love how you played with your zucchini bread recipe to develop this one for us Natalie! Pumpkin can sometimes be a challenge to bake with due to it’s moisture content, so getting a perfect crumb is challenging (I’m in the midst of this right now! Trial three! Lets hope this is the winner for me too! Fingers crossed?). That coconut oil and whole wheat is a winner my dear!
LOL! What is it about getting those clothes IN the laundry basket.. I mean, a few feet away? It’s the same around here, yet sometimes it’s more like 20′ away! Oh and we seem to have a shoe problem too. They go everywhere else but the closet! OMGeeee!
I love how you played with your zucchini bread recipe to develop this one for us Natalie! Pupmkin can sometimes be a challenge to bake with due to it’s moisture content, so getting a perfect crumb is challenging (I’m in the midst of this right now! Trial three! Lets hope this is the winner for me too! Fingers crossed?). That coconut oil and whole wheat is a winner my dear!
I’m really craving this now. This bread looks so moist and fluffy. Nothing beats pumpkin bread.
I just made pumpkin muffins last night, and they’re going to be gone by tomorrow morning. Definitely can’t get enough these days! Will have to whip this bread up for next week (or later this week?), because it’s pretty much the best way to start the day!
Oh my gosh he really is a pocket hoarder! That would drive me nuts! Love this pumpkin bread though! I love how you put greek yogurt in it too! It makes baked goodies so moist and delicious. Plus, talk about that protein!
Oh maaaan ,girl! I am a pumpkin bread FANATIC but I really could never get over how guilty I felt after *ahem* a pumpkin bread binge. Now you’re telling me I can eat this entire gorgeous loaf with NO regrets?? Sign me up!
P.S. GORGEOUS photos, Natalie!