This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
A copycat for Starbucks Pumpkin Bread Recipe!
The easiest pumpkin bread with 12 ingredients! This bread can be made in muffin, mini muffin or mini loaf pans. Scroll down to view the how-to video!
Starbucks has changed their pumpkin bread over the years, so this copycat recipe is for their old school pumpkin bread, circa 2013.
With over 150 comments, this easy starbucks pumpkin bread recipe is a classic fall recipe that will soon be a favorite in your family!
Quick breads and muffins are some of my favorite baked goods because you can eat them any time of the day. Morning. Afternoon. Snack. Dessert. Yum.
If you want a better-for-you option, try this healthy pumpkin chocolate chip bread.
Pumpkin Everything
The pumpkin spice craze has unleashed for the the season.
The most notable pumpkin spice item is probably the pumpkin spice latte (PSL!). We should thank coffee shops everywhere for creating the best fall beverage ever.
There are definitely some PSL haters out there who want nothing to do with pumpkin spice. I personally love the craze, within reason. But I found some weird products that definitely shouldn’t have been pumpkin spiced. Yes, I just made it into a verb. Here’s my take on the good and the ugly of all things pumpkin spice.
GOOD: PSL, pumpkin spice coffee creamer, pumpkin sugar cookies, pumpkin spice pudding, pumpkin spice almonds, pumpkin spice kettle corn, pumpkin whipped cream.
UGLY: pumpkin spice dental chews for pets, pumpkin spice pringles, pumpkin spice lasagna, pumpkin spice seltzer water, and pumpkin spice skittles.
Do you have something to add to the list, on the good or ugly side?! Leave a comment telling us!
What You’ll Need
- all purpose flour – flour is necessary to build structure
- baking soda and baking powder – helps to leaven and lift the batter
- cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg – adds warmth and classic spice flavor
- salt – just a pinch to balance the sweetness and enhances the other flavors
- granulated sugar and brown sugar – adds sweetness, flavor, and moisture
- milk – adds fat and moisture
- eggs – binds the batter together by providing structure
- pumpkin puree – adds pumpkin flavor and acts as a binder
How to Make Pumpkin Bread
The best part about this Starbucks pumpkin bread recipe is that you’ll only dirty up 3 things – a small bowl, a larger bowl, and the loaf pan.
In a small bowl combine all of the dry ingredients.
In a larger bowl combine the sugars and all wet ingredients, stir to combine.
Gently mix in the flour mixture.
Pour into a greased loaf pan and bake at 350ºF for 55-60 minutes.
Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Bread
This copycat version of Starbucks pumpkin pound cake rivals the real deal, so much so you won’t have to fork over $2-3 for a single slice anymore.
Bake up a whole loaf in your own kitchen in under 90 minutes, which the majority of that time is baking and cooling, aka a great time to watch Fixer Upper!
Gluten Free Starbucks Bread
I’ve made this bread with both regular and gluten free flour with awesome results on multiple occasions. I recommend King Arthur’s Gluten Free Measure for Measure Flour. Use it as a one for one substitute for regular flour.
How to Store
Store the bread in an airtight container on the counter. To keep the bread extra moist, wrap in plastic wrap then place inside the container.
How to Freeze Quick Bread
To freeze the whole loaf: allow it to cool completely, then wrap well in plastic wrap, then in aluminum foil. Place inside a ziplock bag. To thaw, place the wrapped bread in the fridge overnight.
To freeze individual slices: allow the loaf to cool completely and slice. Wrap each slice in plastic wrap then in aluminum and place inside a ziplock bag. To thaw, place a slice in the fridge overnight. Or unwrap and microwave for 30 second intervals.
Pro Tips
1. DO NOT OVER MIX THE BATTER
I have been guilty of this myself and I am learning to be okay with lumps in my batter. For quick bread, do not use your electric mixer to beat in the dry ingredients, using a spatula and mixing by hand will give you more control.
“Mix just until incorporated” means mixing the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients until you can just no longer see any flour streaks. Yes you should still scrape the sides and the bottom of the bowl, but do that as you’re mixing in the flour.
2. DO NOT OVER BAKE
Sometimes the bread can trick you, it can look done on the outside but still be doughy in the middle. That’s when tenting the bread with aluminum foil comes in handy. It protects the top from becoming too brown, overcooked or crusty.
3. LOAF PAN SIZE MATTERS
There’s two popular loaf pan sizes – 9×5 and 8.5×4.5. Even though the numbers are similar, the pans actually differ in size by 15%. The 8.5×4.5 pan will yield a tall, more domed bread and will take 5-10 minutes longer when baking.
More Pumpkin Desserts
Tap stars to rate!
Starbucks Pumpkin Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all purpose flour, gluten free all purpose flour works great!
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- ⅔ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup milk, I used skim
- 3 large egg whites
- 1 cup canned pumpkin puree, use a 15 oz can – you’ll have a little leftover in the can
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º F.
- In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, salt, baking soda, baking powder, cloves, and nutmeg.
- In a large bowl, combine the sugar, brown sugar, milk, and egg whites with a spatula or whisk. Add in the canned pumpkin, and mix together well.
- Slowly add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture, stirring until everything is combined.
- Throughly spray a loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- Pour the batter into the loaf pan and bake for 55-60 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Allow the bread to cool in the pan before removing.
- Store in an air tight container.
Video
Notes
- For regular muffins bake at 425ºF for 7 minutes, then turn the oven down to 350ºF and bake for 12-14 minutes.
- This recipe turned out great using gluten free flour too! We love King Arthur Gluten Free Measure for Measure Flour.
- Get our recipe for Pumpkin Muffins!
Hi. I made this to give away at Thanksgiving and everyone loved it!!! I am making it again for my mom. I need to store it for a couple of days but i don’t want to freeze it. When cooled, Wrap in alumimun foil and then in a zip lock bag? Thanks. Love everything I have made from here!!????????
Hi there! I can’t wait to try this. Couple of questions, though. I make m own pumpkin purée, and the size of can purée wasn’t listed. What measurement should I use? Also, does it make a difference whether it is light or dark brown sugar?
Hi Tulea – this recipe needs 1 cup of pumpkin puree, so a 15 oz can is good, you’ll have a little extra. It’s doesn’t matter what kind of brown sugar you use!
Can you make this in a bundt pan?
starbuck lol yummy recipe thank you :)
You’re welcome!
I have made this recipe several times now and both my husband and I absolutely LOVE it. I have tried to look through the messages above but didn’t see any remarks about freezing this cake. I would like to make several at a time and freeze a couple to take out for hostess gift or Christmas afternoon coffee/tea. SO – how do these come out after being frozen? Thanks
I made this recipe . It tasted good but I found it to be tough without the addition of some fat. I wont be making it again.
I made this exactly as called for. I could not figure out why it had such a “spongy” texture. There is no fat of any kind in it. I didn’t even notice as I was making it or I would have adjusted it then. Very strange texture. But we will toast slices and add butter or jam and get it eaten up. Waste not, want not. And I do believe I will go back to using whole eggs instead of just egg whites. And a mixer instead of just a whisk.
I’m not finding adjusted instructions for making this in mini loaf pans. How long should mini loaf pans bake for?
Hi Ellen! I haven’t made this specific recipe in mini loaf pans but in mini muffin pans, so I can’t give a recommendation for the baking time in mini loaf pans.
Hi
Can i make this cake from fresh pumpkin?
Thank you
Lital
I was looking at your recipe of Starbucks recipe and notice there is no oil and no butter . I have made muffins and different breads and they all have some kind of oil or butter . I’m going to try your and see what happen . I usually made goodies just to give to friends and family . Love to see their smile after a busy day and getting some goodie that they can enjoy with tea or coffee priceless.❤️
Hi Ileana! The pumpkin adds a lot of moisture and so does the milk!