Pumpkin Loaf Cake – Better Than Starbucks!

A delicious and easy Pumpkin Loaf Cake recipe. This moist pumpkin bread is perfect for autumn or Halloween. It’s also easily made gluten free. Oh and it’s better than the Starbucks version!

Oh hello AUTUMN! Aren’t you pretty?! (Or Fall if you’re in the USA of course.)

This is one of my most favourite seasons, we are into the land of cosy jumpers, log fires and.. PUMPKIN!

Have you ever tried the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Loaf? Once a week, on the way home from school, George and Harriet and I stop at Starbucks for a Babycino (them) and a Flat White (me) and a treat.

Plus, I discovered this cake a few years ago. I loved it so much, I made a tiny version in these Mini Pumpkin Bread Loaves and later as a big layer cake with coffee icing in my Pumpkin Spice Latte Layer Cake (are you seeing a theme? This cake is goooood!).

I realised this year, that I’ve never made a full size loaf.. so here it is.

This pumpkin cake feels healthy enough to eat for breakfast with a cup of coffee and also naughty enough as an afternoon treat.

It freezes really well and keeps for a few days in a tin. What’s not to love?!

EDIT: I have made a simplified version of this cake with my latest Pumpkin Cake. I know many of you like this original version, but it’s there if you’d like to compare sometime!

How do you make Pumpkin Bread?

This Pumpkin Cake is a really simple cake batter, mixed up in just a few minutes with either an electric whisk or by hand. You simply mix all of the wet ingredients together, and then combine with the dry, easy!

Pop it all into a greased and lined loaf tin, and bake until firm and cooked through.

Do I need to use fresh pumpkin to make Pumpkin Cake?

No, you don’t need to use fresh pumpkin to make this Pumpkin Spice Loaf. I must admit that I hate cutting up fresh pumpkins and scooping them out.

I use pumpkin puree in tins, I’ve found it on Ocado online (and Waitrose stores) and I think other big supermarkets stock them too, especially at this time of year.

However, with Halloween approaching, if your house is anything like mine there will be an abundance of pumpkins ready for carving, so this makes a great way of using up all of that left over flesh.

To use up lots of pumpkin, scoop out the fresh, cook, puree and freeze some so you can have your little bit of Starbucks at home on future cozy autumnal afternoons.

(The toasted seeds of the pumpkins are a yummy snack too.)

TIPS FOR MAKING THE PUMPKIN SPICE CAKE:

• Be careful not to over bake your Pumpkin Spice Loaf. Take it out of the oven when the skewer only just comes out clean. (Allow it to cool in the tin for five minutes and then turn out)
• Use the zest of your lemons in the cake batter and save them to use the juice in the drizzle icing.
• This recipe can easily be made gluten free, buy substituting the plain flour for a gluten free equivalent.

WHAT I USED TO MAKE THE PUMPKIN LOAF CAKE

• Microplane Zester – My secret weapon for any recipes with citrus zest in is my Microplane Zester. I know I’m a wimp but I used to hate making lemon drizzle cake before splashing out on one of these. They have SO many glowing reviews. You can buy them here on Amazon: Microplane Premium Zester.
• Good Quality Loaf Tin – A sturdy tin that conducts the heat evenly will really make a different to your bakes. This Non Stick Loaf tin on Amazon is a good buy.

Fancy some other easy loaf cake recipes? How about my Orange Drizzle Cake or Nutella Cake?

Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. I’d love to know how you got on and what you thought of it if you make this Pumpkin Spice Loaf recipe. Please rate the recipe and leave me a comment below if you do.

Also, if you fancy showing me a photo by tagging me on Instagram (@tamingtwins) I LOVE to see your creations.