Best Healthy Pumpkin Bread – The Big Man’s World ®

This healthy pumpkin bread is moist, tender, and made in one bowl! It’s made with oat flour and naturally sweetened and has less than 150 calories per slice.

There is an unfair stigma that pumpkin desserts are unhealthy and something that must only be enjoyed on special occasions. That is far from the truth and there are tons of options out there.

Some of my healthy pumpkin desserts to make include a pumpkin pie and pumpkin muffins. If I had a favorite, though, it would have to be this healthy pumpkin bread recipe.

Why this recipe works

• No added sugar. This bread is naturally sweetened with nothing refined.
• 100% flourless. By using oat flour, we skip the need for any white or wheat flour.
• Low calorie. Pumpkin bread uses an entire 15 oz can of pumpkin puree. This keeps the calories low and minimal fat used.
• Pefect texture and flavor. The texture is super moist and tender, and it has a naturally sweet pumpkin flavor. It’s healthy enough to enjoy a slice for breakfast or a cheeky slice (or two) for dessert!

Ingredients needed

This low sugar pumpkin bread is very simple and the short ingredient list is proof. It uses pantry staple ingredients, and this is what you’ll need:

• Pumpkin puree– Either unsweetened canned pumpkin or homemade pumpkin puree. Do not use pumpkin pie filling, or you’ll add excess sugar to the bread!
• Coconut oil– Keeps the bread extra moist and tender. Use refined coconut oil to ensure there is no coconut flavor.
• Eggs– room temperature eggs.
• Milk– Use your favorite milk or whatever you have on hand. I like using unsweetened almond milk.
• Coconut sugar– We use just a fraction of the amount of sugar you’ll see in other pumpkin bread recipes. Coconut sugar is also a refined sugar-free sweetener. No coconut sugar? Try brown sugar or light brown sugar.
• Pumpkin pie spice– A must for any recipe that calls for pumpkin!
• Oat flour– A healthier alternative to traditional white or wheat flour. Simply grind up your own oats and skip the expensive store-bought kind.
• Baking powder– Gives the pumpkin bread some rise and fluffiness.

How to make healthy pumpkin bread

Simple is an understatement for this pumpkin oatmeal bread. The prep work is less than two minutes, and the oven handles all the hard work. Ready to whip up a loaf?

1. Make the batter: Start by whisking together the pumpkin puree, coconut oil, eggs, sugar, and pumpkin pie spice until smooth. Gently mix through the oat flour and baking powder until combined.
2. Bake the bread: Transfer into a greased loaf pan and bake for 55-60 minutes, or until a skewer comes out mostly clean.
3. Cool and slice: Let the pumpkin bread cool completely before slicing and serving.

Dietary swaps and variations

What we love about this healthy pumpkin bread is just how forgiving it is to various diets out there and how easy it is to adapt. Here is what we have tried:

• To make it vegan: For a vegan pumpkin bread, replace the eggs with an egg substitute. I find flax eggs to be the best kind for this particular recipe.
• Gluten-free pumpkin bread: Provided you use gluten-free oat flour, this recipe is gluten free! Alternatively, you can make almond flour pumpkin bread.
• Protein pumpkin bread: Swap out 1/4 cup of the oat flour with 1/4 cup of your favorite vanilla or plain protein powder. You could also make our protein banana bread and swap out the banana for equal parts pumpkin.
• Cut the sugar: For a sugar free pumpkin bread, replace the coconut sugar with either allulose or a zero calorie sweetener. I find allulose the best option as it dissolves exactly like sugar does.
• To make muffins: This exact batter works as muffins if that is what you’d prefer. Simply make the batter as instructed, then bake in a 12-count muffin tin for 18-20 minutes at 180C/350F.

Storage instructions

To store: Leftovers will keep well at room temperature, covered, for up to 5 days. If you’d like the bread to keep longer, store it in the refrigerator and it will keep for at least a week.

To freeze: Place slices of the pumpkin bread in a ziplock bag and store them in the freezer for up to 6 months.

More healthy pumpkin recipes to try

Frequently Asked Questions