Pumpkin Bread with Toasted Walnuts ~ a moist pumpkin quick bread studded with toasted walnuts makes a perfect fall breakfast or coffee break treat.
I’m lobbying for year round status for my favorite versatile ingredient…pumpkin!
It’s one of my most treasured foodie joys, and I hate to see it treated like a fall fad. Why should banana, zucchini and carrot be welcome in March and not pumpkin? Food bloggers get a lot of flak for overdoing this particular orange squash, and I understand that sometimes we go a bit too far… but I really think it’s a food worth celebrating. And if it can’t be a year round pleasure then I say indulge with abandon while it’s PC to enjoy it.
Today’s understated recipe illustrates my point. This quick bread has just the right amount of sweetness, earthy pumpkin flavor, light spice, tender crumb, and strong walnut presence. It has the perfect crumb, actually, and I think that’s largely due to the pumpkin. It’s heaven any time of the day, but I have a fondness for it at breakfast. Slather it with butter or cream cheese if you want.
Eat it warm from the oven or cold form the fridge. If you have a toaster oven, you’re golden.
This bread is a celebration of two things, really — pumpkin and walnuts. I used walnut oil to bring that nutty message home, and lots of the freshest walnuts I could fine. Shell them yourself for the best taste…second best is a bag of walnut halves. The bigger the pieces the fresher the nuts will be. I like to toast them and then give them a rough chop once they’ve cooled.
So who’s going to sign my petition to spring pumpkin out of seasonal ‘jail’?
Some of my other favorite pumpkin recipe on the blog ~
Pumpkin Bread with Toasted Walnuts
Equipment
- 9×5 loaf pan
Ingredients
- 1 cup (heaping) walnut halves, the bigger the pieces the fresher the flavor
- 3/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp pumpkin puree
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup walnut oil, you can substitute vegetable oil
- 1/3 cup buttermilk
- 1 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp allspice
- 1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
Instructions
- Set oven to 375F
- Spread the walnut out on a dry baking sheet and toast for about 15 minutes, just until you start to smell them…let them cool a bit before giving them a rough chop.
- Whisk together the pumpkin and the eggs. Then whisk in the sugar, oil, buttermilk, vinegar and spices.
- Sift in the in the flour and baking powder and mix just until combined. Fold in the walnuts. Don’t over mix.
- Turn the batter into a 9×5 loaf pan that has been sprayed with oil and lined with parchment paper with ends that extend beyond the top of the pan. This just makes it easier to remove the cake from the pan.
- Bake for about 55 minutes to an hour, or until the cake has risen and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out without wet batter clinging to it.
Notes
Nutrition
I love that you used walnut oil. I haven’t thought to bake with it! What a fabulous bread.
Thanks Christie, I didn’t talk enough about that in the post — I’ve always loved walnut oil, mostly for salads, but I like that you can really smell, and taste the walnut flavor in it.
You’ve convinced me! I love sweet breads and this one looks delightful, Sue!
I’d love a thick slice of your bread with my afternoon coffee, the walnuts must add such a nice crunch!
I think this quick bread looks great and perfect for a Thanksgiving meal.
This bread looks perfect! Love the added walnuts!
Sue, that looks like a delicious loaf. Would love to have a slice with my tea this afternoon!
Hi Sue,
Love your recipes. I was wondering if I could substitute the Pumpkin for Sweet Potato? I have nothing against pumpkin mind you however my family grew Sweet Potatoes so I’ve always used those instead of Pumpkin.
Thanks,
Pat
I think that’s a fabulous idea, Pat, in fact, I should have tried that myself for this post, it would have been something a little different. If you try it, let me know how it turns out. The only difference might be that the sweet potato is a little drier than pumpkin puree, so you might need a little extra liquid.
Thank you so much Sue and I will let you know how it turns out. Hope to cook some this weekend! Have a Beautiful Day!!
Finally a seasonal pumpkin recipe that doesn’t frighten me! GREG
Exactly!
Pumpkin bread is always in season in my house 🙂 Lovely!
I’ll sign your petition for year-round pumpkin recipes – especially if I get to eat bread like this! The color inside and out is amazing. The walnuts must be so good in this sweet loaf. Thanks Sue!