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Freshly baked rustic spice loaf with warm brown color and nut topping.

Harvest Spice Bread Recipe

This Harvest Spice Bread Recipe is a cozy fall quick bread made with pumpkin purée, shredded apple, carrots, warm spices, and walnuts. Moist, fragrant, and perfect for breakfast, snacks, or dessert during the autumn season.
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Course: Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Harvest Spice Bread Recipe
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 8 slices

Ingredients

  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 3/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 3/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 eggs room temperature
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin purée
  • 1 cup peeled and shredded apple or pear
  • 2 carrots peeled and finely shredded
  • 2 tablespoons whole milk
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts

Instructions

Prepare the Oven and Pan

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan and line it with parchment paper, allowing a small overhang on the sides. This will help prevent sticking and make it easier to remove the bread once baked.

Combine the Dry Ingredients

  • In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and ground ginger. Mix thoroughly to ensure the spices and leavening agent are evenly distributed throughout the flour. Set the mixture aside.

Prepare the Wet Ingredients

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the vegetable oil, eggs, granulated sugar, brown sugar, pumpkin purée, shredded apple (or pear), shredded carrots, and whole milk. Stir until the mixture becomes smooth and uniform in color and consistency.

Combine the Batter

  • Gradually add the prepared dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients. Stir gently until the batter is just combined. Avoid overmixing, as this can lead to a denser texture in the finished loaf.
  • Once the batter is combined, fold in the chopped walnuts until evenly distributed.

Bake the Bread

  • Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread it evenly.
  • Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 60 to 70 minutes. About halfway through the baking time, loosely cover the loaf with aluminum foil to prevent the top from browning too quickly.
  • Test the bread for doneness by inserting a knife or toothpick into the center. The bread is ready when the tester comes out moist but without wet batter.
  • Remove the bread from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for approximately 10–15 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

Notes

To prepare a gluten-free version of this Harvest Spice Bread Recipe, replace the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend designed for baking. Choose a blend that contains xanthan gum or another binding agent to help maintain the structure of the bread.
Because gluten-free batters can sometimes be slightly looser, allowing the batter to rest for 5–10 minutes before baking can help the flour absorb moisture more effectively. Additionally, verify that all other ingredients—such as spices and baking soda—are labeled gluten-free to avoid cross-contamination.