Lightened-Up Pumpkin Bread

This lightened-up pumpkin bread uses whole wheat flour, honey, olive oil, and Splenda Brown Sugar Blend in a cinnamon-spiced pumpkin batter. Chopped walnuts are mixed into the loaf, with pepitas scattered over the top before baking.

Course Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword homemade pumpkin bread, lightened up pumpkin bread, low calorie pumpkin bread, lower calorie pumpkin bread, olive oil pumpkin bread, pumpkin bread with honey, pumpkin bread with walnuts, pumpkin walnut bread, reduced calorie pumpkin bread, Splenda pumpkin bread, whole wheat pumpkin bread

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 45

Cooling 1

Total Time 2

Servings slices

Calories 237kcal

Author Cathy Pollak

Equipment

loaf pan 8x4 (20x10 cm) The pan size used for this recipe; a larger pan changes the loaf's height and may affect baking time.
mixing bowls Large enough to hold the dry ingredients and finished batter.
hand mixer or whisk. To blend the batter.
parchment paper Makes removing the loaf easier without damaging the top.
whisk Distributes the leavening and spices through the flour.
kitchen scale Helpful for accurately measuring the flours, honey, and walnuts.
rubber spatula Mixes the batter and folds in the walnuts without excessive stirring.
cooling rack Allows air to circulate as the loaf cools.

Ingredients

cooking spray
¾ cup (90 g) whole wheat flour
⅔ cup (83 g) all-purpose flour
1 tsp (4 g) baking soda
1 tsp (4 g) baking powder
1 tsp (3 g) ground cinnamon
½ tsp (1 g) ground nutmeg
¼ tsp (0.5 g) ground ginger
¼ tsp (0.5 g) ground allspice
¼ tsp (0.5 g) ground cloves
¼ tsp (1.5 g) table salt
2 large eggs
1 cup (245 g) pumpkin purée not pumpkin pie filling
⅓ cup (113 g) clover honey
⅓ cup (80 ml) extra virgin olive oil
¼ cup (36 g) packed brown sugar Splenda do not sub if you want a lower calorie version
1 cup (120 g) chopped walnuts
2 tbsps (18 g) pepitas (pumpkin) seeds

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Coat an 8 x 4-inch (20 x 10 cm) loaf pan with cooking spray and line it with parchment paper, leaving enough overhang on the long sides to lift the bread out after baking.
cooking spray
Whisk the whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, cloves, and salt together in a large mixing bowl until evenly distributed.
¾ cup (90 g) whole wheat flour, ⅔ cup (83 g) all-purpose flour, 1 tsp (4 g) baking soda, 1 tsp (4 g) baking powder, 1 tsp (3 g) ground cinnamon, ½ tsp (1 g) ground nutmeg, ¼ tsp (0.5 g) ground ginger, ¼ tsp (0.5 g) ground allspice, ¼ tsp (0.5 g) ground cloves, ¼ tsp (1.5 g) table salt
Add the eggs, pumpkin purée, honey, olive oil, and Splenda Brown Sugar Blend to the dry ingredients. Stir until the flour is incorporated and no dry streaks remain. Avoid continuing to mix once the batter is uniform, since overmixing can make the finished bread less tender.
2 large eggs, 1 cup (245 g) pumpkin purée, ⅓ cup (113 g) clover honey, ⅓ cup (80 ml) extra virgin olive oil, ¼ cup (36 g) packed brown sugar Splenda
Fold in the chopped walnuts, distributing them throughout the batter.
1 cup (120 g) chopped walnuts
Transfer the batter to the prepared loaf pan and spread it evenly. Sprinkle the pepitas over the surface.
2 tbsps (18 g) pepitas (pumpkin) seeds
Bake for 40–45 minutes, checking the center with a toothpick. The bread is ready when the toothpick comes out without wet batter. A few damp crumbs are fine, but the center should not look raw.ake for 40–45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Lift it out using the parchment paper and transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

Notes

I've made this pumpkin bread with and without honey, and I prefer the flavor and texture when it's included. You can leave it out to reduce calories further, but the bread won't be quite as sweet.
Use Splenda Brown Sugar Blend if you want to keep the calories lower. Regular brown sugar will change the nutritional values.
You can leave out the walnuts and pepitas if you prefer, but you'll lose some of the crunch.
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary, and Noble Pig makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

Nutrition