Get all the cozy fall vibes in a healthier way with this Healthy Pumpkin Bread! It’s wholesome and delicious with the goodness of whole wheat flour, plenty of pumpkin spice flavor and dark chocolate chips. It’s lower in oil, there’s no refined sugar and it comes together in just one bowl!

Healthy pumpkin bread sliced on a cutting board

**This recipe was originally published in October 2017. Step by step photos have been added and the text has been updated to include more recipe information.

Now that my kids are older, Halloween is more of an afterthought.  I have a few decorations out and some cute Halloween mugs, but other than that it’s going to be just another day.

I’ll just pass out candy to cute little kids in adorable costumes and remember when mine were that young, or possibly find a great party to go to.

I’d totally be down for an 80’s themed party (imagine the word “totally” said in the best valley girl voice). 🙂

While homemade peanut butter cups or fudgy peanut butter brownies would definitely put me in the Halloween spirit, a big slice of this Healthy Pumpkin Bread would also make me very happy.

To me, there’s nothing better than pumpkin and chocolate chips, especially when I can enjoy the combination in a healthier way.

This recipe was adapted from my banana nut bread, which truly is one of the best quick breads to come out of my kitchen. 

I worked hard perfecting that recipe, and it translated perfectly into this cozy fall version.

Healthy pumpkin bread loaf sliced on a cutting board

Why you’ll love this recipe:

  • This healthy pumpkin bread recipe is moist and fluffy with the goodness of whole wheat flour. It’s packed with pumpkin spice flavor and is studded with dark chocolate chips.
  • It’s more nutritious than classic pumpkin bread as it contains more fiber and it’s lower in fat and contains no refined sugar.
  • It’s so easy to make and comes together in just one bowl!

Recipe ingredients

Pumpkin bread doesn’t need a lot of fat and sugar to taste delicious, and this recipe is living proof. It also proves that healthy pumpkin bread doesn’t have to taste like cardboard!

This bread is anything but cardboard, and it can be easily customized with ingredients that you have in your pantry and fridge.

Healthy pumpkin bread ingredients

Ingredient notes

  • Pumpkin purée.  I love making my own homemade pumpkin purée, but store bought works just as well. Do not use pumpkin pie filling as it includes other ingredients.
  • Coconut sugar. I love using coconut sugar because it’s lower glycemic and is unrefined. It may be substituted with the same amount of granulated or brown sugar if you prefer to use those.
  • Coconut oil. Substitute with your favorite oil — avocado or olive oil work well also!
  • Unsweetened almond milk. The almond milk may be substituted with your favorite dairy or non-dairy milk.
  • Whole wheat white flour.  Whole wheat white flour gives this healthy pumpkin bread the goodness of whole wheat flour without making it so dense. It may be substituted with 100% whole wheat flour, all purpose flour, or a combination of both.
  • Spices. I use a combination of my homemade pumpkin pie spice and additional cinnamon for a nice, cozy flavor.
  • Chocolate chips. Dark chocolate chips pair very well with the pumpkin spice flavor, but you may substitute them with whatever you have on hand.

How to make this recipe

This healthy pumpkin bread is so easy to make. It comes together in about 10 minutes in just one bowl. Be sure to see the handy recipe video at the bottom of this post for more instructions!

How to make healthy pumpkin bread recipe collage
  1. Beat the eggs lightly in a large bowl.  Add the coconut sugar, oil, milk and pumpkin, and whisk thoroughly to combine.
  2. Add the flour, then sprinkle the baking powder, baking soda, spices, and salt over the flour.
  3. Stir just until combined and add the chocolate chips. 
  4. Gently fold in the chocolate chips.
  5. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared loaf pan.
  6. Bake 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs.  Cool completely on a wire rack.
Healthy pumpkin bread in pan cooling on a wire rack

FAQs

Is canned pumpkin the same as pumpkin purée?

Canned pumpkin is the same thing as pumpkin purée, but there are differences. Solid pack pumpkin is simply pumpkin purée, and pumpkin pie filling is purée with the addition of spices.

What goes good with pumpkin bread?

There are so many delicious ways to jazz up pumpkin bread. Add chocolate chips for some decadence, or dried fruit for added flavor. Chopped nuts or seeds such as pecans, walnuts and pepitas add great texture and added nutrition as well.

Should I refrigerate pumpkin bread?

Pumpkin bread will keep at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate it for up to 7 days.

Does pumpkin bread freeze well?

Pumpkin bread is freezer friendly! Simply wrap the loaf in foil and freeze in a zip top bag for up to 3 months.

What can you do with leftover pumpkin?

If you use a 15 ounce can of pumpkin for this healthy pumpkin bread recipe, you’ll have a 1/2 cup leftover.  The following recipes will utilize the remaining 1/2 cup of pumpkin perfectly:
Pumpkin breakfast cookies
Pumpkin cheesecake
Pumpkin donuts
Pumpkin overnight oats
Pumpkin pancakes

Recipe notes

  • Store in an air tight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.  This bread is also freezer friendly!  
  • The whole wheat white flour may be substituted with a combination of half whole wheat and half all purpose flour, or made entirely with all purpose flour.
  • Substitute the chocolate chips with chopped walnuts or pecans for added crunch and nutrition.
Healthy pumpkin bread sliced with a cup of coffee in the background

See all of my pumpkin recipes for more inspiration.

More healthy pumpkin recipes:

If you try this recipe I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment and rating below, or tag me at @flavorthemoments on Instagram!

Healthy pumpkin bread sliced on a cutting board

Healthy Pumpkin Bread

Healthy Pumpkin Bread is moist and delicious with the goodness of whole wheat flour. It's lower in fat with no refined sugar and it comes together in just one bowl!
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Ingredients

  • 2 large eggs
  • ¾ cup coconut sugar
  • cup coconut oil sub with your favorite oil
  • ¾ cup unsweetened almond milk sub with your favorite milk
  • 1 cup pumpkin pureé substitute with store bought. Do not use pumpkin pie filling!
  • teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons homemade pumpkin pie spice substitute with store bought
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • cups whole wheat white flour
  • 1/2 cup mini dark chocolate chips or your favorite

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a standard loaf pan with cooking spray and set aside.
  • Beat the eggs lightly in a large bowl.  Add the coconut sugar, oil, milk and pumpkin, and whisk thoroughly to combine.
  • Add the flour, then sprinkle the baking powder, baking soda, spices, and salt over the flour and stir just until combined.  Fold in the chocolate chips.
  • Pour the batter evenly into the prepared loaf pan and bake 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs.  Cool completely on a wire rack. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

  • Store in an air tight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.  This bread is also freezer friendly!  
  • The whole wheat white flour may be substituted with a combination of half whole wheat and half all purpose flour, or made entirely with all purpose flour.
  • Substitute the chocolate chips with chopped walnuts or pecans for added crunch and nutrition.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g, Calories: 206kcal, Carbohydrates: 27g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 31mg, Sodium: 208mg, Potassium: 123mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 3224IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 95mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.

Did you try this recipe?Be sure to tag @flavorthemoments with the hashtag #flavorthemoments on Instagram so I can see what you made!

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