Starbucks Pumpkin Bread has captured the hearts (and wallets) of coffee lovers everywhere with its incredibly moist texture, perfectly balanced spices, and signature crunchy pepita seeds on top. This beloved fall favorite is so popular that unlike other pumpkin treats, it’s available year-round at Starbucks. Now you can recreate this delicious treat at home with simple pantry ingredients and save money while enjoying fresher, homemade flavor.
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Why this copycat Starbucks pumpkin bread recipe works
The secret to Starbucks’ irresistible pumpkin bread lies in its incredible moisture content and perfectly balanced spiced blend. This copycat recipe achieves the signature texture through the ideal ratio of oil to pumpkin puree, while the careful combination of a warming spice blend creates the signature flavor profile. The crunchy pepita seeds on top provide the perfect textural contrast, making each bite memorable. So, bake up this Starbucks pumpkin bread recipe and enjoy a warm, thick slice at home.
Ingredients
Here’s what you need to make this Starbucks pumpkin bread copycat recipe:
- All-purpose flour – Provides the essential structure for a perfect quick bread texture
- White sugar – Adds sweetness and helps create the tender, moist crumb
- Salt – Enhances all flavors and balances the sweetness
- Baking soda – Creates the proper rise and light texture
- Nutmeg – Contributes warm, slightly sweet aromatic notes
- Cardamom – Adds exotic floral and citrusy undertones
- Cinnamon – Provides a classic warming spice that defines pumpkin bread
- Allspice – Contributes complex warmth with hints of clove and cinnamon
- Ground cloves – Adds distinctive aromatic depth and warming sensation
- Large eggs – Bind ingredients and add richness to the bread
- Pumpkin puree – Provides moisture, flavor, and beautiful color (not pumpkin pie filling)
- Vegetable oil or canola oil – Creates the incredibly moist texture
- Vanilla extract – Enhances overall flavor and adds aromatic sweetness
- Roasted and salted pumpkin seeds – Create the signature crunchy topping
How to make Starbucks Pumpkin Bread
This recipe is a quick bread, which means we mix our wet and dry ingredients separately first and then combine them together.
I find that sifting the dry ingredients makes for better bread. The bread will be airier and have a uniform texture.
You don’t want to overmix a quick bread; you want to mix it just long enough to get out the lumps.
- In a large bowl, combine all the dry ingredients: flour, granulated sugar, salt, baking soda, and spices. Sift the dry ingredients together and give them a final whisk to combine them.
- In a medium bowl, mix the eggs, oil, pumpkin purée, and vanilla.
- Pour the mixture of wet ingredients over the dry ingredients. Stir until the lumps are out. Do not over-stir the mixture.
- Spray the baking pan with non-stick cooking spray
- Pour batter into a greased loaf pan.
- Sprinkle pumpkin seeds on top of the bread batter.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F for 50 – 60 minutes.
- Cool for approximately 5 minutes in the pan, and then turn the pumpkin bread onto a cooling wire rack.
- The bread cuts best when allowed to cool completely.
Tip: You can make mini loaves by using mini loaf pans and bake for about 40 minutes.
What to serve with the Starbucks Pumpkin Loaf
Fortunately for you, this pastry pairs well with a variety of foods and drinks. For instance, the most obvious choice is to enjoy it with your morning coffee, whether you prefer iced or hot coffee. It’s also tasty with a chai tea latte.
Warm up the pumpkin bread and smear some butter on it to take it to the next level. If you want something more filling to start your day, you can make some Starbucks sous vide egg bites with bacon and gruyere for a savory pairing.
Alternatively, transform it into a dessert by heating it up and drizzling some decadent caramel sauce and whipped cream atop the sliced bread. The flavors of caramel and pumpkin will make your taste buds dance!
Make-Ahead Instructions
- Advance baking: This bread actually improves after sitting for a day as flavors meld and moisture distributes evenly.
- Freezer preparation: Wrap completely cooled bread tightly and freeze up to 3 months for future enjoyment.
Storage & Reheating Instructions
- Room Temperature Storage: Store tightly wrapped or in an airtight container for 4-5 days. Room temperature keeps bread softer than refrigeration.
- Reheating Method: Warm individual slices in a toaster or microwave for 10-15 seconds. Whole loaf can be warmed in a 300°F oven
- Freezing: Wrap in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. Freeze up to 3 months
Do you love Starbucks? Check out these great copycat Starbucks recipes!
- Pumpkin Spice Latte
- How to Make a Cafe Mocha
- Flat White Latte Starbucks
- Caramel Macchiato
- Starbucks Butterscotch Drink
- Banana Nut Bread Recipe
- Starbucks Protein Box
- How to Cook Sous Vide Eggs
- Starbucks Egg White Spinach Feta Wrap Recipe
- Cranberry Bliss Bars
Easy quick bread recipes
Take a look at more of my copycat Starbucks recipes and easy homemade bread.
Starbucks Pumpkin Bread Easy Copycat Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon cardamom
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon clove
- ** Alternatively replace the spices listed above with a scant 2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice
- 2 eggs beaten
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil do not use olive or peanut oil
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/3 cup roasted salted pumpkin seed kernels (pepitas)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan with nonstick spray.
- Sift the flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, and spices into a large bowl.
- In a smaller bowl, whisk to combine the eggs, oil, pumpkin puree, and vanilla.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until the mixture is no longer lumpy. Do not overmix.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, sprinkle the pumpkin seeds on top, and bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan for about 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.
This is my go to Pumpkin bread recipe. Since I found it, I have had so many compliments on it! Just make sure you really blend the wet ingredients together before adding to the dry and it will come out moist and delicious every time!
I like to re-grind my spices and/or let them sit in the oils to help enhance the flavor. The older the spices the more bland they become..Fresher flavor the more pungent the flavor. Hope the old lady advice helps with the spice issue. Love the pumpkin bread!
It was simple but it turned out bland. I melted butter and added spices to the butter and pour it over the bread. It turned out good after touring the butter with spices. I did accidentally bought pistachios instead of the pumpkin seeds. Overall good.
Made this recipe and loved it! Very moist!