Healthy Pumpkin Bread Recipe (Keto, Vegan & Gluten-Free)

Author: Dr. Alexis McNeil

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Time to read: 11 min

Pumpkin Bread with DD
Finished Pumpkin Bread with Detox Desserts ingredient swaps

Healthy Pumpkin Bread Recipe (Keto, Vegan & Gluten-Free)

Prep time

15 min

Bake time

50 min

Servings

10 (Makes 9x5” Loaf)

Category

Bread

Why you will love this Healthy Pumpkin Bread Recipe

When the Arizona heat finally breaks and cool, crisp mornings arrive…it’s pumpkin time! My favorite part of the fall season is, by far, the sweets. Pies, sweet breads, cakes and cookies filled with warming fall flavors like cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg. Pumpkin Bread is a classic fall sweet bread that takes 10 minutes to whip up without any fancy kitchen equipment or baking skills needed. Pumpkin is nutrient-dense, low calorie, fiber rich squash loaded with Vitamin A to promote a strong immune system and antioxidants to keep your vision sharp. With 8 big grams of fiber and only 4g net carbs per slice, you can enjoy this guilt-free vegan pumpkin bread for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert.


One full cup of freshly roasted or canned pumpkin gives this bread an ultra moist and tender crumb, while the warming fall spices bring a lingering richness to this perfectly sweet, decadent bread. I love bold flavors so feel free to adjust the spices to suit your family’s taste preference. You can also get creative with fold-in ingredients and easily make chocolate chip pumpkin bread or crunchy walnut pumpkin bread. The possibilities are endless and I guarantee this healthy recipe for pumpkin bread will be requested year after year in your household.

Recommended Products for the Best Pumpkin Bread

How the Sugar Free Pumpkin Bread made with Detox Desserts measures up against other recipes

Pumpkin Bread Stats

The Detox Desserts Flour Swap makes it easy to turn this pumpkin bread gluten-free, while promoting healthy digestion. The psyllium husk contained in the Flour Swap and inulin contained in the Egg and Sugar Swaps both help to feed and increase the number of friendly gut bacteria. Plenty of good flora in your intestines can promote a strong immune system along with digestive benefits we all appreciate from a hefty dose of fiber. Whole psyllium husk binds waste and toxins in the intestines and helps clear them from the body. This easy recipe for keto pumpkin bread is not only free from the unhealthy ingredients found in traditional dessert but it’s actually gently detoxifying to the body…double win!


The plant soluble fiber in the psyllium husk and digestive resistant fiber in the inulin work synergistically to slow down digestion of this healthy sweet bread. The slowed digestion helps provide more blood sugar stability throughout your day which can keep you feeling full and satisfied. This also keeps energy levels consistent and prevents the sugar crash one would experience with a traditional, carb-loaded dessert.


I’ve tested this sugar free pumpkin bread recipe with Whole-Grain and Grain-Free Flour Swap a few times. The bread made with Whole-Grain Swap will have a few extra slowly digesting carbs, a moist, soft texture, and a more hearty, earthy flavor coming from the buckwheat. The Grain-Free Flour will provide the lowest carb (keto/paleo) version, is ultra soft and moist, with a slightly sweeter, nutty flavor. I LOVE this recipe using both flours (¾ cup Whole-Grain plus ¾ cup Grain-Free Flour to equal the full 1 ½ cups of Flour Swap the recipe calls for) because it creates a flavor and texture profile that is most similar to a traditional pumpkin bread. Plus, mixing the flours is a great way to create a lower carb version of a gluten-free pumpkin bread and still allows for a small dose of healthy grains.


For most of my patients, I’m an advocate of balanced macronutrient meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Here is an easy way to choose your Flour Swap to create a balanced macro meal that incorporates dessert. We’ll use dinner as an example. If your dinner consists of just protein and veggies, I recommend eating dessert made with Whole-Grain Flour Swap to serve as your healthy carb for that meal. Conversely, if you already had a healthy carb with dinner (quinoa, sweet potato, beans, etc), I would recommend eating dessert made with Grain-Free Swap so you don’t overeat carbs at that meal. Easy, right?! Balanced macro meals are the best thing you can do to keep your metabolism firing optimally, create blood sugar stability and keep you feeling full and satisfied throughout your day (or night). If you’re a diabetic or need to stay in ketosis, always bake using the Grain-Free Flour Swap.

How I crafted the perfect Vegan Pumpkin Bread Recipe

Although there are keto, gluten-free and vegan pumpkin bread recipes online, I had trouble finding any that I would actually consider healthy. Fortunately, this keto pumpkin bread recipe is easy, absolutely delicious, AND the most nutritious pumpkin bread possible. It’s guilt-free, fuss-free, and makes the perfect sweet bread suitable for any fall occasion. Plus, you’ll feel good about serving this sweet bread to the people you love.


This recipe was very straight forward to detox. I referenced a couple 5-star recipes from my favorite baking blogs like “Once Upon A Chef” and “Preppy Kitchen”, to understand the ratio of wet:dry ingredients and leavening amounts found in a traditionally made pumpkin bread. I made a couple subtle flavor enhancements, but overall, I followed a 5-star traditional recipe, and simply made the 1:1 swaps for flour/sugar/eggs/butter.


Remember, baked desserts like simple cakes, cookies, sweet breads, scones and muffins are usually straightforward and turn out great using the 1:1 swap method, but not all desserts can be made that way. I always recommend using our recipe index as a guide when baking with the ‘Sweet Swaps’.

The Best Ingredients & Substitutions for the Perfect Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bread

Pumpkin Bread

Key Ingredients of a traditional Pumpkin Bread:


  • Flour
  • Butter
  • Eggs
  • Granulated Sugar
  • Pumpkin
  • Cinnamon
  • Ginger
  • Cloves
  • Nutmeg
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Baking Soda
  • Baking Powder
  • Salt

Key Ingredients of Detox Desserts* Pumpkin Bread:


  • Whole-Grain Flour Swap or Grain-Free Flour Swap: Our gluten-free, high fiber, low-carb healthy flour substitute (use Grain-Free Swap for Paleo/Keto version of this dessert).
  • Butter Swap: Our whole food, plant-based butter substitute that bakes and tastes like butter with added health benefits.
  • Egg Swap: Our vegan egg substitute that contains 50% more protein than an egg, added prebiotics for digestive support and NO cholesterol.
  • Granular Sugar Swap: Our zero-calorie, zero-carb, naturally sweetened sugar substitute formulated with prebiotics to support healthy digestion.
  • Pumpkin
  • Cinnamon
  • Ginger
  • Cloves
  • Nutmeg
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Baking Soda
  • Baking Powder
  • Salt

Try Our Gluten-free, Vegan, Paleo AND Keto Baking System

Step-by-step: How to make Healthy Pumpkin Bread

Dry Ingredients:


  • 1 ½ cups Whole-Grain or Grain-Free Flour Swap (my favorite is both flours in equal parts, but use 100% Grain-Free for keto/paleo version)
  • 1 ¼ cups Granular Sugar Swap
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • ¾ teaspoon nutmeg
  • ¾ teaspoon cloves
  • ¾ teaspoon ginger
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda (double to 1 tsp for Grain-Free bread)
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder (no need to double for Grain-Free)
  • ¾ teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients:


  • 1 cup pumpkin puree (canned or fresh)
  • ⅓ cup Butter Swap
  • 2 Egg Swaps
  • 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract

Optional Fold-In Ingredients:


  • ½ cup sugar-free chocolate chips
  • ½ cup chopped pecans, walnuts or toasted pumpkin seeds

Ingredients with the Grain Free Flour
Ingredients with the Whole Grain Flour

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x5” loaf pan well or line with parchment paper. Use a 9x9" square pan for more even baking if you’re using 100% Grain-Free Flour Swap to make this bread.

2. Mix dry ingredients thoroughly. Then add wet ingredients and blend until smooth batter is achieved and no lumps remain.

Batter

3. Let the batter rest for about 5 minutes to allow the fiber to absorb the moisture. The batter will noticeably thicken after the resting period.

Pumpkin bread batter made with Detox Desserts Grain-Free Flour Swap
Pumpkin bread batter made with Detox Desserts Whole-Grain Flour Swap

4. Fold-in chocolate chips and nuts if desired.

Batter with Chocolate chip cookies

5. Fill the baking pan and smooth the top. You will need to press the Grain-Free batter into the pan evenly because it’s thick.

Whole-Grain and Grain-Free Pumpkin Bread batter compared

6. Bake Whole-Grain for about 45-55 mins (about 30 minutes for Grain-Free if using a 9x9" pan) until the top is golden and a knife comes out mostly clean. If you use equal parts Whole-Grain/Grain Free Flour; bake in a 9x5” loaf pan for about 50 minutes. If your bread browns too quickly, loosely lay a piece of aluminum foil on top to prevent burning while the bread fully bakes.

7. Remove from the oven and cool on a rack.

8. Slice and serve warm, topped with a thick pad of plant butter or greek yogurt.

Finished result with Grain-Free Flour
Finished result with Grain-Free Flour
Finished result with Whole-Grain Flour
Finished result with Whole-Grain Flour

9. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days or wrap tightly and freeze for long term storage.

For best taste, texture and health benefits, refrigerate all Detox Desserts overnight before indulging.

How to store your Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bread

Store your healthy, high-fiber pumpkin bread in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. For longer term storage, you can store your pumpkin bread wrapped tightly in the freezer.

How to make your Vegan Pumpkin Bread stand out

  • For a deliciously balanced macronutrient breakfast, top your pumpkin bread with high protein Greek Yogurt. 
  • Easily turn this recipe into muffins by baking in parchment lined cupcake tins. Whole-Grain pumpkin muffins bake for about 20 minutes and Grain-Free muffins bake for about 25 minutes.
  • For an ultra indulgent, rich, chocolatey treat; fold in 1/2 -1 cup of sugar-free, dairy-free chocolate chips into your pumpkin bread batter.
  • For added crunch and dose of healthy fat, protein, and fiber; add chopped pecans, walnuts or toasted pumpkin seeds.
  • If you don’t have all the spices in your cabinet, use about 2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice instead of nutmeg/cloves/ginger for a very similar flavor profile. You’ll still need the 2 teaspoons of cinnamon along with the pumpkin pie spice for the perfect sweet and spicy pumpkin bread flavor. 

Tips for making the best Sugar-Free & Vegan Pumpkin bread

  • Make sure your Butter Swap is well stirred and at room temperature before making your bread, oil separation is normal in the Butter Swap. If you’re having trouble stirring your Butter Swap, pour the entire jar into a high speed blender.Your Butter Swap will stay smooth for a couple months after a minute in the blender!
  • Try using half Whole-Grain and half Grain-Free Flour Swap for this sugar free pumpkin bread. The mixture of flours is my favorite flavor/texture variation in most desserts.
  • Use HOT water in your Egg Swap, the warmth is needed to help the psyllium husk in the Flour Swap open up, relax and absorb the moisture.
  • Let your high fiber pumpkin bread batter rest for about 5 minutes after you’ve blended the wet and dry ingredients, then stir for one more minute.
  • Pan size matters on this bread! My loaf pan is 9x5”, but if you have an 8x4” loaf pan, increase baking time.
  • If your Grain-Free pumpkin bread gets too brown around the edges, lay a piece of foil on top of the baking tray, this will allow it to fully bake without burning.
  • Although I love this bread straight out of the oven, make your gluten free pumpkin bread the day before you plan to serve it. The overnight chill slows carbohydrate absorption, and allows the flavors to enhance which makes your high-fiber bread tastier and healthier!

Recipe Card: Healthy Keto Pumpkin Bread (Gluten-free, Vegan & Sugar-free)

Prep Time  Bake Time Total Time
15 minutes 50 minutes 65 minutes

Servings: Makes 9x5” Loaf, Serves 10

Calories per serving: 180 cal


Although not guaranteed, we have gone above and beyond to provide you with the most accurate nutritional information for this recipe.




Dry Ingredients:


  • 1 ½ cups Whole-Grain or Grain-Free Flour Swap (my favorite is both flours in equal parts, but use 100% Grain-Free for keto/paleo version)
  • 1 ¼ cups Granular Sugar Swap
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • ¾ teaspoon nutmeg
  • ¾ teaspoon cloves
  • ¾ teaspoon ginger
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda (double to 1 tsp for Grain-Free bread)
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder (no need to double for Grain-Free)
  • ¾ teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients:


  • 1 cup pumpkin puree (canned or fresh)
  • ⅓ cup Butter Swap
  • 2 Egg Swaps
  • 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract

Optional Fold-In Ingredients:


  • ½ cup sugar-free chocolate chips
  • ½ cup chopped pecans, walnuts or toasted pumpkin seeds




Instructions


1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x5” loaf pan well or line with parchment paper. Use a 9x9" square pan for more even baking if you’re using 100% Grain-Free Flour Swap to make this bread.


2. Mix dry ingredients thoroughly. Then add wet ingredients and blend until smooth batter is achieved and no lumps remain. 


3. Let the batter rest for about 5 minutes to allow the fiber to absorb the moisture. The batter will noticeably thicken after the resting period. 


4. Fold-in chocolate chips and nuts if desired.


5. Fill the baking pan and smooth the top. You will need to press the Grain-Free batter into the pan evenly because it’s thick. 


6. Bake Whole-Grain for about 45-55 mins (about 30 minutes for Grain-Free if using a 9x9" pan) until the top is golden and a knife comes out mostly clean. If you use equal parts Whole-Grain/Grain Free Flour; bake in a 9x5” loaf pan for about 50 minutes. If your bread browns too quickly, loosely lay a piece of aluminum foil on top to prevent burning while the bread fully bakes.


7. Remove from the oven and cool on a rack.


8. Slice and serve warm, topped with a thick pad of plant butter or greek yogurt.


9. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days or wrap tightly and freeze for long term storage.


For best taste, texture and health benefits, refrigerate all Detox Desserts overnight before indulging.



Recommended Products

Nutritional information

Pumpkin Bread Nutrition Facts

*An important note on carbs


Net carbohydrates are the sum total of carbohydrates that convert into glucose (therefore raise blood sugar) in the body. Anyone following a keto or diabetic diet should count net carbs NOT total carbs. To determine net carbs, simply subtract the fiber and sugar alcohols from the total carbohydrates on the nutrition label. Sugar alcohols are considered "carbs" for nutrition labeling purposes but our cells can't use them as energy which renders them inert in the human body. Thus, they are reduced from the total carb count. Fiber also counts towards the total carbohydrates for labeling purposes, but it is roughage. It stays in the intestines, doesn't absorb and isn't used as energy or converted to glucose in the body. Thus, fiber is also reduced from the total carbohydrate count. Anyone who counts macronutrients (carbs, fats, protein) should always count net carbs, not total carbs.

We love your feedback, please make sure to comment and share your experience with this vegan, gluten-free and keto pumpkin bread recipe with the healthy baking community!


Cheers to your delicious health, 


-Dr. Alexis

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