Banana Pumpkin Bread

Banana Pumpkin Bread is moist, tender, and packed with pumpkin and banana flavor, warm spices, and a buttery streusel topping. It is a perfect fall treat!

This Banana Pumpkin Bread is a fall favorite at our home. We love it for breakfast, an afternoon treat, or a dessert. We have made it every fall for years, and my kids request it often!

If you like this moist dessert bread, you should try my pumpkin roll for a delicious fall treat.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Two Favorites in One: Banana bread and pumpkin bread come together in one delicious loaf.
• Perfect Fall Flavors: Pumpkin pie spice and ginger add just the perfect amount of warmth.
• Easy to Make: No mixer is needed! Just a few bowls and a loaf pan.
• Sweet Topping: The streusel gives the bread a crunchy, sweet contrast to the soft crumb.

Ingredients

• Butter: I used unsalted butter to add moisture and richness.
• All-Purpose Flour: For the structure.
• Baking Powder: Helps the bread rise and gives it a light texture.
• Baking Soda: Works with other ingredients to help bread rise.
• Salt: To help balance the sweetness!
• Brown Sugar: Adds perfect sweetness!
• Sugar: Helps provide sweetness and the perfect texture.
• Pumpkin Pie Spice: Gives bread those classic warm fall flavors.
• Ground Ginger: Adds another layer of warm spice that goes well with pumpkin.
• Eggs: To help bind the ingredients together.
• Vanilla: Adds a little extra flavor!
• Pumpkin Puree: Be sure to use pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling.
• Mashed Banana: Use ripe bananas for the best flavor!!

Streusel Topping

• All-Purpose Flour: The crumbly base for the streusel.
• Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness as it caramelizes while baking.
• Pumpkin Pie Spice: Extra fall flavor!
• Salt: For balance of sweetness.
• Butter: Brings everything together and creates those delicious buttery crumbs.

Tim's Tip: Allow the bread to rest after it bakes. It needs time in the pan to finish setting up. Cutting it too soon can cause it to crumble.

How to Make Banana Pumpkin Bread

1. Make the Streusel Topping: In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, and salt until well combined.

Melt the butter in the microwave, then pour over the dry ingredients. Use a fork to mix everything until the mixture forms small clumps. Set the streusel aside while you make the bread.

2. Preheat the Oven and Prep Loaf Pan: Preheat the oven to 350°.

Grease a loaf pan with butter, making sure to coat the sides well. Line the pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy removal.

3. Melt the Butter: Melt the butter over low heat. Remove it from the heat and allow it to cool to about 85°F before adding it to the batter.

4. Make Flour Mixture: In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

5. Mash the Bananas: Mash the bananas in a small bowl. A few lumps are ok; it doesn't need to be perfectly smooth.

6. Combine Seasonings: In a large bowl, combine the brown sugar, sugar, pumpkin pie spice, and ground ginger. Break up any lumps in the brown sugar. Add the eggs and whisk for about one minute. Add the cooled butter and vanilla and whisk until incorporated.

7. Add the Flour Mixture, Banana and Pumpkin: Add half of the flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Use a spatula to gently mix until everything is well combined. Add the remaining flour and fold until no white bits of flour are visible. Add the mashed banana and pumpkin puree, then mix until everything is well combined.

8. Add the Streusel and Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread out evenly. Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly on top of the batter. Bake for 60-65 minutes, or until the bread is firm and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

9. Cool Before Slicing: Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the loaf pan for 10 minutes. Using the parchment paper, carefully lift the bread out of the pan and place on the wire cooling rack.

Allow the bread to cool before slicing.

Expert tips

• Use Ripe Bananas: Ripe bananas will be sweeter and have the best flavor. Those brown spots actually bring a sweet flavor and texture.
• Don't Overmix the Batter: Once you add the flour, gently fold it into the batter just until incorporated. Overmixing can make the bread dense instead of tender.
• Let your Butter Cool: Allow the melted butter to cool before adding it to the eggs. This keeps the butter from cooking the eggs or affecting the texture of the batter.
• Tent the Loaf if Needed: If the top of the bread starts browning too quickly, loosely cover the loaf with foil for the last 15 minutes of baking. This allows the center to continue baking without over-browning the top.

Substitutions and Variations

• Add Nuts: Add chopped pecans or walnuts to the batter for a little crunch and extra flavor. You can also sprinkle a few on top with the streusel.
• Add Cinnamon: If you love a little extra cinnamon flavor, add ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon to the batter along with the pumpkin pie spice.
• Add Chocolate Chips: For a sweeter twist, fold in your favorite chocolate chips before adding the batter to the loaf pan. Semi-Sweet or milk chocolate both work well.

Storage

• Allow the bread to completely cool and store in an airtight container or wrap it tightly in plastic wrap.
• You can store it at room temperature for several days. For longer storage, you can also freeze the loaf or individual slices. Wrap well and place in a freezer-safe bag or container.
• Thaw individual slices at room temperature when you are ready to enjoy them.

FAQs

How to Serve Banana Pumpkin Bread

• Serve a slice with your morning coffee!
• Warm it slightly and spread it with butter.
• Serve it as part of a fall brunch along with Sausage Breakfast Casserole or Brioche French Toast.

More Banana and Pumpkin Recipes

• Pumpkin Roll Recipe
• No-Bake Banana Pudding
• Pumpkin Soup