If you’re fond of banana bread, and also have some affection for its pumpkin brethren, have I got a treat for you. Pumpkin banana bread is the loaf cake you did not know you were missing. It brings so much to the table, and yet is as understated as they come. This loaf-cake hybrid has all the cozy banana flavor, coupled with an incredibly soft, moist crumb, that you’ve come to expect from a loaf of classic banana bread, but with some subtle, can’t-quite-put-your-finger-on-it autumnal vibes in the background. That’s the pumpkin, of course, plus a little cinnamon and ginger in the mix as well. And did I mention that it’s studded throughout with deeply toasted pecans? It is and you’re welcome.
I like brown sugar in this bread, as its signature caramel/molasses flavor is just perfect with both bananas and pumpkin. The oil keeps the bread moist for days and is the easiest fat to grab when baking a cake, but you can substitute melted butter, if you’d prefer. The spices help the pumpkin really sing, but leave them out or amp them up, if you so desire. Same goes for the pecans: I think they’re genius here, due to their flavor and texture, but if you are not pro-nut, or would prefer a different one (walnuts perhaps?), go for it. Interestingly enough, mashed bananas and pumpkin weigh the same and behave very similarly when baked, so feel free to add more of one or the other; just be sure not to change the total amount you use (1½ cups/340 grams per loaf).
Finally, in order to streamline the assembly of the recipe, add your leavening, salt, and spices to the wet ingredients and the flour, on its own, as the last step. This allows you to avoid dirtying an extra bowl and helps ensure the flour doesn’t get overworked, which could otherwise result in a tough cake. Bottom line loaf cake lovers, this bread is the best of so many worlds (be they banana, pumpkin, spiced, or nutty) and if any of those worlds light you and your taste buds up, there’s a very good chance it is soon to become your everything.
—Jessie Sheehan
See what other Food52ers are saying.