Downeast Maine Pumpkin Bread (Loaf Cake)

This Downeast Maine Pumpkin Bread is soft and moist with a tender crumb. Perfectly spiced with warm spice flavors. If you're looking for the perfect pumpkin bread recipe, look no further!

this recipe!

The Best Pumpkin Bread Ever!

This pumpkin bread recipe was adapted from All Recipes and after researching for awhile, I believe that it was originally posted on that website by Laurie Bennett. I am so grateful to have found this recipe.

I first heard about this delicious fall dessert recipe when a question popped up on my Facebook feed from a Facebook group member who was looking for a great pumpkin bread recipe.

One member chimed in with 'Downhome Maine Pumpkin Bread'. Others agreed that it was wonderful.

I have four great pumpkin bread recipes already, that I had been playing around with spices, sugar, etc. Something told me to just try this recipe. Maybe it was the charm of the recipe title? Downeast Maine simply had a delicious-sounding ring to it.

This recipe is A MUST TRY. Seriously, it is really quick and easy to make and you will be so happy that this recipe makes not one, but TWO delicious loaves.

I made only a few modifications to the original recipe. I decided to substitute the water in the recipe for orange juice and I substituted some of the white sugar for brown sugar.

The comments from the original recipe read that it was even better the next day. It mellows and the perfect balance of warm spices takes on a magical flavor the next day. As I edited the photos, I was thinking about the nicely wrapped loaf sitting on the top shelf in the cupboard within view. Let's just say, it makes a wonderful breakfast treat!!

Ingredients

1 (15 ounce can) pumpkin puree - use pumpkin puree, the pure pumpkin NOT the pumpkin pie filling.

4 eggs - use large eggs at room temperature.

1 cup vegetable oil

⅔ cup orange juice

2 cups granulated sugar

1 cup brown sugar

3 and ½ cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 and ½ teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

½ teaspoon ground cloves

¼ teaspoon ground ginger

I found the blend of spices in this recipe to be absolutely perfect. Please try them as-written before experimenting. I think I am in love with this pumpkin bread.

Step by Step Instructions

This is one of the easiest fall dessert recipes ever!

You'll need two 9x4-inch loaf pans, greased or sprayed with cooking spray (the kind with flour).

Preheat the oven to 350°F and let's get started!

This recipe can be mixed entirely by hand! No fancy equipment needed.

Step 1 - In a large mixing bowl, combine pumpkin puree, eggs, brown sugar, white sugar, orange juice and vegetable oil. Stir just until it's well combined and mixture is smooth.

Step 2 - In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground cloves, ground ginger and salt.

Step 3 - Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir just until combined, being careful not to over mix.

Step 4 - Divide batter evenly into the two prepared loaf pans.

Step 5 - Bake in 350°F oven for 50 to 55 minutes. Since the loaves might not be exactly the same size (unless you're perfect at dividing them!), one may take a little longer than the other.

Test with a toothpick inserted into the centre. If the toothpick is still wet, bake a few more minutes but check it often. The middle of one of my loaves was still a little wet and it took only three to four minutes to finish cooking.

To Frost or Not To Frost?

The original recipe does not call for frosting. It's really delicious plain. But, while I was taking the photos, one of my boys asked if the cake would have cream cheese frosting.

I had cream cheese on hand and it took me about two minutes to whip up a batch and it is SO GOOD with cream cheese frosting. Honestly, you can't go wrong either way.

Since the frosting is not part of the recipe, I will include it in the notes at the bottom of the recipe card.

Tips for Success

1 - Don't over mix the batter

2 - Eggs at room temperature. Take them out of the fridge an hour before you start the recipe.

3 - Keep a close eye on it when it is 'almost done'. It will quickly go from being not-quite-done to 'done'.

Try These Fall Dessert Recipes Next

I would love it if you left a comment about this recipe below! Subscribe to join the community and receive regular updates straight to your inbox! Let's connect via Facebook, Instagram & Pinterest!

Print