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This Grain-Free Pumpkin Loaf is the perfect October treat for a festive dessert or to pair with a hot cup of coffee on a chilly morning — if we ever get chilly weather here in TX. The loaf is perfectly moist and then topped with a deliciously spiced cream cheese frosting.
I know there are a lot of pumpkin bread recipes out there, but here I use a nutty brown butter, a blend of spices, and a hint of maple to make the loaf feel like fall and I’m tellin’ y’all it is GOOD. Topped with a mapley-spiced cream cheese icing, this is a healthier take on the Starbucks cult-classic pumpkin loaf with that crave-able *moist* texture we all love.
I also love how versatile this can be. For breakfast, skip the icing and toast it then add a swipe of nut butter. Or, frost it and serve as a dessert. It’s really perfect for any occasion!
ingredients:
- Cooking Spray
- Unsalted Butter
- Eggs
- Coconut Sugar
- Maple Syrup
- Pure Pumpkin Purée
- Pure Vanilla Extract
- Lemon Zest
- Lemon Juice
- Baking Soda
- Almond Flour
- Tapioca Flour
- Ground Flax Seeds
- Pumpkin Pie Spice
- Ground Nutmeg
- Kosher Salt
- Dairy-Free Cream Cheese
- Unsweetened Almond Milk
- Maple Syrup
- Powdered Sugar
step-by-step:
step one: preheat the oven
Preheat the oven to 375℉. Line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with a parchment paper sling and spray with cooking oil. Set aside.
step two: brown the butter
Melt the butter in a medium saucepan set over medium heat, swirling the pan as it begins to get foamy. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes. Once it begins to look golden and smell nutty, remove from the heat. Set aside to cool.
step three: beat the eggs
Meanwhile, in a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, or in a medium mixing bowl using electric beaters, beat the eggs at medium speed for 2 to 3 minutes until very frothy and pale yellow. It’s important you beat the eggs for the full time so that they take on air, which will help the loaf rise.
step four: add the wet ingredients
When the brown butter is cool to the touch, add it to the whisked eggs along with coconut sugar, maple syrup, pumpkin purée, vanilla, lemon zest and juice, and baking soda. Whisk well to combine. Let the mixture for about 2 minutes before adding the dry ingredients.
step five: add the dry ingredients
Add the almond flour, tapioca flour, ground flax, pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, and salt. Mix on low until just combined.
step six: bake the loaf
Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Transfer the loaf to the middle rack of the oven and bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until a knife can be inserted into the center of the loaf and it comes out clean. If the top of your loaf starts to become overly browned, tent with foil and continue cooking until the bread is cooked through.
step seven: make the icing
While the loaf is cooking, make the icing. In a medium bowl, add the cream cheese, almond milk, and maple syrup. Use an electric hand mixer to beat on low until smooth and creamy. Slowly add in the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Beat for 1 minute until well combined. Transfer to the fridge until you’re ready to ice the loaf.
step eight: frost the loaf and serve
Use the parchment sling and remove the bread from the pan and transfer to a baking sheet fitted with a wire rack. Let cool completely. Using a butter knife or offset spatula, smooth the frosting over the surface of the loaf, allowing some to drip down the sides. Transfer to the fridge to allow the glaze to set a bit. Slice and enjoy!
Recipe FAQs:
I use a blend of paleo flours to keep the crumb light and to avoid a dense loaf!
It is best to stick to the flours listed. Other flours like coconut or cassava are not 1:1 swaps here.
Yes! You can use a 1/2 cup of avocado oil, melted ghee, or melted coconut oil to keep the loaf paleo.
Canned pumpkin can vary! If your pumpkin is very thin, add a tablespoon or two of additional tapioca flour as a binder.
Yes, with a few small adjustments, you can make these into muffins. See the recipe note for full directions!
No matter the occasion you make this for, I hope you love this Grain-Free Pumpkin Loaf! Comment below your favorite way to enjoy it.
looking For more fall treats? try these!
Pumpkin Spice Streusel Muffins
Grain-Free Pumpkin Loaf
Ingredients
For the Loaf
- cooking spray, for greasing
- 1 cup unsalted butter (*See note)
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 3/4 cup coconut sugar
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 cup pure pumpkin purée
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- zest of 1 small lemon
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1½ teaspoons baking soda *see note below if making muffins!
- 1½ cups almond flour
- 1/2 cup tapioca flour
- 2 tablespoons ground flax seeds
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
For the Icing
- 4 ounces dairy-free cream cheese, such as Kite Hill
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375℉. Line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with a parchment paper sling and spray with cooking oil. Set aside.
- Melt the butter in a medium saucepan set over medium heat, swirling the pan as it begins to get foamy. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes. Once it begins to look golden and smell nutty, remove from the heat. Set aside to cool.
- Meanwhile, in a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, or in a medium mixing bowl using electric beaters, beat the eggs at medium speed for 2 to 3 minutes until very frothy and pale yellow. It’s important you beat the eggs for the full time so that they take on air, which will help the loaf rise.
- When the brown butter is cool to the touch, add it to the whisked eggs along with coconut sugar, maple syrup, pumpkin purée, vanilla, lemon zest and juice, and baking soda. Whisk well to combine. Let the mixture rest for about 2 minutes before adding the dry ingredients.
- Add the almond flour, tapioca flour, ground flax, pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, and salt. Mix on low until just combined.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Transfer the loaf to the middle rack of the oven and bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until a knife can be inserted into the center of the loaf and it comes out clean. If the top of your loaf starts to become overly browned, tent with foil and continue cooking until the bread is cooked through.
- While the loaf is cooking, make the icing. In a medium bowl, add the cream cheese, almond milk, and maple syrup. Use an electric hand mixer to beat on low until smooth and creamy. Slowly add in the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Beat for 1 minute until well combined. Transfer to the fridge until you’re ready to ice the loaf.
- Use the parchment sling and remove the bread from the pan and transfer to a baking sheet fitted with a wire rack. Let cool completely. Using a butter knife or offset spatula, smooth the frosting over the surface of the loaf, allowing some to drip down the sides. Transfer to the fridge to allow the glaze to set a bit. Slice and enjoy!
Notes
- Preheat over to 350℉ and grease a 12-cup muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray (or use muffin liners).
- Use 2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- Evenly distribute the batter into the muffin tin about 3/4 full. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean, 12 to 14 minutes.
- Once cooled, add frosting, if desired.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Photography and styling by Eat Love Eats.
This is probably breaking the rules but I couldn’t find tapioca flour anywhere so I used corn starch instead and it turned out amazing! Also, I subbed cream cheese with greek yogurt and added corn starch to the icing as well to make it thicker and wow I’m impressed. The fridge time does make all the difference though after applying the icing, so that may be what others are having issues with consistency wise of the icing. Thank you so much for this recipe, Alex! You never fail to impress.
Hi Alex! This is Lisa, I met you on Rise Fitness zoom call, I was the first person to sign on. Sounds delicious!
Do you think the coconut sugar can be replaced with raw honey? Thank you! I love all of your recipes!
Hi Lisa!! Thank you so much for joining that call, was so fun!
I wouldn’t swap honey for the coconut sugar in this particular recipe- i think it would alter it too much and it wouldnt turn out the same.
I baked mine for 75mins and still seems too wet in middle, is that normal?
I bake a lot of gluten free loafs and always takes 65mins
It shouldn’t have taken that long! it’s definitely moist but shouldn’t be wet. Did you see the note re: different types of pumpkin puree? That could make a difference.
Can I sub the tapioca flour with arrowroot? Excited to try this!
Hands down, this the BEST pumpkin loaf I’ve ever made (grain-free or otherwise!). Thank you so much for this amazing recipe! I didn’t have tapioca flour on hand, so I substituted an equal amount of arrowroot flour. I also decreased the amount of coconut sugar and added Lily’s Dark Chocolate Chips. I will be making this all fall!
Delicious! I followed the recipe almost exactly and it came out so good!
I didn’t have powdered sugar so I made my own with coconut sugar. I made the loaf and my bake time ended up being about 49 minutes. Can’t wait to share it with neighbors and co-workers tomorrow!
This was amazing. My icing was runny and I have idea what I did wrong. I’ve looked over the recipe 10 times but the bread was unbelievable. You killed it again Alex!
Ooooh can’t wait to make this! I have reg cream cheese, does that make a difference in the recipe?
You can def use regular cream cheese!!
Hi! Just wanted to confirm for muffins it’s 2 tsp baking POWDER and only 1/2 tsp baking SODA? It’s very different than the loaf so I wanted to make sure! Thanks! : )
yes!
Really good! Love the lemon with the pumpkin flavors! I went for muffins and needed to bake mine longer.
My son is allergic to almonds…. Do you think I could sub oat flour for the almond flour?
ohhh. I am not sure how it would turn out I am so sorry! These grain-free flours are just so testy so it’s hard to say for sure until I try it out.
Try this recipe for an oat pour option https://simplyrealhealth.com/mini-gluten-free-pumpkin-muffins/