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Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread is full of flavors of pumpkin! When it’s pumpkin season, this flavorful bread has to happen. The ribbon of cream cheese filling takes the flavor of this fall recipe over the top! 

four slices of the pumpkin loaf laying on a drying rack


Perfect Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread

I’m telling 100% the truth when I say that this is the best cream cheese pumpkin bread. The next time that your taste buds are talking to you, it’s time to give in and bake a whole loaf! 

You’re going to love that swirl of cream cheese that you’ll get every time you take a bite of this pumpkin bread recipe. It’s like you’re getting a mouth full of pumpkin pie filling without having to actually make a pie! 

When I think about the flavor of this easy pumpkin bread, I just crave that pumpkin spice flavor. It’s such an easy recipe that I constantly crave! 

Why You’ll Love This Recipe!

  • One of my favorite parts of this pumpkin bread with cream cheese is that it’s the perfect sweet bread for breakfast, snack, or dessert. This is seriously a perfect recipe that the whole family will love.  
  • Joana gaines and Southern Living magazine have nothing on this pumpkin bread with cream cheese swirl 
  • It freezes great and is easy to make!
ingredients in the pumpkin loaf laid out and with words above saying the names of the recipes

Ingredients Needed

  • Cream cheese – you need this to make the cream cheese layer! 
  • Granulated sugar – adds the perfect sweetness. 
  • Brown sugar – packed brown sugar adds a lovely brown coloring to the recipe as well. 
  • Vegetable oil – I love using oil in my quick breads to keep them moist
  • Libby’s Pumpkin Puree – don’t confuse this with pumpkin pie filling. 
  • Pumpkin pie spice – Make your own pumpkin spice if you don’t have a jar
  • Buttermilk – this helps to keep the quick bread moist. Make your own buttermilk or use a combination of milk and vinegar.

How to make Pumpkin Bread with cream cheese swirl

  • Mix: Mix cream cheese, egg, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Set aside.
  • Stir: Stir granulated sugar and brown sugar with oil and pumpkin. Stir in the eggs, pumpkin pie spice, salt, and baking soda. Stir until combined.
  • Stir in buttermilk and flour. 
  • Pour: Pour half of the batter into the prepared pan.
  • Top with cream cheese mixture.
  • Top with remaining pumpkin bread batter and swirl it with a knife.
  • Bake: Bake for 40-50 minutes. If you want it totally done (no gooey center), test it by inserting a toothpick just partway into the top center of the bread. If this comes out clean, it’s done. stuck to the top.
  • Cool: Cool before removing from the pan. If the bread sticks to the sides of the pan, be patient and let it cool. You can then take a butter knife and insert it around the sides of the bread and the sides of the pan. This will help loosen it up. 
full pumpkin loaf in a grey loaf pan

Expert Tips

  • Pumpkin Bread is done baking when a toothpick comes out clean from the center of the loaf.
  • If your bread browns too quickly, lower the oven temperature to 325F.
  • You can use a 8×4 or 9×5 loaf pan, but know the 9×5 loaf pan might be flatter.

Storing and Freezing Instructions

Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days or freeze for up to one month. Be sure that you wrap the bread with saran wrap and then add it to a freezer-safe bag as this will add two layers of protection. 

loaf on a drying rack with one slice take from it and laying in front

FAQs

How to store pumpkin cream cheese bread?

Using a sealable bag or an airtight container is key. You have to keep the bread out of the air so that it doesn’t dry out. If the bread does dry out, pop it into the microwave for a few seconds to soften it right back up.

Does pumpkin bread need to be refrigerated?

No, it doesn’t have to be stored in the fridge but it will last longer. You can leave it at room temperature for a couple of days but then you do need to move it to the fridge. 
If you prefer to eat it at room temperature, just sit out your slice of bread for about 30 minutes before eating. 

How long does pumpkin bread last in the freezer?

As long as you’re storing it in a freezer-safe container, this homemade pumpkin bread recipe can be stored for up to 2 months! 
You can freeze it whole or freeze it in slices as well. Totally up to you. Sometimes I’ll freeze it in slices so that I can unthaw just a couple and enjoy it over the duration of a month. 

loaf on a drying rack with one slice take from it and laying in front

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread

5 from 33 votes
Soft Bread Recipe with a Cream Cheese Swirl
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Yield 10 servings
Serving Size 1 serving

Ingredients
 

Cream Cheese Filling:

  • 4 ounces (113g) cream cheese softened
  • 1 large egg
  • ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Bread:

  • ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup (50g) brown sugar
  • cup (79ml) vegetable oil
  • 1 cup (244g) Pumpkin Puree
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • cup (79ml) buttermilk
  • 2 cups (248g) all-purpose flour
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Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.
  • Mix cream cheese, egg, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Set aside.
  • Stir granulated sugar and brown sugar with oil and pumpkin. Stir in the eggs, pumpkin pie spice, salt, and baking soda. Stir until combined. Stir in buttermilk and flour.
  • Pour half of batter into prepared pan. Top with cream cheese mixture. Top with remaining pumpkin bread batter.
  • Bake for 40-50 minutes. If you want it totally done (no gooey center), test it by inserting a toothpick just partway into the top center of the bread. If this comes out clean, it’s done. stuck to the top.
  • Cool before removing from pan. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days or freeze for up to one month.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

  • Make sure cream cheese is room temperature to avoid lumps.
  • To make your own buttermilk, add 1/2 teaspoon of vinegar or lemon juice to a measuring cup and fill with milk to 1/3 cups. Let sit for 5 minutes.

Recipe Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 311kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 295mg | Potassium: 135mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 4060IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 2mg
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American

BEST Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread is a soft pumpkin bread with cream cheese swirl – it’s an easy quick bread recipe perfect for fall!

Favorite Pumpkin Recipes

Last Updated on August 29, 2023



Dorothy Kern

Welcome to Crazy for Crust, where I share recipes that are sometimes crazy, often with a crust, and always served with a slice of life.

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