Pumpkin Spice Pumpkin Bread with Pepita’s

Prep Time: 15 mins | Cook Time: 60 mins | Course: Breakfast | Yield: 2 loaves

This pumpkin bread is tender with a lovely clove and pumpkin spice flavor; topped with pepita seeds and baked with love. Makes 2 loaves or make some muffins with part of the batter. My daughters love Starbucks pumpkin bread and this one is as good a copy as I’ve tasted. Always inspired by Angie at Big Bears Wife https://www.bigbearswife.com/copycat-starbucks-pumpkin-bread/ 

2 cups sugar

1 cup brown sugar, packed tightly into the cup

3 ½ cups flour

2 tsp baking soda

1 ½ tsp salt

2 tsp ground cloves

2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

½ tsp nutmeg, freshly ground is best

1 cup olive oil

4 eggs

1 15-oz can pumpkin puree

⅔ cup water

3 Tbsp pepita seeds, coarsely chopped

Preheat oven to 350*. Spray oil or butter 2 bread pans. In a stand mixing bowl, whisk sugar, brown sugar, flour, baking soda, salt, cloves, pumpkin spice and nutmeg until combined. Add olive oil, eggs, pumpkin and water. Mix until just combined. Scrape batter between the 2 prepared bread pans and smooth. Sprinkle with pepitas and bake for about 55-65 minutes. A tester should come out clean and if using an insta-thermometer for a loaf, be about 197-205*.

*If doing some muffins, check for doneness around 20 minutes using a toothpick test for doneness.