Pumpkin Banana Bread Recipe-GREAT Use For Bananas!

Name: Pumpkin Banana Bread Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 60 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup salted butter (softened (1 stick)); 1 cup light brown sugar; 3 large eggs; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour; 1/2 tsp baking powder; 1 1/2 tsp baking soda; 1 tsp salt; 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice; 1 cup pumpkin puree; 2 ripe bananas (mashed); 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips (optional)

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Pumpkin AND bananas join forces in this tasty bread! This Pumpkin Banana Bread recipe is a great fall treat and your house will never smell so good.

loaf of pumpkin banana bread with chocolate chips and slice removed.

Original post: August 2018 | Updated: October 2020

Why This Recipe Works

I feel I should open a facility for aging bananas in my home because they are always hanging around. We eat bananas, but we also apparently ignore them. The good thing about this dilemma is that there are so many delicious things to do with ripe bananas!

Fall is HERE, so I was excited to add pumpkin to my aging-banana dilemma. I really had no idea how this Pumpkin Banana Bread would turn out and I was so pleasantly surprised when it came out of the oven.

Look at this loaf of bread! It is tall and perfect and pretty and cooked evenly throughout. And the taste! The banana and pumpkin make it so incredibly moist and tasty. The chocolate chips on top add a little special something, but feel free to leave them out.

I’m in love. This is one of the best breads I’ve ever made. My boys both walked upstairs from the basement while it was baking and said at the same time, WHAT IS THAT DELICIOUS SMELL?!

Recipe Ingredients

Bananas – Make sure your bananas are nice and ripe before mashing them and adding them to the batter. Unripe bananas will not produce a moist and perfectly baked bread.

Pumpkin puree – You can purchase a can of pumpkin puree for this recipe. Or consider making your own pumpkin puree in your Instant Pot.

Pumpkin pie spice – If you don’t have pumpkin pie spice mixture on hand, you can combine 2 tbsp cinnamon, 1 1/2 tsp ground ginger and 1 tsp allspice, cloves and nutmeg.

How To Make Banana Bread with Pumpkin

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9×5 loaf pan with cooking spray and set aside. Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or a large mixing bowl with a hand mixer), combine the butter, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla extract and beat until combined.

Wet ingredients in a mixing bowl, sitting next to mashed banana and pumpkin puree.

Step 2

In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and pumpkin pie spice. Mix well. Gradually add to the butter mixture and beat on medium-low speed until just combined. Stir in 1 cup of pumpkin puree and mashed bananas.

bread batter in a loaf pan topped with chocolate chips.

Step 3

Pour the batter into the prepared pan, spreading in an even layer. Sprinkle chocolate chips over the top, if desired. Bake at 350 degrees for 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let sit in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

Recipe Notes

Allowing the bread to cool completely to room temperature will ensure that it keeps its shape, but serving just a little bit warm with a pat of butter is ohhhh so delicious!
This bread is best served solo or with a simple pat of butter.
If you feel your banana bread is dry after baking, you can top it with a small drizzle of simple syrup.

side view of perfect loaf of bread with chocolate chips on top.

What to Make With Pumpkin Puree

Aside from the obvious (pie!), you might be wondering what to make with pumpkin puree so you can use up all of those scrumptious cans! Read on for some delicious pumpkin puree recipes!

Are Canned Pumpkin And Pumpkin Puree The Same Thing?

Canned pumpkin is straight-up pumpkin that has been put into a can. Some pumpkin puree contains other ingredients that flavors it, making it pumpkin-pie ready. Read your labels to see what you’re getting in your next can of pumpkin!

Make Your Own Pumpkin Puree

Consider making your own batch of pumpkin puree for an even fresher taste! Grab your Instant Pot and get started!

Substitute For Pumpkin Puree

Equal parts of cooked, mashed sweet potatoes or butternut squash is a great substitution and you might not even be able to tell the difference!

How To Store Bananas

Leave bananas in their cute little bunches on the counter or hanging from a banana tree. Keeping the bananas at room temperature is optimal for bananas that are not yet past their prime. If you wish to extend the life of the banana wrap the stems in plastic wrap.

Once bananas start to show signs of ripeness (brown or even black spots), throw them into the fridge if you know you’ll be using them in a recipe in the next few days.

If you don’t have a plan in the near future for overly ripe bananas, put them in the freezer instead. Before you freeze ripe bananas, it is ideal to remove them from the peel first. It also works to just toss the entire banana in the freezer, if you don’t want to mess with a peel at this point.

When you are ready to use them in a recipe, allow them to thaw completely before mashing and adding them to your next batch of banana bread.

top view of a loaf of pumpkin banana bread.

FAQ About Banana Bread

How do I make bananas ripe faster for banana bread?

If you have bananas that are still green or just turning yellow, you can add them to a brown paper bag and enclose them. If you have a ripe apple or another banana that is ripe, you can add them to the bag so it can produce ethylene gas to help speed up the process.

Do you need baking soda for banana bread?

Yes, baking soda is needed in baking banana bread. You will end up with a dense loaf vs a fluffy and soft loaf when you omit the leavening agent.

How do you keep banana bread moist?

Banana bread will be moist if you have a good ratio of flour to bananas and the more overripe the bananas are, the better for the purpose of baking bread.

Are banana bread and banana cake different?

Yes, banana bread and banana cake are prepared differently and have different results. Banana cake is more like a traditional butter cake with bananas in it. Banana bread is more firm and dense. Banana bread is great sliced and toasted even.

Where did banana bread originate from?

While we don’t know for sure, its believed that banana bread was created during the Great Depression when housewives didn’t want to throw away overripe bananas. Banana bread was made with minimal ingredients and produced a cake like bread.

Delicious Pumpkin Recipes

Enjoy pumpkin pie in a single bite, covered by delicious dark chocolate in these pumpkin truffles.
Pumpkin layer cake is the perfect festive dessert to bring to your next Halloween or fall themed party and as a Thanksgiving dessert. The cream cheese frosting complements it perfectly and looks beautiful with a rustic ombre look.
Give those chilly fall days a slice of heaven! This delicious pumpkin bread has a secret creamy middle that transforms a slice of bread into a special treat! A perfect piece of comfort food to celebrate all things pumpkin!

What To Do With Ripe Bananas?

You will want to make this best banana bread – it’s tried, tested, delicious and EASY! Great way to use up those ripe bananas staring at you from your counter!
These banana bars with maple brown sugar frosting are in my Top 3 list of Best Desserts Ever. They are TO DIE FOR and the best way to use up ripe bananas, in my opinion.
A delicious way to use up bananas is to make banana crumb muffins. You will love the crumb topping with brown sugar as an afternoon treat on these tender muffins.
Banana chocolate chip cookies – Adding bananas to chocolate chip cookies is a great way to use up ripe bananas! These cookies are super moist and delicious!

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Pumpkin Banana Bread Recipe