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    Home » BREADS, PIZZA AND SAVORY TARTS

    Adult Pumpkin Bread with Apple Sauce

    Modified: Apr 21, 2025 by Susan Pridmore · This post may contain affiliate links · 34 Comments

    Moist, old-fashioned pumpkin bread loaded with pumpkin puree, apple sauce and spices. It's topped with an optional sugar crust. And includes just a little Apple Brandy, which is also optional.

    It only needs 15 minutes of prep before sliding it into the oven.

    A loaf pan of pumpkin bread on a cooling rack.

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    Fall is time for all things pumpkin, apple and pumpkin spices. On a chilly afternoon, a warm slice of this pumpkin bread with my afternoon tea is perfection.

    The apple sauce adds a touch of fruit in the bread, and optional Apple Brandy makes it an adult version of pumpkin bread. It's so moist!

    A last flurry of optional turbinado (raw sugar) over the top gives the bread a little crunch on top.

    Close up view of pumpkin bread in a loaf pan.

    This is the old-fashioned pumpkin bread I grew up with, loaded with spices, with some apple sauce and Apple Brandy added for a nicely moist bread.

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    Boozy Pumpkin Bread : The Wimpy Vegetarian
    5 from 1 vote

    Adult Pumpkin Bread with Apple Sauce Recipe

    Moist, old-fashioned pumpkin bread loaded with pumpkin puree, apple sauce and spices. It's topped with an optional sugar crust. The Apple Brandy is also optional.
    Print Recipe Save Saved! Pin Recipe Add to Recipe Collection Go to Collections Add to Shopping ListGo to Shopping List
    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Cook Time1 hour hr
    Total Time1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
    Course: Breakfast / Brunch
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: pumpkin bread
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 308.2kcal
    Author: Susan Pridmore
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups all-purpose flour
    • ½ cup coconut palm sugar
    • ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ¾ teaspoon ground ginger
    • ¾ teaspoon ground cardamom
    • 1 cup pumpkin puree
    • ½ cup coconut oil
    • 2 large eggs
    • ½ cup apple sauce
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 2 - 3 tablespoons Calvados or any Apple Brandy optional and according to taste
    • 1 tablespoon turbinado or raw sugar optional

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350 ˚F. Butter a loaf pan.
    • Whisk together the flour, coconut palm sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices.
    • Melt the coconut oil in the microwave. It just takes about 15 seconds with mine. Using a large balloon whisk or a standing mixer, combine the pumpkin, coconut oil, eggs, apple sauce, vanilla extract and Apple Brandy (if using) together until all of the ingredients are well mixed.
    • Add the dry ingredients by folding them in with a spatula until completely incorporated into the wet ingredients. The batter will be thick. Pour into the buttered loaf pan and sprinkle with the turbinado sugar (for crunch).
    • Bake on the center rack for one hour, or until a testing probe can be inserted in the middle and come out clean. Allow to cool in the loaf pan for 10 minutes before removing.
    • To remove, run a knife all around the edges and turn it upside down. It's really that easy.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 308.2kcal | Carbohydrates: 40.8g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 11.7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1.3g | Trans Fat: 0.004g | Cholesterol: 40.9mg | Sodium: 258.6mg | Potassium: 129.8mg | Fiber: 2.1g | Sugar: 17.4g | Vitamin A: 4830.8IU | Vitamin C: 1.5mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 2.2mg
    « Shirred Eggs Over Garlicky Swiss Chard
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    About Susan Pridmore

    Susan Pridmore is an award-winning cookbook author and the owner of The Wimpy Vegetarian. She has been featured in Huffington Post, Healthline, BuzzFeed, and has written for and developed recipes for The Food Network and Parade Magazine. She is professionally trained and focuses on easy vegetarian recipes for busy lives, bread-baking, and tips for new vegetarians. Susan lives in the mountains in Lake Tahoe with her husband and mini-labradoodle.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. gluttonforlife

      December 13, 2012 at 11:47 am

      Congrats, Susan, the new design looks lovely and fresh! I hope you feel happy in your new "home."

      Reply
      • The Wimpy Vegetarian

        December 13, 2012 at 11:51 am

        Thanks Laura! I'm learning my way around loading things to it, but that will pass soon, and I'm really happy with my new digs!

        Reply
    2. apuginthekitchen

      December 13, 2012 at 11:48 am

      Love your new site, it's very easy to read and must say professional. The bread sounds terrific, looks beautiful too! I also love pumpkin bread with the delicious warm spices. This is too good not to make. Think I'll add it to my gift boxes.

      Reply
      • The Wimpy Vegetarian

        December 13, 2012 at 11:53 am

        Thanks Suzanne!! I'm excited about it all, and I think you'd love the pumpkin bread. It took me a few tries to get it where I wanted it, and I think you'll like it! I've got a gift box going out today for my FOOD52 Secret Santa thing 🙂

        Reply
        • apuginthekitchen

          December 13, 2012 at 11:55 am

          Your secret santa recipient will love it! I got mine yesterday from Antonia James, what a beautiful box she sent, including a wild yeast levain which I am so excited to work with.

          Reply
          • The Wimpy Vegetarian

            December 13, 2012 at 12:26 pm

            What a fantastic idea of AJ's!! You scored!!

            Reply
    3. TasteFood

      December 13, 2012 at 12:04 pm

      Congratulations, Susan - your blog looks terrific!
      I admit I almost didn't notice it at first as I was focusing on the boozy pumpkin bread. You had me at boozy.

      Reply
      • The Wimpy Vegetarian

        December 13, 2012 at 12:30 pm

        Thanks Lynda! And yes, we've eaten half of one loaf already this morning...ay-yai-yai 🙂

        Reply
    4. Erika

      December 13, 2012 at 12:24 pm

      Your new site looks lovely! I love the addition of applesauce and your use of coconut oil in this--must be super moist! I recently bought my first jar of coconut oil and it's going fast!

      Reply
      • The Wimpy Vegetarian

        December 13, 2012 at 12:31 pm

        I am a huge fan of coconut oil and have been using Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil. I like it so much I'm planning my first product give-away on it.

        Reply
    5. Sunithi

      December 13, 2012 at 1:38 pm

      Oooh Susan. Love the new look and that gigantic slider on your recipe page is absolutely beautiful 🙂 Great Job. Love the header too and boozy bread sounds like a great way to celebrate 🙂 Enjoy your new look ! Want to try this new bread soon.

      Reply
      • The Wimpy Vegetarian

        December 13, 2012 at 1:46 pm

        Thanks so much Sunithi! It's been so much fun to work on with Julie.

        Reply
    6. lizthechef

      December 13, 2012 at 3:22 pm

      Love the new header as well as the recipe!

      Reply
      • The Wimpy Vegetarian

        December 13, 2012 at 4:31 pm

        Thanks Liz!!

        Reply
    7. Choc Chip Uru

      December 13, 2012 at 8:17 pm

      Your new blog looks fantastic 🙂
      Love this delicious bread!

      Cheers
      Choc Chip Uru

      Reply
      • The Wimpy Vegetarian

        December 13, 2012 at 9:35 pm

        Thanks so much CCU!!

        Reply
    8. mjskit

      December 13, 2012 at 8:44 pm

      Oh I love your new digs! A great new look! And what a way to celebrate - a little booze and bread! Love this recipe!

      Reply
      • The Wimpy Vegetarian

        December 13, 2012 at 9:39 pm

        Thanks so much MJ! It will be a lot of fun to spread out in this new space Julie has created for me 🙂

        Reply
    9. Norma Chang

      December 14, 2012 at 5:06 am

      Like your new "look". I seriously need to reorganize my posts to make it easier for me and my readers to find needed information. Thanks for the incentive.
      Adding booze to the pumpkin bread, love the idea.
      Norma Chang recently posted:
      http://gardentowok.wordpress.com/2012/12/14/a-salad-and-a-butternut-squash/

      Reply
      • The Wimpy Vegetarian

        December 14, 2012 at 8:49 am

        Thanks Norma! It's a challenge, isn't it, to organize all the information and make it accessible. I was becoming harder and harder for me and am hoping this will make it easier for everyone (and me).

        Reply
    10. Soni

      December 16, 2012 at 1:25 pm

      Your page looks beautiful Susan and I'm so glad you got what you wanted!!I love coconut oil in everything nowadays and love that you've used it here.Of course the booze takes it to another level altogether 🙂

      Reply
      • The Wimpy Vegetarian

        December 16, 2012 at 10:34 pm

        I knew you'd like the coconut oil add, Soni! I'm a recent convert and am using it in everything these days too 🙂

        Reply
    11. Cass @foodmyfriend

      December 16, 2012 at 2:31 pm

      You had me at boozy! Awesome recipe lovely. A great mix. I am starting to gather Christmas food ideas so this is great.

      Reply
      • The Wimpy Vegetarian

        December 16, 2012 at 10:35 pm

        Thanks Cass! I hope you like it if you try it! I'm collecting holiday food ideas too 🙂

        Reply
    12. Brandie (@ Home Cooking Memories)

      December 16, 2012 at 7:52 pm

      I LOVE, LOVE your new look!! Congratulations! And this bread sounds fabulous...anything with a little brandy added has to be great.

      Reply
      • The Wimpy Vegetarian

        December 16, 2012 at 10:44 pm

        Thanks so much Brandie! I'm still playing with a few things, but am really very happy with it 🙂 And this bread is definitely made for you!!

        Reply
    13. Mary @ Fit and Fed

      December 16, 2012 at 8:44 pm

      I like the clean look of the re-design. You already had an excellent recipe index searchable several different ways, I'm impressed that you are still thinking of ways to improve that page. In the pumpkin bread, I like the nice touches of the coconut sugar (it's so flavorful) and the brandy-- only a couple of tablespoons, hardly boozy at all.

      Reply
      • The Wimpy Vegetarian

        December 16, 2012 at 10:48 pm

        Why thank you Mary, I really appreciate that. I'm someone who's continually rearranging the furniture, so it's to be expected I'll be doing that here too. I'm switching so many of my recipes now to coconut oil and coconut sugar (and trying my best to reduce my overall sugar), and live the flavor it adds. My next project is coconut flour, which is appears isn't even really a flour. Oh, and if you want to use a little more of that brandy, feel free 🙂

        Reply
    14. chatteringkitchen

      December 17, 2012 at 10:01 pm

      Congrats on the new site. Looks good

      Reply
    15. Hannah

      December 18, 2012 at 8:00 am

      What a beautiful new look to your site, Susan! I love it, very elegant and accessible. Congratulations! And I can't resist pumpkin bread...yours sounds very enticing. I like the coconut sugar and coconut oil in it. I've started using more coconut oil and need to seek out the sugar now.

      Reply
    16. Terra

      December 18, 2012 at 6:58 pm

      You said the magic word...boozy!! I love this recipe, it is very unique.....AND sounds wonderful! I have never had apple brandy, I bet it is delicious in this bread:-) Hugs, Terra

      Reply
    17. lapadia

      December 25, 2012 at 6:32 am

      I made this pumpkin bread recipe, delicious, everybody loved it, thanks for sharing it. 🙂 Best or everything to you in the New Year!

      Reply
      • lapadia

        December 25, 2012 at 6:34 am

        PS-your site automatically posted I recently posted a particular recipe...that is not mine. btw.

        Reply
    18. Karen Hartzell (@InTheKitchenKP)

      January 13, 2013 at 10:48 am

      I love pumpkin bread. You add in some booze and I am in for the long haul! Love it!

      Reply
    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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    about the author:

    Susan Pridmore

    Hi there! I'm an award-winning cookbook author, culinary school graduate, professional photographer and recipe developer. My cookbook Simply Vegetarian was named #1 best cookbook for new vegetarians, and I want to make it easier for you to cook fabulous vegetarian meals. Come join me in the kitchen!

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