🎃 Nutella Swirl Pumpkin Bread — The Fall Mashup You Didn’t Know You Needed
If you like pumpkin bread and you like Nutella, stop whatever you’re doing and make this. I threw one together for a Saturday baking emergency and suddenly everyone wanted the recipe. It’s cozy, slightly decadent, and ridiculous in the best way. 🙂
⚡ Quick Snapshot
- Prep: 15 minutes | Bake: 50–60 minutes | Total: ~75 minutes
- Yield: 1 standard loaf (or 8–10 slices)
- Skill: Easy — great for beginners
- SEO keywords: Nutella swirl pumpkin bread, easy pumpkin bread recipe, fall baking
🧾 Why This Works (Short & Sweet)
- Pumpkin keeps the loaf moist and tender.
- Nutella adds a chocolate-hazelnut hit without extra effort.
- Dollop-and-swirl = bakery vibes with zero drama.
🛒 Ingredient Lineup (Table) 🍽️
| Item | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| All-purpose flour | Structure | 1 3/4 cups (220g) |
| Granulated sugar | Sweetness | 3/4 cup |
| Brown sugar | Moisture & caramel notes | 1/4 cup |
| Pumpkin puree | Moisture + pumpkin flavor | 1 cup (not pumpkin pie mix) |
| Eggs | Bind + lift | 2 large |
| Vegetable oil (or melted butter) | Tender crumb | 1/3 cup |
| Vanilla extract | Flavor boost | 1 tsp |
| Baking powder + baking soda | Rise | 1 tsp BP + 1/2 tsp BS |
| Ground cinnamon | Warm spice | 1 tsp |
| Ground nutmeg | Depth | 1/4 tsp |
| Salt | Balances sweetness | 1/2 tsp |
| Nutella | The star swirl | 1/2 — 3/4 cup |
Pro tip: Use canned pumpkin puree (not pie filling). Room-temperature eggs and pumpkin blend smoother.
🌀 Baking Game Plan — Step-by-Step
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5 loaf pan and line with parchment for easy removal.
- In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk eggs, sugars, oil, pumpkin, and vanilla until smooth.
- Fold dry mix into wet mix until just combined — don’t overmix. Overworking yields dense bread.
- Pour half the batter into the pan. Dollop half the Nutella in spoonfuls across the batter. Add remaining batter, then dot remaining Nutella on top.
- Use a knife to gently swirl the Nutella through the batter (two or three figure-eights — not a blender attack).
- Bake 50–60 minutes. Insert a toothpick: it should come out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs (Nutella pockets will add chocolatey spots).
- Cool 15 minutes in the pan, then transfer to a wire rack. Slice when slightly warm or completely cool.
🍫 Variation Ideas & Remix Station
- Mini loaves: Bake 20–30 minutes. Perfect for gifts.
- Streusel top: Mix 1/3 cup flour, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 2 tbsp butter for a crumbly crown.
- Chocolate chip boost: Fold 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips into batter.
- Less sweet option: Reduce granulated sugar to 1/2 cup and use 1/4 cup brown sugar.
💪 Nutrition Perks (Table)
| Benefit | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Vitamin A | Pumpkin packs beta-carotene for eye health |
| Fiber | Pumpkin and whole-ingredient loaf helps satiety |
| Satisfying treat | Chocolate + spice reduces cravings for extra sweets |
(Yes, it’s still dessert. Eat it like dessert—just with a veggie cameo.)
🔧 Troubleshooting & Tips
- Bread sinks in center? Oven too cool or underbaked. Give it more time.
- Too dry? Don’t overbake and check your flour measurement — scoop and level, don’t shovel.
- Nutella sinkholes? Dab smaller amounts and swirl gently.
❓ Quick FAQ
Q: Can I use homemade pumpkin puree?
A: Absolutely. Drain excess water first for best texture.
Q: Can I freeze it?
A: Yes. Wrap slices well — freeze up to 2 months. Thaw at room temp or warm gently in the oven.
🎉 Final Slice — Wrap-Up
This Nutella Swirl Pumpkin Bread hits that sweet spot: easy prep, warm fall spice, and a little chocolatey luxury that makes people smile. Make it for brunch, a potluck, or the exact moment you decide to treat yourself. Trust me — you’ll want to bake it again. 😉
So yeah, if you’ve been sleeping on this combo, wake up and give it a shot. What do you think — ready to swirl? 😉
