Description
This easy copycat recipe for Starbucks Pumpkin Loaf with Cream Cheese Ribbon delivers all the rich, spiced flavor and comfort. It features a tender crumb, crisp edge, and a creamy ribbon of tangy cream cheese, perfect for a cozy fall treat.
Ingredients
- 1 cup pumpkin puree, 100% pure pumpkin, not pie filling
- 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 0.5 cup brown sugar, packed
- 0.5 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 0.5 cup vegetable oil (or unsweetened applesauce for a lighter option)
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 0.25 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prep Oven and Pan: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan, or line with parchment for easy removal.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In another bowl, combine brown sugar, granulated sugar, oil, eggs, pumpkin puree, and 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract. Whisk until the mixture is smooth.
- Combine Batter: Gently fold the wet ingredients into the dry until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to a tough loaf. (If your batter looks too thick after combining, a splash of 1-2 tablespoons of milk can help).
- Prepare Cream Cheese Ribbon: In a separate small bowl, beat softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. This mixture should be thick and spreadable.
- Assemble Loaf: Pour about half of the pumpkin batter into the prepared pan. Spoon the cream cheese mixture in a line down the center of the batter. Top with the remaining pumpkin batter. Use a knife or skewer to gently swirl the cream cheese into the pumpkin batter (do not over-swirl).
- Bake Loaf: Bake for 50-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the pumpkin loaf (avoiding the cream cheese ribbon) comes out clean. The top should be deeply golden and spring back lightly to the touch.
Notes
For a gluten-free loaf, use a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend. Replace half the oil with unsweetened applesauce or Greek yogurt for a lighter loaf, or add 0.5 cup chopped pecans or walnuts for extra texture. To prevent the loaf from sinking, ensure your baking soda is fresh, do not open the oven door too early, and avoid overmixing. Ensure your cream cheese mixture is thick enough to prevent it from disappearing into the batter.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (100 g)
- Calories: 380 calories
- Sugar: 35 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg
Keywords: Starbucks, Pumpkin Loaf, Cream Cheese Ribbon, Copycat, Fall Baking, Quick Bread, Easy Dessert, Spiced, Autumn