Vegan Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread
This moist Vegan Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread is the perfect sweet treat for a chilly day! With the warm, cozy flavors of pumpkin spice and rich chocolate chips, it’s impossible to just eat one slice!
If you’ve just started reading my blog, you may not know that I used to run a baking business many years ago. This pumpkin bread recipe dates all the way back to that time, and it was always a favorite of friends and family, which is how I know it’s going to be a favorite of yours, too. It’s unbelievably moist, dotted with rich chocolate chips, and flavored with the coziest blend of cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice.
With the holidays coming up, you might want to make a few loaves for gifting or for adding to your dessert table (a dollop of whipped coconut cream takes it from snack to dessert-worthy for sure!). Or just make a loaf for yourself and enjoy a slice with a warm mug of my pumpkin spice matcha latte.
No matter how you eat it or why you make it, I’m certain you’ll love this recipe as much as I do!
Looking for more outstanding pumpkin recipes? Try my pumpkin sugar cookies, pumpkin pie, and pumpkin muffins too!
Why You’ll Love This Vegan Pumpkin Bread
As you can tell from the fact I’ve been making this pumpkin chocolate chip bread for years and years, it’s one of my favorites. And I expect it will become one of yours too!
- Perfect combination of pumpkin and chocolate. Pumpkin + chocolate is a seriously underrated flavor combination, if I do say so myself. This pumpkin bread with chocolate chips offers the perfect balance of the two flavors.
- Incredibly moist. Pumpkin puree not only adds flavor to this bread but it also helps to ensure that it stays super moist, as do the other ingredients like vegan oil and butter.
- Quick and easy. The prep time on making this is just 25 minutes and you can easily be enjoying a warm slice from the oven in just over an hour.
Notes on Ingredients
Please note that this is important information on the ingredients and instructions and the FULL recipe with amounts and details can be found DOWN BELOW (scroll to it) in the recipe card.
- All purpose flour – You can use a gluten-free baking blend if you prefer.
- Baking powder & baking soda
- Fine sea salt
- Spices – Cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice give this vegan pumpkin bread the incredible flavor.
- Pumpkin puree – Be sure to use plain pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling, which is already spiced and sweetened.
- Sugar – You can use coconut sugar, brown sugar or cane sugar.
- Coconut oil – The oil will need to be melted for this recipe. (I love coconut oil for baking because it yields a tender crumb, but you can use olive oil! If using coconut oil, use refined to remove the coconut flavour.)
- Vegan milk
- Vanilla extract
- Chocolate chips – To keep the chocolate chips from sinking to the bottom of the batter, toss them in 2 teaspoons of flour.
How to Make Vegan Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread
Like all quick bread recipes, this one is easy and fast! Here’s what you’ll need to do:
- Prepare. Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan with nonstick spray or vegan butter.
- Make the batter. Whisk together the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, mix the sugar, pumpkin, and oil then add the milk and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients, one cup at a time, on low speed until combined. Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Bake. Transfer the batter to the bread pan. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, until a toothpick comes out with no batter or moist crumbs.
Tips for Success
Here are some tips to help ensure that you have the perfect loaf of pumpkin chocolate chip bread:
- Using homemade pumpkin puree. You can use homemade pumpkin puree in this recipe, but if it appears more watery than canned pumpkin, you’ll need to drain off the excess liquid. Line a fine mesh sieve with a nut milk bag or paper towels and let the pumpkin sit for about 30 minutes before continuing with the recipe.
- Making gluten-free bread. If you choose to make this pumpkin bread with a gluten-free baking blend, make sure it has xanthan gum in it. Without this, the bread will be crumbly.
- Mixing the batter. It’s always important not to over-mix quick bread. For this recipe, 2 minutes after the wet and dry ingredients are added together is enough.
How to Store
Once it has cooled completely, wrap your pumpkin chocolate chip bread bread in plastic wrap. Then store it as directed below:
- Room temperature. This vegan pumpkin bread will stay fresh at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Refrigerator. You can also store the loaf in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Can I Freeze This Recipe?
Yes, you can store your pumpkin bread with chocolate chips in the freezer for up to 2 months. To prevent freezer burn, I recommend wrapping it in plastic wrap, then either wrapping it in a layer of foil or popping the loaf in a freezer bag. Let the bread sit on the countertop overnight to thaw before serving.
More Pumpkin Desserts To Try
Enjoy friends! If you make this chocolate chip pumpkin bread recipe, please snap a photo and tag #jessicainthekitchen on Instagram! We’d also love it if you would leave a comment below, and give the recipe a rating! Thanks so much!
Vegan Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread
Ingredients
- 2 ⅓ cups all purpose flour or gluten free flour, (284g) This comes out to exactly 2 ⅓ cups (for the 1:1 gluten free baking flour – I used Bob's Red Mill* check notes for using alternative
- 2 teaspoons baking powder, (9.6g)
- ½ teaspoon baking soda, (3g)
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt, (2.8g)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- 1 cup pumpkin puree, (244g)
- 1 cup sugar, (200g) coconut sugar, brown sugar or cane sugar or other granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup oil, (80g) melted
- ½ cup + 2 tablespoons vegan milk, (150mL)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ cup vegan chocolate chips, tossed in 2 teaspoons flour
Equipment
- Loaf Pan This is my favourite full duty loaf pan!
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C. Grease a 9×5 loaf pan.
- In a mixing bowl, add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice ingredients and whisk together to remove any lumps.
- In a standing mixer, mix the sugar, pumpkin puree, and oil until partially combined for about 1 minute. Add in the milk and vanilla extract and combine for another minute until fully combined.
- Add the dry ingredients mix one cup at a time into the wet ingredients on a medium to low speed until it's all combined. Don't over mix – up to 2 minutes while using your spatula to scrape down is enough. The batter will be VERY thick.
- Stir in the chocolate chips with a spatula. "Pour" batter into the loaf pan.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes. The loaf is finished when a knife or tester comes out clean (except for maybe some chocolate on it). Enjoy friends!
Notes
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Instructions
- 2.7 ounces (75.67g) vegan cream cheese, bring to room temperature
- 2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons (38g) vegan butter sticks, bring to room temperature (1.3 ounces)
- ⅓ teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla paste
- Pinch of sea salt
- 1 cup to 1⅓ cups of powdered sugar, sifted (120g for 1 cup, 160g for 1⅓ cups)
- 2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon cornstarch, sifted (10.67g)
Instructions
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In the bowl of a mixer, beat the butter and cream cheese together for about 2 minutes until fully incorporated.
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Add in the vanilla extract or paste and the pinch of salt.
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Add in a cup of sifted powdered sugar and all of the sifted cornstarch. Mix for about 1 minute or until incorporated. Add in the powdered sugar cup at a time until the frosting has reached the desired thickness.
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Place the frosting wrapped or covered into the fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight, until being used. You can enjoy it right away, but it will thicken up beautifully in the fridge.
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You can apply it immediately to a cooled pumpkin bread, then place in the fridge, or place the frosting itself, then apply to the cake later. Enjoy!
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Disclaimer: Although jessicainthekitchen.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Jessicainthekitchen.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.
I spaced out! In the directions it never says when to add the pumpkin pie spice or the cinnamon…so I totally forgot to add those. They (I used a muffin tin) still came out yummy though!
Hey Alexis,
I’m so glad you really enjoyed them!!
Jessica! This was so delicious! Each week I make a loaf of something for my husband & I as part of our breakfast meal prep. This past Sunday (8/8/17), I made this Chocolate chip pumpkin bread and when I got to the kitchen the next morning there was about half a loaf left. Now we did sample some on Sunday evening but not enough to only have half a loaf remaining. This is definitely going to be one of our new favs, year-round. Not only was it moist but it was truly a delight, and very easy to make. As we speak I’m trying to talk my husband in to letting me bake a second loaf to get us through the week.
Hey LeTia,
I’m so happy to hear you guys enjoyed it so much!! The fact that it was almost DONE by the next morning is a real compliment hahah!! Thanks so much for your comment and for your feedback!!
This pumpkin bread is fabulous! I’ve made it many times, mostly with cooked pumpkin or squash (versus canned), my own combination of pumpkin pie spices, and regular white sugar instead of coconut sugar. I found it unnecessary to toss the chocolate chips with flour, and I generally add walnuts too. This is an excellent, easy, and reliable pumpkin bread recipe! TBH, it’s better than my prior go-to recipe, which used eggs and butter. Highly recommended.
Hi Lisa,
Oh wow – thank you so much!! So happy to hear that!! Thanks again for sharing!
I didn’t have any gluten free flour so I used spelt flour.
We don’t really use pumpkin purée or pumpkin spice in Germany…..wasn’t easy to find the spice ? But totally worth it!
We just love this bread. And it’s still healthy ? I don’t feel toooo bad if my little one asks for a second slice (if my hubby didn’t eat it all?)
Thank you Jessica
Hey Franziska,
So happy to hear you and your family enjoyed this so much!! Haha yes it tends to disappear so quickly!! You’re so welcome!!
What an awesome treat this was! I used a mixture of brown rice flour, spelt flour and APF, and a very generous helping of chocolate chips and this was a perfection!!! Thanks Jessica!
Hey Kimchi.With.Maplesyrup (cool name haha!),
I’m so glad that you enjoyed!! Love the mix you used too. You’re so welcome!!
The vegan pumpkin bread is amazing. It was my first time to bake with coconut sugar and I really like how mellow the sweetness turned out to be. Thanks for this recipe ? This is a new staple to my sweetbreads recipe collection.
Hey Dena,
I’m so happy that you enjoyed!! You’re so so welcome!! <3 I also love coconut sugar too!
I was confused as how much flour too use so I I did 1 1/4 cup and used regular flour. Waiting for it too cool down now!! Soooooo excited cuz it smells soo good!!
Hey Leslie,
The cup amount is in the notes section! I hope it turned out great for you!!
Can I make this recipe as cupcakes? How should I adjust bake temp and time?
Hi Crystal,
Yes! Same temperature, bake for about 22 minutes. I hope you enjoy!
Do I have to modify anything if I use all purpose flour?
Hey Nancy,
No you don’t! I hope you enjoy!!
Your vegan chocolate chip pumpkin bread is awesome, fantastic , amazing!!!
It’s so moist and flavorful my family went crazy over it. I usually bake my Moms recipe which is loaded with eggs and oil, but decided to try your recipe . It is our new favorite thank you for sharing your recipe with us. I look forward to future recipes on your page. Happy Thanksgiving ???
Hey Jan,
Aww I’m SO happy to hear this!! What a compliment!! Happy Thanksgiving to you too when it comes and I hope you enjoy my other recipes!! 🙂 <3
Can I substitute apple sauce or some other alternative to the coconut oil? My husband has to watch his sat fats .
Hey Jan,
I’m not sure, I haven’t used it with that and I’m not sure it would add the same moisture level. If it works for you please let me know though!