There is no better way to celebrate fall’s arrival than with a loaf of Pumpkin Roasted-Banana Quick Bread. Full of homey flavors of pumpkin, banana, dried cranberries or nuts and fall spices, it’s quick to make and irresistible. Gluten-free or with gluten options. Can be frozen too!
Winter squash has just begun to show up at Farmer’s Markets. A few years ago I had no idea what to do with them. I never really ate them when I was growing up and as an adult struggled with the dense, earthy sweetness of flavor, often coupled with further sweetening ingredients like brown sugar.
Everything took a turn for me when I naively realized you can roast them to make your own puree, great for so many dishes. I’m not sure why I did not connect the stuff in the can with the actual squash and in the case of pumpkin I equated the whole squash with carving for Halloween only.
As the weather cools even momentarily, I pull out an imaginary t-shirt with the slogan ‘Born to Bake’. Years ago I had a friend studying hibernating properties in humans for a PhD who told me the angle of the sun coaxes humans into a more sedentary burrowing/nesting behavior in the cooler months. I definitely think that is true for me. I’m dying to cook and it makes me feel much more grounded, versus the summer when I can’t stand to be indoors or sit still for long.
I picked up a pumpkin this week at a local farm stand, and just needed to decide which recipe to make with it. I love Pumpkin Bars at this time of year but also pumpkin pancakes, or soup; so hard to decide!
I dug up an old recipe that I had not ever tried, torn from a magazine now gone by the wayside as have so many print publications: Pumpkin Banana Bread. I’ve taken to roasting bananas for baking too which both quickly force ripens them but offers a fuller flavor.
It seemed a perfect addition to make this autumnal bread rustic and satisfying. It is dense, moist and deeply flavorful. If you have not yet gotten in the mood for fall, this will surely deliver you!
If you decide to roast your own pumpkin, you must roast the seeds through this method eliminating all the slimy attempts at separating the seeds from the goop! Promise. The seeds come out fantastic every time. The recipe has been pinned thousands of times from my site!
Try Banana Bread Cookies too!
Pumpkin Roasted Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 1 cup packed Light Brown Sugar
- 1 cup Granulated Sugar
- 2/3 cup Vegetable Oil
- 4 Eggs
- 3 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour (I used King Arthur's Gluten Free blend)
- 2 teaspoons Baking Soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
- 3/4 teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon Ground Ginger
- 2/3 cup Apple Cider (preferably fresh)
- 15 ounces of Pumpkin Puree (either one can or click here for instructions on roasting)
- 1 medium (1/2 cup yield) Roasted Banana (click here for roasting instructions)
- 6 ounces Dried Cranberries OR toasted , chopped Nuts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 2 standard loaf/bread pans and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl using a mixer (or with stand alone mixer) combine the sugars and vegetable oil. Beat on medium speed to combine.
- Add eggs one at a time, beating in between each one to fully combine. Set aside.
- In a separate large mixing bowl combine the flour, baking soda, salt and spices.
- Alternate adding the dry ingredients and apple cider to the sugar-oil mixture; beating on low speed after each addition to combine.
- Beat in pumpkin and banana. Stir in cranberries or nuts.
- Spoon batter evenly in the two loaf pans. Bake for 50-60 minutes (or until toothpick inserted comes out clean). NOTE: at 45 minutes add a sheet of foil over the top of each loaf to avoid overbrowning.
- Cool pans on cooling racks for 15 minutes. Turn out loaves onto cooling racks and allow to fully cool prior to slicing.
- NOTE: Bread can be frozen for later use by storing in an airtight freezer bag or container for up to 6 months. To defrost: Allow to warm at room temperature for 6 hours.
Notes
Nutrition
This delicious recipe was originally published in September 2012 and has been updated in 2016.
Diana says
Yumm! You turned a classic into a fall classic! I love this – we just redid our kitchen so new recipes will encourage me to get in there!
Melissa @ The Staten Island family says
This looks scrumptious! I can’t think of a better way to eat pumpkin and banana! Bring on the fall season!
Theresa says
I have never used a real roasted pumpkin to bake with, and I don’t know why. It would be so much healthier than that canned stuff. The bread sound so heavenly. Definitely perfect in the fall with a hot cup of tea!
Catherine Sargent says
This bread looks and sounds yummy. I will have to make it for my husband. He loves bananas and pumpkin. I am unfortunately allergic to bananas.
Pam Wattenbarger says
It still feels like summer here and will for a while, but that hasn’t stopped me from enjoying pumpkin flavored things. This pumpkin banana quick bread sounds really tasty. It will be perfect once the weather has actually cooled down.
Toni Dash says
AND you can freeze it Pam so it you want to bake now, put it in the freezer until it feels like fall!
Brandy says
That looks delicious! I bet this would be amazing with your first cup of coffee.
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
You know, I’ve never heard of roasting bananas before. They have a great flavor, and I can almost tasted them after being roasted. I can’t wait to try that and to make this bread. Thanks for the heads up on both!
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
I LOVE this! It’s the perfect way for me to kick off my favorite season. Fall! The season when everything is pumpkin! WOOHOO!
Jay says
I love the addition of apple cider. I can just imagine how this would taste!
Elizabeth says
Anything pumpkin and I am in. This looks so delicious… and what a gorgeous presentation! Drooling