– 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
– 1/2 cup granulated sugar
– 1/2 cup brown sugar
– 1/2 cup vegetable oil
– 2 large eggs
– 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
– 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
– 1 teaspoon baking powder
– 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
– 1/2 teaspoon salt
– 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
– 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
– 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
– 1/4 cup powdered sugar (for cream cheese filling)
– 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract (for cream cheese filling)
Creating Deliciously Simple Pumpkin Bread with Cream Cheese is a straightforward process. Just follow these steps for a successful bake:
1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
2. Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine pumpkin puree, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vegetable oil, eggs, and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Whisk until well blended.
3. Combine Dry Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg until evenly dispersed.
4. Combine Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until just combined. Avoid over-mixing; a few lumps are okay.
5. Prepare Cream Cheese Filling: In a separate bowl, mix the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract until smooth.
6. Layer the Batter: Pour about half of the pumpkin batter into the prepared loaf pan. Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly on top, followed by the remaining pumpkin batter.
7. Bake: Place the loaf pan in the preheated oven and bake for 50-55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
8. Cool Down: Remove the pumpkin bread from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for about 15 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.