Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Bread

A moist, spiced pumpkin quick bread featuring a rich, velvety vanilla cream cheese ribbon swirled throughout every slice.

Prep Time: 20 min
Cook Time: 60 min
Total Time: 80 min
Servings: 4
AmericanVegetarianPescatarianNut-FreeShellfish-FreeFish-FreeSesame-Free

Ingredients

  • 1.5 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 0.5 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1.5 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 0.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 0.5 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 cup pure pumpkin puree (canned or fresh, not pie mix)
  • 0.5 cup granulated sugar
  • 0.5 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 0.33 cup neutral vegetable oil or melted coconut oil
  • 2 large large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 6 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
  • 0.25 cup granulated sugar (for cream cheese layer)
  • 1 large large egg yolk, room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour (for cream cheese layer)
  • 0.5 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (for cream cheese layer)

Instructions

  1. 1.

    Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8.5x4.5-inch loaf pan and line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal.

  2. 2.

    In a medium bowl, prepare the cream cheese swirl by beating the softened cream cheese, 0.25 cup granulated sugar, egg yolk, 1 tablespoon flour, and 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract with an electric hand mixer on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Set aside.

  3. 3.

    In a separate large bowl, whisk together the 1.5 cups flour, baking soda, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and fine sea salt until thoroughly combined.

  4. 4.

    In another mixing bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, 0.5 cup granulated sugar, light brown sugar, oil, 2 whole eggs, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until glossy and fully emulsified.

  5. 5.

    Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently fold with a rubber spatula just until combined and no dry flour streaks remain. Do not overmix.

  6. 6.

    Spread half of the pumpkin batter evenly into the bottom of the prepared loaf pan. Spoon about two-thirds of the cream cheese mixture in dollops over the batter.

  7. 7.

    Cover with the remaining pumpkin batter, then dollop the remaining cream cheese mixture over the top. Drag a butter knife or wooden skewer gently through the layers in a figure-eight motion to create a marbled swirl effect.

  8. 8.

    Bake for 55 to 65 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center of the pumpkin portion comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs (avoid checking only the cream cheese swirl). If the top browns too quickly after 40 minutes, tent loosely with aluminum foil.

  9. 9.

    Remove from the oven and allow the bread to cool in the pan on a wire rack for 20 minutes. Use the parchment paper handles to lift the loaf out onto the wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

Tips

  • 💡Ensure the cream cheese is fully softened at room temperature to avoid lumps in the swirl filling.
  • 💡Do not over-swirl with the knife; 4 to 5 gentle figure-eight strokes are plenty to create defined, beautiful ribbons without blending the mixtures together.
  • 💡For clean, distinct bakery-style slices, chill the cooled loaf in the refrigerator for 1 hour prior to slicing with a sharp chef's knife.

Recipe from TheCookbook.ai

Created by Basil Roux