The Best Pumpkin Bread with Cream Cheese

Raise your hand if you're ready for all the fall baking festivities to commence! This pumpkin bread with cream cheese will be at the top of your baking list this season!

As September is nearing its end, it's finally starting to cool down here in Southern California. This weekend, I was actually able to wear a fleece pullover! Nothing puts me more in the mood for fall baking than an overcast, cool day and a chunky oversized sweater. This pumpkin bread with cream cheese met the fall vibe check.

Pumpkin bread is one of my all-time favorite fall bakes. It's an absolute must when it comes to putting together your seasonal baking list. Friends and family request this recipe multiple times during the fall. This time around, I decided to change things up and add in a thick cream cheese layer and an ultra yummy streusel topping that is to die for! The verdict? An aromatic and moist pumpkin bread with a sweet and smooth layer of cream cheese. It's so hard to stop at just one slice!

Layering your pumpkin bread

I think this was my favorite part about making this recipe. Here's the order in which you want to layer this scrumptious bread:

1. Pour half of your pumpkin batter into a lined loaf pan
2. Pour all of your cream cheese mixture over the pumpkin batter
3. Pour remaining amount of pumpkin batter over the cream cheese layer
4. Run a butter knife or chopstick through the batter back and forth and side to side 3 or 4 times.
5. Sprinkle streusel over the top before placing in the oven

Carefully spread the cream cheese layer with a spatula, trying not to disrupt the layer of pumpkin batter underneath it.

Looking for other delicious pumpkin recipes to enjoy this season? Check out The Best Vegan Pumpkin Muffins with a Maple Streusel and The Most Delicious Vegan Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

Recipe was updated in October 2022.

Pumpkin & Cream Cheese Swirl Bread

Pumpkin bread is a must when it comes to building your fall baking list! Friends and family request this recipe multiple times during the season. This time around, I decided to change things up and add in a thick cream cheese swirl layer and a yummy streusel topping. The verdict? An aromatic and moist pumpkin bread with a sweet and smooth layer of cream cheese.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 1 hr

Total Time 1 hr 15 mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 1 9"x5" loaf

Equipment

• 9"x5" loaf pan

Ingredients

  

• 1 cup pumpkin purée
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour
• 2 eggs
• ¼ tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin spice
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp ground cloves
• 1 ¼ cup granulated sugar

Cream Cheese Mixture

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature full fat
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• ½ cup granulated sugar

Streusel Topping

• 4 tbsp cold, unsalted butter
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 350°F and spray loaf pan non-stick cooking spray and line with parchment paper. Set aside.
• In a medium sized bowl, whisk together pumpkin purée, vegetable oil, eggs, vanilla extract, and sugar. Set aside.
• In a medium sized bowl whisk together your dry ingredients. Add dry ingredients to your bowl of wet ingredients. Combine well with a spoon or spatula.

For cream cheese mixture

• In your stand mixer, combine cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
• Add in your egg, vanilla extract and 2 tablespoon of flour.

For streusel topping

• In a medium sized bowl, whisk together both sugars, salt, flour, and cinnamon. Cut cold butter into cubes and add to bowl. With a pastry blender or fork, press the butter cubes into dry mixture until you get a nice, crumbly mixture.

Assembling your loaf

• Add a half of your pumpkin cake mixture to the bottom of your loaf pan. Smooth with a spatula.
• Pour cream cheese mixture over the layer of pumpkin batter. Smooth cream cheese layer out with a spatula. Pour the rest of the pumpkin batter over the cream cheese layer. Smooth over with a spatula, carefully without disrupting the cream cheese layer.
• For the swirl design, use a butterknife or chopstick and run it through the batter back and forth and side to side 3 or 4 times. Sprinkle streusel mixture over the top of your loaf before placing in the oven.
• Bake at 350°F for 50-55 minutes. Cool on wire rack for 15 minutes before removing from loaf pan.

Keyword fall baking, pumpkin, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cream cheese bread, pumpkin loaf