This amazingly delicious Butternut Squash Bread has all your favorite warm and cozy fall flavors. Pumpkin spice and everything nice!
There’s nothing I love more on a lazy Sunday afternoon than baking something delicious to enjoy as a snack during the week ahead. This little ritual fills the house with comforting aromas and is pure kitchen therapy, giving me a peaceful moment to unwind before the madness of the new week starts. While I enjoy indulging in decadent treats, during these baking sessions, I try to stick to healthier options that can double as breakfast on busy mornings. It’s a win-win. After some much-needed kitchen therapy, I’ll end up with something I can savor as a snack after a long workday, yet is wholesome enough to grab and go when I’m rushing out the door in the morning. Oatmeal-raisin cookies are a great option, but I also love hearty wholegrain muffins or healthy breads, like the one I’m about to share with you today.
This butternut squash bread is similar in texture to its popular cousin—the banana bread—but with an autumnal flavor that’s delicately earthy. It has a moist, tender crumb and is infused with all the warm, cozy aromas we associate with this season. Why buy scented candles when you can bake this delectable butternut squash bread? The aromas alone will make this recipe a fall favorite you’ll be making again and again.
Is Butternut Squash Bread Healthy?
Though it does call for sugar, this butternut squash bread is made with whole-wheat pastry flour (which is a good source of fiber) and avocado oil (a source of healthy fats) rather than butter. If you want to cut down on the sugar, leave out the raw cane sugar and add two tablespoons of all-natural date syrup instead. The bread can easily be made vegan by replacing the eggs with two flax “eggs.” In a small bowl, mix two tablespoons of flax meal with six tablespoons of water. Leave this for ten minutes until it becomes gelatinous, and use instead of the eggs. Gluten-free flour can also replace the whole-wheat pastry flour.
Delicious & Nutritious Add-Ins
Though lovely as is, this recipe can easily be tweaked with all kinds of delicious ingredients. Try stirring in some chopped pecans (or other nuts), good-quality dark chocolate (preferably chopped from a bar), dried fruits such as cranberries or apples, or a mix of pepitas and sunflower seeds.
How to Make Ahead and Store
This bread is best stored at room temperature for up to 3 days, but refrigerating it will extend its shelf life to about 5 days. In both cases, be sure to store it in an airtight container to keep it fresh. You can also freeze the bread—either sliced or whole—for up to 3 months.
Serving Suggestions
Enjoy a slice of this moist butternut squash bread plain or toasted with a pat of butter and blueberry jam or some Homemade Cranberry Sauce With Maple And Orange. Want to treat yourself to something really delightful after a long walk in the woods on a blustery autumn day? Serve it with this Maple-Pumpkin Steamed Almond Milk With Bourbon. Looking for other wholesome ideas to bake on a Sunday afternoon? Try this Sweet Potato Bread or this easy Apple-Banana Bread.
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spices
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup butternut squash purée
- 3/4 cup coconut sugar
- 1/2 cup raw organic cane sugar (or regular white sugar)
- 1/3 cup avocado oil (or any neutral-tasing oil of choice)
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degree Fahrenheit and line a 9×13-inch loaf pan with parchment paper, spraying the sides with oil.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flours, pumpkin pie spices, baking soda, and salt.
- In a separate, large bowl, whisk together all the remaining ingredients.
- Add the dry ingredients into the wet and mix until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
- Spread into the prepared pan and bake for 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool completely in the pan before serving.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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