Gluten Free Starbucks Pumpkin Bread

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Easy homemade Starbucks pumpkin bread that is gluten free! Spiced and packed full of flavor and pepitas, you’ll love this seasonal favorite anytime. 

Who doesn’t love a slice of pumpkin bread? This pumpkin bread is a copycat recipe of the one you find at Starbucks, only this time it is gluten free, dairy free, and nut free! 

It is so packed with flavor thanks to the pumpkin spice we add and sprinkle crunchy pumpkin seeds on top. I love this bread for both breakfast with a cup of coffee or an afternoon snack. This quick bread is super delicious and no one will suspect is it gluten free!

Free from: wheat, gluten, dairy, casein, fish, shellfish, soy, sesame, peanuts, tree nuts, coconut, corn, celery, and more

This classic pumpkin bread has a new spin with gluten free flour. It has a fluffy texture and Is super moist thanks to the pureed pumpkin. No special equipment or strange ingredients are needed for this gluten free pumpkin bread. 

Need a slightly different recipe that is egg free? Check out my gluten free and vegan pumpkin muffins. Want something a little more dessert like? You’ll love these egg-free no-bake pumpkin cheesecakes!

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Ingredients 

One of the best parts about this bread are the simple ingredients. And while there are a few more components to it, if you bake a lot, you probably already have everything you need in your pantry! 

• Pumpkin – The star of the show! Make sure you use canned pumpkin and not pumpkin pie filling. They are not the same thing! Pie filling not only has extra spices already added to it, but they can also use fillers that we don’t want. I’ve found different brands of canned pumpkin have different flavors and colors. Libby’s is my personal favorite. Note, this recipe does not use the whole can of pumpkin.
• Spices – What is pumpkin bread without oodles of cinnamon? This bread uses a lot of it! I love Saigon cinnamon for the intense flavor it brings. This pumpkin bread also uses ginger, allspice, and cloves. If you don’t have one of these spices you can omit them! You can also swap out the individual spices with a tablespoon of your favorite pumpkin pie spice if you have that in your pantry. 
• Cornstarch – This is the secret to gluten free bread making. This helps to keep things light and fluffy. If you’re allergic to corn, swap for an equal amount of tapioca flour. 
• Olive Oil – While you can use your favorite oil, such as canola oil or avocado oil, I like to use olive oil in this cake. It adds a depth of flavor and richness to the batter that gives great results.

Best gluten free flour 

Different gluten free flours have different ingredients so not all gluten free flours will get you the same results as seen in this recipe. I have successfully used both King Arthur Measure for Measure and my own Homemade Gluten Free Flour in this recipe with great results! 

If you try a different flour than the ones I listed, you may need to change how much liquid to add or subtract from this recipe to get similar results. Just be aware and use your best judgement! 

Note. If you are using a gluten free all purpose flour that does not contain xanthan gum, make sure to add 1/2 teaspoon to this recipe. This recipe will not work with a single ingredient flour, such as almond flour.

Allergy Substitutions 

If you are avoiding corn, replace the cornstarch with an equal amount of tapioca starch with no other changes. Make sure your baking powder is also corn free. 

If you are dairy free, you can use any type of non-dairy milk you like in this. I’ve used oat milk, rice milk, and soy milk successfully with this bread. Almond milk should also work.

Instructions 

For the full instructions with measurements and times, see the recipe card below. 

Prepare a 9×4 bread pan with a light coating of oil and a piece of parchment paper. I love this baking pan that was specially made for gluten free baking. The tall sides help to conduct heat and give the bread something to climb, giving you the best results. 

Now, in a medium sized bowl, sift together the gluten free flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, all of the spices you are using, and the salt. Set this aside.

Next, in a large bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, eggs, pumpkin, olive oil, vanilla extract, and milk of your choice. I used oat milk in these photos, but have used rice milk and soy milk with no issues. Give this a good whisk for about a minute to fully incorporate all the ingredients. 

Now, add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. I switch from a whisk to a spatula at this point so nothing clumps inside the whisk. Make sure you scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl so you don’t miss any ingredients.

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. If you are sprinkling on pumpkin seeds now is the time to do so! 

Bake in a 375F oven for 65 to 75 minutes depending on the type of flour you’ve used and the elevation you live at. You’ll know the bread is done when it pulls slightly away from the sides of the pan as well. A toothpick inserted into the thickest part of the bread should also remove cleanly. 

Let the bread cool in the pan for 30 minutes before lifting it out via the parchment paper and letting it finish cooling on a wire rack.

Variations

There are so many ways to spice up this gluten-free pumpkin bread recipe! Here are some of my favorite ideas:

Chocolate Chips – Add 1/2 cup of chocolate chips to the batter right before pouring into the pan.

Nuts – Add ½ cup of chopped walnuts or pecans to the batter right before pouring into the pan. Don’t use if allergic to nuts. 

Streusel Topping – Mix up your favorite streusel topping and add to the top after pouring the batter in the pan but before baking.

How to Store 

Countertop: This bread would keep for 3 days in a sealed container on the countertop wrapped in plastic wrap

Fridge: The bread keeps best in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 5 days. Honestly, the bread never lasts that long in my house! 

Freezing: After baking, you can store this bread in the freezer in a freezer safe and airtight container for up to 3 months. Let it thaw completely before serving this bread from frozen. 

Tip! If you are freezing this bread, slice it before you freeze. Place parchment squares in between the individual slices so you can have individual pumpkin bread servings anytime you like! 

Happy baking!

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