Healthy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread that's made with good-for-you ingredients but still tastes indulgent and delicious. This easy pumpkin bread has all the fall flavors you want this time of year. You can also enjoy pumpkin season with these Healthy Pumpkin Pancakes and Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal.

It took me quite a long time to come around to pumpkin. I was never much of a pumpkin pie fan and even though I like pumpkin more than I ever have, I am still not a die-hard pumpkin spice fan.

However, one major exception to that is pumpkin bread. That I can get behind every time.

Why We Love This Healthy Pumpkin Bread

• Make it in one bowl! No need to dirty up lots of dishes when making this quick bread.
• Lower in sugar: This recipe uses natural sweeteners and has 1/3 of the amount of sugar as bakery pumpkin bread!
• Nutritious: Although this great tastes indulgent, it is packed with whole grains, healthy fats, and nutrients.

It's one of my favorite things to eat this time of year. I love the notes of cinnamon and nutmeg and the subtle pumpkin flavor that comes through in every bite. Although I love bakery pumpkin bread, when I make it at home I make a lightened-up version using whole wheat flour and less sugar.  

To make this healthier pumpkin bread, I started with one of my favorite healthy banana bread recipes. This bread uses a combination of canned pumpkin, banana, and applesauce for sweetness and moisture. It's a really moist, dense bread, which I love and the pumpkin flavor really comes through. You won't taste the banana or applesauce at all. 

Ingredients and Easy Swaps

• White whole wheat flour: There are lots of misconceptions about white whole wheat flour. It is 100% whole grain flour that is milled from wheat that is light in color, making it light brown or white in color. This wheat is slightly sweeter than standard brown whole wheat. The end result isn't as fluffy as all-purpose flour but it definitely lighter than typical dark brown whole wheat flour. It is a favorite in our house for baking. If you don't have it on hand, this recipe works with all-purpose flour and whole wheat flour.
• Canned pumpkin: Make sure to use pure pumpkin without added sweeteners or spices. Mashed butternut squash, acorn squash, or another winter squash also works.
• Mashed banana and unsweetened applesauce: This adds some natural sweetness and moisture to the bread. It can be replaced with extra pumpkin but the end result will be slightly less sweet. Feel free to use all banana or all applesauce for easier prep.
• Honey and maple syrup: Using two different sweeteners here creates a more dynamic flavor, but you can replace it with all honey or all maple syrup.
• Pumpkin pie spice: Use pumpkin pie spice or make your own with cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. 
• Coconut oil: This recipe uses coconut oil instead of vegetable oil which is often used. Swap in melted butter, avocado oil, or olive oil.
• Chocolate chips: The chocolate chips are completely optional. Swap in chopped nuts, caramel chips, or dried fruit if you prefer. 

Is pumpkin bread healthy?

The simple answer is usually not, but luckily, this recipe for pumpkin bread is actually good for you. Most pumpkin bread is packed, I mean packed, with sugar. For example, the pumpkin bread at Starbucks has 410 calories, 15 grams of fat, and 39 grams of sugar in a single slice. In comparison, this healthy pumpkin bread has just 181 calories, 6 grams of fat, and 14 grams of sugar. Plus the sugar in the recipe isn't refined white sugar. It's sugar from bananas, applesauce, honey, and pure maple syrup. 

So let's talk about what else makes this a healthy pumpkin bread.

• Pumpkin is packed with beta carotene, potassium, Vitamin C, and it is rich in antioxidants. It is also low-calorie and a great source of fiber,
• White whole wheat flour contains more vitamins and minerals than standard white flour but doesn't have the same strong wheat flavor as standard brown wheat flour. It is made from a different type of wheat plant that is lighter in color and milder in flavor yet still maintains all the great benefits of choosing a whole wheat flour option.
• Bananas are a great source of natural sweetness, are high in fiber, and can help with digestion from naturally occurring prebiotics. They are also high in potassium.

Tips for Making Healthy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

• When buying canned pumpkin, make sure to buy plain canned pumpkin without any added sweeteners or spices. It should just be pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling. Canned or homemade squash puree also works.
• I like to add a banana and applesauce since it adds natural sweetness to the bread. You could replace this with extra pumpkin if you don't want to use banana or applesauce. You will need about 1/2 cup of extra pumpkin puree.
• If you don't like pumpkin pie spice, you can just use cinnamon instead. This is perfect for people who don't like nutmeg or cloves, which are usually a part of pumpkin pie spice blends.
• This recipe works great for muffins as well, just cut the cooking time down since muffins will cook a lot more quickly than bread.
• Chocolate and pumpkin are one of my favorite combinations so I always add chocolate chips. You can leave these out if you want. It will reduce the calories by about 35 calories.
• Get creative and try out other mix ins! You could add nuts, carob chips, chia seeds, hemp seeds, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, yogurt chips, dried fruit, and more.

Can I freeze healthy pumpkin bread?

If you are lucky enough to have leftovers, this bread freezes well. Make sure to let the bread fully cool before freezing it. Then you can freeze the entire loaf or freeze it in individual portions. I love freezing the bread in individual slices and then grabbing them to throw in school lunches. They will defrost during the day and be ready just in time for lunch.