High Protein Pumpkin Bread
Enjoy a healthy twist on fall baking with this High Protein Pumpkin Bread. Perfect for breakfast, snacks, or a post-workout treat—delicious and nutritious!
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups Whole Wheat Flour – This gives the bread a hearty texture while adding fiber. If you're looking for a gluten-free option almond flour or oat flour are great alternatives.
- 1 teaspoon Baking Powder – Essential for a light and fluffy loaf. It helps the bread rise perfectly as it bakes.
- 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon – Brings that warm comforting spice that’s a signature of fall flavors.
- ½ teaspoon Ground Nutmeg – A lovely addition to balance the sweetness of the pumpkin and complement the cinnamon.
- 1 teaspoon Pumpkin Spice – This classic fall spice mix is the key to the rich aromatic flavor that defines pumpkin bread.
- Pinch of Salt – A small amount of salt enhances all the flavors and helps balance the sweetness.
Wet Ingredients:
- 1 cup Pumpkin Puree – Serves as the primary source of both moisture and flavor in the loaf. Avoid using pumpkin pie filling as it contains added sugars and spices—opt for pure pumpkin puree instead.
- 2 Large Eggs – They provide structure and richness while also contributing to the protein content.
- ½ cup Greek Yogurt – Adds extra moisture and a protein boost. It enhances the bread’s texture by keeping it moist and tender.
- ¼ cup Honey or Maple Syrup – Sweetens the bread naturally. You can adjust this based on how sweet you like your baked goods.
- ¼ cup Olive Oil – Ensures your bread stays moist and rich without feeling greasy.
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract – A splash of vanilla adds depth and enhances all the flavors in the bread.
Instructions
Preheat Your Oven and Prepare Your Pan
- Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Doing so ensures a consistent temperature from the start of baking.
- Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan with a little bit of olive oil or line it with parchment paper to make it easier to remove the bread once it’s done.
Mix the Dry Ingredients
- In a large mixing bowl, combine whole wheat flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin spice, and a pinch of salt.
- Whisk them together until they’re evenly mixed. This step is important because it ensures the spices and leavening agents are distributed throughout the flour, which helps the bread rise evenly and have a balanced flavor.
Combine the Wet Ingredients
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, Greek yogurt, eggs, honey or maple syrup, olive oil, and vanilla extract.
- Continue mixing until a cohesive, lump-free consistency is achieved. This is where all the moisture comes from, so don’t skip this step—smooth wet ingredients will result in a moist, tender loaf.
Incorporate the Dry and Wet Ingredients
- Slowly mix the dry stuff into the wet stuff—no need to rush, just stir gently.
- Avoid overmixing to preserve the bread’s tender texture. Slight lumpiness in the batter is acceptable and won’t affect the final texture. Preserving the batter’s light texture will result in a softer, fluffier final product.
Add Optional Ingredients
- If you’re using protein powder, gently fold it into the batter to add an extra protein boost.
- You can also fold in chopped walnuts or pecans at this stage if you’d like a bit of crunch in your bread.
Transfer to the Loaf Pan
- Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan and smooth the top with a spatula to ensure it bakes evenly.
- If you want, sprinkle a few extra walnuts on top for decoration and crunch!
Bake the Bread
- Bake for 50–60 minutes, ensuring even heat distribution throughout the baking time. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center emerges clean or with minimal crumb residue.
- Should the top begin to darken prematurely, cover it lightly with aluminum foil and continue baking until fully cooked.
Let It Cool
- Let the bread sit in the pan for about 10 minutes post-baking to stabilize before transferring.
- Move the bread to a wire rack so it can cool all the way down. This step helps the bread firm up, ensuring a cleaner cut when slicing.
Notes
Nutrition Information (per serving):
- Calories: 180
- Fat: 9g
- Protein: 7g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 4g
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 180mg