Holiday Pumpkin Bread (Gluten-Free & Vegan)
Even though I’ve never had a gluten-free holiday in the past, as the honorary dairy-free gal in the free-from foodie club, I was invited to join in on the Home for the Holidays: Gluten-Free Style event, hosted by Shirley at Gluten Free Easily. Truthfully, the timing couldn’t be better, as by coincidence (seriously, this is just a coincidence) we will be having our first gluten-free and dairy-free Christmas this year.
Now, the idea of Home for the Holidays is to share a gluten-free recipe that says both “home” and “holidays” to me. I liked this concept, but honestly, I was a bit uncertain about what to post. With a small family scattered around five states / provinces, holidays have become less about tradition for my husband and I, and more about relaxing. While I definitely do not want to get rid of the relaxation part, I’m eager to “settle down” and inject a little more love into the season. So I’m digging deep into my childhood memories, past the toys and gifts, to the things that truly meant the most to me at Christmas.
One wonderful memory that I have is my mother baking dozens of mini-loaves of pumpkin bread to give as gifts. It was a traditional present that she baked up every single year for friends and neighbors, and it filled the house with such warmth and an unforgettable sweet and spicy aroma. She was a bit of a perfectionist, so I wasn’t allowed to help with the baking process, and thus had no “tried and true” family recipe to start with. Not to mention, with Tony on a gluten-free and egg-free diet, conventional recipes just wouldn’t do.
I searched all around for egg-free, gluten-free pumpkin bread recipes, and found a few, but all of them were so different! Which one would work best, and what could I safely modify? It was all so overwhelming that I scrapped the lot and I winged it. That’s right, sans recipe, I threw together a quick bread that is free of the top eight allergens and gluten-free to boot!
And you know what? It turned out fantastic on the first batch! Now that is something that doesn’t happen very often. It must be the magic of the holidays.
Recipe: Gluten-Free, Egg-Free, Dairy-Free Perfect Pumpkin Bread
Summary: This pumpkin bread has a wonderfully tender (yet cohesive) crumb that hits the sweet spot in texture, not too moist, not too dry. I didn’t get out of control with the sugars, so though it is dessert-like, it’s also passable as a brunch-style treat. We loved snacking on it plain (especially when warm), or even slathered with some dairy-free margarine or nut butter.
Ingredients
- 1-1/3 Cups Brown Rice Flour (can use white rice flour if preferred)
- 1/2 Cup Potato Starch
- 1/4 Cup Tapioca Starch
- 1/4 Cup Buckwheat Flour
- 2 Teaspoons Xanthan Gum (can sub guar gum for corn-free)
- 2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
- 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1-1/2 Teaspoons Pumpkin Pie Spice
- 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
- 2/3 Cup Packed Brown Sugar or Coconut / Palm Sugar
- 1 15-ounce Can Pumpkin Puree
- 1/2 Cup Oil (grapeseed, coconut, canola, etc.; your choice)
- 1/2 Cup Pure Maple Syrup
- 1/4 Cup Water
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Instructions
- Lightly grease and flour (I used a little brown rice flour) 4 mini-loaf tins, and preheat your oven to 325ºF.
- In a medium-sized bowl, combine the flours, starches, xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda, spices, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the sugar, pumpkin, oil, maple syrup, water, and vanilla.
- Stir in the flour mixture until all is just combined. It actually becomes smooth quickly.
- Divide the batter between your prepared tins, smoothing out the tops with the back of a spoon or spatula, since it will be a little thick.
- Bake the bread for 45 to 55 minutes, or until firm to the touch. The bread should pull slightly away from the pan when done, and will be lightly browned, but a toothpick inserted may yield a few very small crumbs, so I didn’t rely on the toothpick test.
- Let the loaves cool for 10 minutes, before popping them out to cool completely on a wire rack.
- Resist the urge to cut into these loaves while still hot. Like any bread, they will be a bit crumbly when hot, but firm up perfectly as they cool.
Quick notes
This recipe was baked at sea level. Note that egg-free AND gluten-free bread becomes trickier at high altitude. It may still work, but I haven’t tested it as of yet. Also, you may need to add a little more liquid at high altitude or in very dry climates.
Variations
If desired, before baking, sprinkle the tops of the loaves with a little cinnamon and sugar or with coconut sugar, for a little extra crunch and sweet.
This recipe should work well as muffins (will make about one dozen) and as a large loaf (use a 9×5 pan). Since I haven’t tested these, use your best judgment on the baking time. I would start with 22 minutes on muffins, and watch them from there. For a large loaf, it will probably take at least 60 to 70 minutes of baking time.
Preparation time: 15 minute(s)
Cooking time: 50 minute(s)
Diet type: Vegan, Vegetarian, Dairy free, Egg free, Gluten free, Nut free, Peanut free, Soy free, Wheat free
Number of servings (yield): 12
Copyright © Alisa Fleming.
GIVEAWAY TIME!
Note: This Giveaway is now closed, but you can still enjoy the recipe above!
I’ve got FIVE PRIZES to share, which means FIVE WINNERS (see below for the big bonus prizes for the event)!
The Gluten-Free Asian Kitchen
The Gluten-Free Diner eCookbook + Whole Gang Jumbo Tote
7 Quick Start Tips for Living a Healthy Gluten-Free Fit Life eCookbook (2 winners)
Delight Magazine Subscription
BONUS: By commenting to win on this giveaway, you will automatically be entered to win one of the GRAND PRIZES in the Home for the Holidays event:
- The first prize is a top-of-the-line Vita-Mix professional blender 5200 Super Healthy Lifestyle package and a free copy of the super cool e-book Eat Fresh and Detox your Life (a $560 value!)
- The second prize is a shopping spree from Free From Gluten (a $150 value!)
- The third prize is a Caveman Cookies giveaway package (an $89 value!)
To Enter to Win:
- Leave a Comment telling me which book(s) and/or subscription you would like to win AND one of your favorite holiday traditions.
- For a second entry, share this giveaway on facebook, twitter, your blog, or via email to friends, and leave a second comment telling me that you’ve shared it. Don’t forget to leave this second comment for your second entry!
This giveaway is open to entries worldwide! The entries will close Tuesday, December 20th at midnight (PST), so enter now!
Note: If you want to join in on the Home for the Holidays event, feel free to grab the badge above and use it in your own gluten-free recipe post. Be sure to link back to the Home for the Holidays event page so that Shirley sees your post!
321 thoughts on “Holiday Pumpkin Bread (Gluten-Free & Vegan)”
Shared on facebook!
Ooh, I would love to win the Gluten-Free Asian Kitchen cookbook! We are starting some totally new traditions with a new diet and new baby in the family. Thanks for the awesome bread recipe 🙂
Thanks for the recipe and giveaways! I would love to win the mag subscription to Delight! New recipe ideas and stories each month would be a great gift! One of my favorite Christmas traditions is my entire family waiting to look at the Christmas tree on Christmas morning until everyone’s awake, we all close our eyes, go out to the tree together, and then open them on the count of one, two, three!
I shared this giveaway/post on facebook.
I would like all the giveaways, but the magazine sounds especially good! One of my favorite Christmas traditions is sitting down to family brunch together in our pajamas.
I emailed friends to share this!
I’d love to have the Gluten-Free Asian Kitchen cookbook. The Delight magazine is interesting as well. 🙂
One of my favorite holiday traditions is having small presents in the tree from Santa Mouse.
Entry 1: all the giveaways are awesome but the Delight magazine would be top on my list!!
Thanks!
Angela
Mmmm, looks so yummy. I love a good pumpkin recipe. I’ve enjoyed reading all the recipes and memories in this Home for the Holidays series! I’d love to win the The Gluten-Free Asian Kitchen (love all things Asian!). My favorite holiday tradition is a recent one, Tuba Christmas concert and sing along. Downtown every year, I go with my father and brother and whoever else wants to come. Sometimes it is cold, sometimes warm, but the music is always lovely and Christmas-y!
Entry 2: I’ve posted this great giveaway and recipe on FB & Path!
Angela
Holiday tradition: Christmas eve watching Christmas story with the entire family!
Angela
The Gluten-Free Asian Kitchen would be my choice. My favorite holiday tradition is spending time with family and friends.
That Asian cookbook looks great! We are trying to incorporate more Asian in our diet. Traditions…making cookies with my mom. Just did it with my 2 yr old today!
I would love to win the Gluten-Free Asian Kitchen cookbook! We love to cook anyway, no matter what time of year it is. But I love making cookies, and giving homemade treats to friends and family.
I would love any of the cookbooks and the vitamix . One of my favorite holiday things is taking the kids and grownups to see the Christmas lights and Christmas programs.
Shared on Facebook
I would love the Gluten Free Asian Cookbook! The pumpkin bread looks fantastic/
I would love the Delight GF magazine. Plus that pumpkin bread looks delish. Can’t wait to try it. We love pumpkin bread. Our family tradition is always having party mix around to munch on.
I would love the Gluten-Free Asian Kitchen. Can’t wait to try the pumpkin bread (or muffin in our house). My favorite holiday tradition is visiting with family!
I would love to win the Delight subscription. My favorite holiday tradition is baking cookies.
Oops I forgot to include my favourite holiday tradition. I would have to say it is the atmosphere that my stepmom always created for our dinner. Always welcoming anyone who needed a place to have dinner.
I am interested in gluten free asian kitchen.
Shannon
I would love to win the Gluten-Free Asian Kitchen cookbook! And my favorite holiday tradition would be having my whole family and our families come to my parents for Christmas morning to celebrate with each other – I love that!
No, I think this is due to the magic of you, Alisa! Looks wonderful 🙂 I’ll put my hand in the ring for the diner ebook, as that can easily be sent to me-in-another-country 🙂
I’d like to win the subscription to Delight. A favorite holiday tradition is looking at Christmas lights.
I would love to win Gluten free Asian kitchen and delight magazine! I love the giveaways! 🙂
I would love to win the GF Diner book. I have a teenage daughter, who is extremely picky, and I need help!! Our favorite holiday is decorating the tree to Christmas music, with dairy-free hot chocolate 🙂
Posted on my facebook page 🙂
this bread looks amazing!! My favorite Christmas recipe is a pumpkin bread with chocolate chips. I haven’t made the effort to convert it to GF, EF yet.. now I don’t have to! This is definitely being made this week! Thank you!
I would love to win the Gluten-Free Asian Kitchen cookbook!
My favorite Christmas tradition is watching A Christmas Store and eating sushi on Christmas Eve.
I think you did a great job on this recipe. Like you, this is my first Holiday GF, DF. It has been alittle overwhelming, but I have to say that this contest has introduced me to so many wonderful sites with great ideas and recipes. It has helped me so much. I never realized that there were so many people out there with these allergies.
Thank you
I forgot to let you know that I would take any gift. I think they are all wonderful and very helpful.
I would love to win the Gluten Free Asian Cooking! My whole family loves Chinese food, but with allergies to both wheat and shellfish, it is nearly impossible for us to get safe Chinese food. This would be wonderful way to bring this food back into our lives!
Just to let you know that I shared this on facebook. Hope all my friends try your recipe.
I shared your link and recipe on Facebook. Thanks for making this recipe egg and dairy free, too. Last night we hosted some friends who are wheat, egg and diary free – which was an additional challenge for me. Great to know there are resources out there like this.
I would love the Gluten Free Diner. I am constantly trying to improve my families heath and this book would help take the guess work out of dinner. One of our family traditions is the Elf on the Shelf. We have Presents, James, and Snowflake. The children love to try and find him.
Sharing now on facebook.
Emailing friends.
This bread looks fabulous! Love love pumpkin – especially during the holiday season!
I would love to win the Gluten-Free Diner. Thanks for the giveaways. They are awesome.
I would love to win The Gluten Free Diner! One thing I love about the holidays is the music.
I just shared the giveaway on facebook.
I’ve been eyeing The Gluten-Free Asian Kitchen for a long time now. I suppose I should just ask for it for Christmas.
One of my favorite Christmas tradtions is going to cut down the Christmas tree.
I recently found out I am gluten and dairy (casien) intolerant. Any of these would be wonderful but the Delight subscription would be the best!
Oh, what a treat! And choices! Seriously, I’d be happy with any prize…new recipes are always appreciated around here with three littles who love to eat allergy free 🙂 Thank you!
Holiday tradition? New jammies on the eve of christmas, sitting around the tree with my in-laws. Nice, really nice.
And I’m totally making your pumpkin bread today and I don’t even need to make substitutions to accommodate for allergies (rare!). Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I’d love to win the Gluten Free Asian Kitchen! One of my favorite holiday traditions is going to see the holiday lights with my family at a park near me.
Shared this on facebook!
Oops forgot to add my tradition – I love getting up Christmas morning with my family opening gifts and spending time together!
I would love to win the Gluten Free Asian Kitchen! One of my favorite holiday traditions is watching the kids open one present at midnight. 🙂
I cannot tell you how much I miss pot-stickers & rangoons. I would LOVE Gluten Free Asian Kitchen. I’d be quite pleased with any of the other give-aways, too, I must add!
Asian and … the magazine! Anything that shows chocolate peanut butter on the cover has to be good!
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