Healthy Holiday Hacks: No Added-Sugar Pumpkin Bread

With all the upcoming desserts and holiday sweet treats, here’s a no added sugar recipe perfect to include on the holiday menu for breakfast or dessert!

When my son, Winston, was a baby, I made it my mission to make fun sweet treats with no added sugar. The latest research recommends no added sugar before age 2 since it is such a time of rapid growth and development, hence my desire to get creative in the kitchen with treats.

To make for a fun holiday season, I created this no added sugar pumpkin bread that is naturally sweetened with applesauce. Now that my son is older, we throw in some chocolate chips to make it even tastier!

Whether you have small children or are looking for ways to cut back on added sugar during the holiday season, give this super simple pumpkin bread recipe a try!

No Added-Sugar Pumpkin Bread

Prep time: 15 minutes Serves: 8

Ingredients:

• 2 cups almond flour

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

• 3 large eggs

• 1 cup pumpkin puree (unsweetened)

• 1/4 cup melted coconut oil or unsweetened applesauce

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• Optional: 1/2 cup chocolate chips or chopped nuts

For the optional topping:

• 1/4 cup chopped nuts (such as pecans or walnuts)

• 2 tablespoons almond flour

• 1 tablespoon melted butter or coconut oil

• 1 tablespoon sweetener of choice (like erythritol or monk fruit)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line a loaf pan with parchment paper.

2. In a bowl, combine the almond flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and pumpkin pie spice.

3. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs. Add pumpkin puree, melted coconut oil (or applesauce), and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth.

4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined. Be cautious not to overmix.

5. If desired, fold in chocolate chips or nuts.

6. For the optional topping, mix the chopped nuts, almond flour, melted butter (or coconut oil), and sweetener in a small bowl until it forms a crumbly mixture.

7. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle the optional nut or crumb topping evenly over the batter.

8. Bake for 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

9. Once baked, allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.

Serve and enjoy!