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Cinnamon Roll Pumpkin Bread

Cinnamon Roll Pumpkin Bread delivers ultra-moist pumpkin bread with buttery cinnamon-sugar swirls and a vanilla cream cheese glaze. Bake it until set in the center, then cool and drizzle for a gooey, cinnamon-roll-style slice.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 420

Ingredients
  

Pumpkin Bread Batter
  • 1.75 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 0.5 tsp baking powder
  • 0.5 tsp kosher salt
  • 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 0.5 cup granulated sugar
  • 0.5 cup light brown sugar packed
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • 2 eggs large
  • 0.5 cup vegetable oil
  • 0.25 cup sour cream
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
Cinnamon Swirl
  • 0.33 cup light brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
  • 2 tbsp melted butter
Cream Cheese Glaze
  • 4 oz cream cheese softened
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tbsp milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Prep & batter
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
  2. Whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, kosher salt, pumpkin pie spice, and ground cinnamon in a medium bowl until evenly combined. Visual cue: the spices should be uniformly speckled throughout the flour.
  3. Beat the granulated sugar, light brown sugar, pumpkin puree, eggs, vegetable oil, sour cream, and vanilla extract until smooth. Visual cue: the mixture should look glossy and free of streaks.
  4. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients just until combined. Visual cue: stop as soon as no dry flour pockets remain—do not overmix.
Cinnamon swirl
  1. Mix the light brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and melted butter in a small bowl until a thick paste forms. Visual cue: it should hold together like a spreadable mixture.
  2. Pour half of the pumpkin batter into the loaf pan. Visual cue: smooth the surface slightly so the swirl sits on top.
  3. Spoon half of the cinnamon mixture over the batter and swirl gently with a knife. Visual cue: you should see marbled cinnamon ribbons on the surface.
  4. Add the remaining batter and top with the remaining cinnamon mixture. Visual cue: keep the cinnamon layer mostly visible before baking.
  5. Swirl again with a knife to create a cinnamon roll pattern. Visual cue: create curved streaks from the middle toward the corners.
Bake & glaze
  1. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 55–65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with only a few moist crumbs. Visual cue: the top should look set and lightly browned.
  2. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Visual cue: the loaf should release slightly at the edges when moved.
  3. Whisk together the cream cheese, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Visual cue: the glaze should be pourable with no lumps.
  4. Drizzle the glaze generously over the cooled bread before slicing and serving. Visual cue: glaze should fall in ribbons and lightly soak into the cinnamon top.

Notes

For a cleaner swirl, warm the melted butter just enough to stay fluid and keep the cinnamon paste thick. Store covered at room temperature up to 3 days, or refrigerate up to 5 days; freeze slices up to 2 months. For a dairy-light swap, use dairy-free cream cheese and a splash of plant milk in the glaze.