Best Ever Vegan Pumpkin Bread with Streusel Topping

This vegan pumpkin bread is even BETTER than Starbucks! Naturally eggless, dairy free, lower in fat, and easily gluten free, yet tastes just like the classic! Topped with a cinnamon streusel topping, this vegan pumpkin bread is full of warming spices, super moist, and tender- absolutely no one will know this pumpkin bread is vegan!

Why this vegan pumpkin bread is even better than Starbucks

You can stop the search. The best vegan pumpkin bread is officially here. And it’s even better than Starbucks, TRUST ME.

With fall coming in very fast, you might be craving that classic Pumpkin Spice Latte and a good slice of Starbucks pumpkin bread. Unfortunately, Starbucks doesn’t have a vegan version of their pumpkin bread. But don’t worry- we can make it at home just as easily and naturally vegan.

According to the Starbucks official website, a slice of their pumpkin loaf contains eggs, and soy, and has about 410 calories, 15 grams of fat, and 39 grams of sugar.

Comparatively, this vegan pumpkin bread contains no eggs, is naturally dairy free, refined sugar free, and soy free, and can easily be gluten free. Not to mention, the nutrition of one slice of this pumpkin bread with streusel is 171 calories, 3 grams of fat, and 16 grams of sugar.

Of course, I’m not one to pass up a slice of my vegan vanilla cake, which definitely has sugar and carbs and fat in it. But if you want a healthier pumpkin bread that DOESN’T sacrifice taste, then this is THE pumpkin bread to make!

What makes this copycat Starbucks pumpkin bread vegan?

As you probably read from the description, this pumpkin bread is entirely eggless, soy free, dairy free, and oil free.

We don’t use any animal products whatsoever to make this pumpkin bread, yet keep the same traditional moist and delicious pumpkin bread taste and texture.

In place of eggs: we’re using ground flaxseed “eggs”

In place of dairy: we’re using a combination of applesauce and maple syrup

And that’s it!

How do you make this pumpkin bread oil free?

This vegan pumpkin bread is also completely oil free, thanks to the applesauce.

One of my favorite vegan baking tricks is using applesauce for nearly everything! This trick helps to also keep this healthy pumpkin bread lower in fat, as well as reducing the sugar measurements since apples are pretty sweet.

Plus, pumpkin adds a lot of moisture already, so we’re off to a great start.

There is some oil in the cinnamon streusel topping, but you can completely omit the streusel if you don’t want to make a pumpkin bread with streusel, and just add in some vegan chocolate chips for something extra fun!

Ingredients & Substitutions:

I am quite obsessed with how simple this easy vegan pumpkin bread is. It’s so incredibly quick to throw together, and your kitchen will smell just absolutely amazing throughout the process.

Plus, the ingredients are so incredibly simple. All you’ll need for this super moist yet oil free vegan pumpkin bread is:

• Flour: you can use all purpose, gluten free 1:1 baking flour, or cassava flour. I’ve tested both and they work perfectly!
• Coconut sugar: you can also use regular sugar, but keep in mind, it won’t be refined sugar free then.
• Pumpkin spice
• Cinnamon
• Applesauce
• Pumpkin Puree
• Leavening agents: don’t forget the baking powder and baking soda!

How to make vegan pumpkin bread (overview)

For the full written instructions and ingredient measurements, see the bottom of this post in the recipe card. You can also hit the “jump to recipe” button at the top of this post! Here, we’ll go over a brief overview of the steps, along with providing visuals for a better understanding of the recipe.

To make a vegan pumpkin bread:

1. Whisk together the dry ingredients.
2. Fold in the wet ingredients and mix the batter until all of the dry is completely mixed into the wet. I recommend using a rubber spatula for this part.
3. Pour the pumpkin bread batter into the loaf pan.

Now for this next part, you can either add a cinnamon streusel on top for a vegan pumpkin bread with streusel topping or you can just bake it as a regular (but still absolutely amazing) vegan pumpkin bread!

Once baked, remove the loaf from the oven and cover it to let it cool for 10 minutes before serving!

Cinnamon Streusel Topping

You can definitely keep this copycat Starbucks inspired vegan pumpkin bread just as is, without the cinnamon streusel topping. But personally, if I’m going to have pumpkin bread, I’m going all out with cinnamon

The cinnamon streusel is naturally dairy free, refined sugar free, and easily gluten free as well.

Simple mix together the melted vegan butter, flour (gluten free as needed), cinnamon, and coconut sugar. Sprinkle over the top of your pumpkin bread batter. Then when you’re about to bake the bread, cover the loaf tin with tinfoil to prevent the streusel from overb

Remove the tinfoil just over halfway through the baking time, and continue to bake until the bread is done!

Now keep in mind that because I recommend using coconut sugar, the streusel will look much darker in color than a cinnamon streusel made with regular sugar.

You can use regular sugar if you’d like, so that the streusel will be lighter in color and more easily detected if it’s browning too fast.

Make a vegan gluten free pumpkin bread:

If you’d like to make this a vegan gluten free pumpkin bread, simply swap in gluten free 1:1 flour.

I’ve tested both methods with nearly identical results. If you’re going the gluten free route, I highly recommend using Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1:1 Baking Flour in the blue bag.

How do you keep pumpkin bread moist?

The question everyone is asking! So because this is an eggless pumpkin bread, you might be thinking it’s impossible to get a moist pumpkin bread.

Nope! In fact, because this is a vegan pumpkin bread, it’s actually extraordinarily moist, thanks to the applesauce. Even though we’re not using any oil in the actual loaf, the applesauce provides a lot of moisture to help from drying out the bread.

That being said, here’s a trick for making sure that your pumpkin bread is always moist:

• Cover the pumpkin bread immediately after your remove it from the oven!

I like to use a piece of tinfoil (the same one I use to keep the streusel from burning- if you’re using the streusel!) and just gently place it over the loaf pan. Allow the vegan pumpkin bread to sit for 10 minutes covered, then carefully remove it from the pan.

How to know when vegan pumpkin bread is done

Typically, pumpkin bread, whether vegan or not, usually cracks at the top, and that’s how you’ll know it’s done.

However, if you’re going with the cinnamon streusel route on top of this vegan pumpkin bread, I recommend sticking a toothpick into the middle of the loaf to check the doneness. The toothpick should be completely clean when removed.

Either way, the toothpick method is a very good and tried-and-true method. If you’re not doing the cinnamon streusel topping, though, another trick you can do is towards the end of the suggested bake time, lightly press the top of the pumpkin bread.

If it bounces back, then you know it’s ready. If it’s sort of slow to bounce back, it still needs some time.

Can I substitute pumpkin in pumpkin bread?

Yes, this is a pumpkin bread recipe, but what if you’re all out of pumpkin and can’t run to the store? Not a problem!

You can easily swap in an equal amount of pureed sweet potato or pureed butternut squash. The bread will taste slightly different, but not by much.

Storage & Reheating

• Room Temperature: Because this pumpkin bread is so moist, you can store it easily at room temperature for 2 days. I recommend wrapping it tightly with plastic wrap to ensure that it keeps as long as possible.
• Fridge: Alternatively, you can keep this pumpkin quick bread in the fridge, wrapping it in plastic wrap the same day. The vegan pumpkin bread will last for about 5 days with this method (although I bet you’ll finish it before then!).
• Freezer: If you want to have pumpkin bread for weeks after you make it, not a problem! I recommend slicing the pumpkin bread and storing in a freezer safe bag for up to a month. To reheat the pumpkin bread, simply place a slice on a piece of tin foil and heat in the oven at 350F for 5-7 minutes.

You are just going to absolutely love this super soft & tender vegan pumpkin bread! This fall inspired bread is:

• Super easy to make
• Simple in ingredients
• Naturally vegan, eggless, dairy free, and nut free
• Easily refined sugar free and gluten free
• Perfect with a cup of coffee
• Full of warming spices
• Naturally lower in fat
• Tastes BETTER than Starbucks!!

As always, I love to see your beautiful creations on Instagram and Pinterest, so be sure to tag me there!

Happy Pumpkin Bread Baking!

More healthy vegan pumpkin recipes:

Vegan Pumpkin Pie

Healthy Marbled Pumpkin Bread

Nut Free Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake

Vegan Pumpkin Pasta

Healthier Pumpkin Cupcakes

Vegan Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

Vegan Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

Want to save this recipe for later? Add it to your favorite recipe board on Pinterest!

If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a comment and a rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ below. This helps others to find the recipes! As always, I absolutely love to see your beautiful creations on Instagram and Pinterest, so be sure to tag me there as well!

Print