Forget everything you thought you knew about pumpkin bread. We’re sharing the ultimate secret to the most incredibly moist, tender, and flavorful loaf you’ll ever bake: cottage cheese. This Cottage Cheese Pumpkin Bread recipe is a game-changer, delivering a rich, spiced flavor and a protein boost that makes it a treat you can feel good about.
If you’re searching for a fall-inspired bake that stands out from the rest, you’ve found it. It’s perfect for breakfast, an afternoon snack, or even a light dessert. Let’s get baking!
Why You’ll Love This Cottage Cheese Pumpkin Bread Recipe
This isn’t just another pumpkin bread recipe. The addition of cottage cheese elevates it from a simple quick bread to a truly superior bake.
- Unbelievably Moist: The cottage cheese adds a significant amount of moisture that keeps the bread tender for days. No more dry, crumbly pumpkin bread!
- Protein-Packed: Each slice has a hidden boost of protein, making it a more satisfying and nutritious option compared to traditional recipes.
- Incredibly Easy: You don’t need any special equipment. With just a couple of bowls and a whisk, you can whip up this simple batter in minutes.
- Perfectly Spiced: We’ve balanced the warm spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves to perfectly complement the sweet pumpkin flavor without being overpowering.
The Secret Ingredient: Cottage Cheese in Pumpkin Bread
Adding cottage cheese to baked goods might sound unusual, but it’s a brilliant technique used by seasoned bakers for its incredible benefits. It’s the key to making the best Cottage Cheese Pumpkin Bread.
Does it taste like cheese?
Absolutely not! The cottage cheese is blended smooth with the other wet ingredients. Its mild, tangy flavor completely disappears into the batter, enhancing the rich pumpkin and warm spice notes. You get all the benefits of the texture and protein without any hint of a cheesy taste.
Benefits of Using Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese acts as a fantastic tenderizer in baked goods. The acid and fat content work together to break down gluten strands, resulting in a softer, more delicate crumb. It also locks in moisture, ensuring your bread stays fresh and delicious long after it comes out of the oven.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe uses simple, easy-to-find ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to gather.
Wet Ingredients
- Pumpkin Purée: The star of the show! Make sure you use 100% pure pumpkin purée, not pumpkin pie filling.
- Cottage Cheese: Full-fat cottage cheese will yield the richest flavor and most tender texture. Blend it until it’s completely smooth.
- Eggs: Two large eggs provide structure and stability.
- Vegetable Oil: Keeps the bread moist and rich. Melted coconut oil or another neutral oil works well, too.
- Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla extract enhances all the warm, cozy flavors.
Dry Ingredients
- All-Purpose Flour: Provides the structure for the bread.
- Sugars: A combination of brown sugar and granulated sugar adds moisture, depth of flavor, and the perfect amount of sweetness.
- Baking Soda & Baking Powder: These leavening agents give the bread its beautiful rise.
- Spices: A classic trio of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves for that quintessential pumpkin spice flavor.
- Salt: A crucial ingredient that balances the sweetness and enhances the other flavors.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Making this Cottage Cheese Pumpkin Bread is incredibly straightforward. Follow these simple steps for a perfect loaf every time.
Step 1: Prep Your Kitchen
First, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×5 inch loaf pan. This preparation ensures your bread won’t stick, giving you a clean release.
Step 2: Mix the Wet Ingredients
In a blender or using an immersion blender, combine the pumpkin purée and cottage cheese. Blend until the mixture is completely smooth and no lumps of cottage cheese remain. Pour the smooth mixture into a large bowl and whisk in the sugars, eggs, oil, and vanilla extract until everything is well combined.
Step 3: Combine the Dry Ingredients
In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Whisking ensures the leavening agents and spices are evenly distributed.
Step 4: Mix Wet and Dry
Gently pour the dry ingredients into the bowl with the wet ingredients. Mix with a spatula or wooden spoon until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; a few small streaks of flour are perfectly fine. Overmixing can lead to a tough, dense bread.
Step 5: Bake to Perfection
Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan and smooth the top. Bake for 55-65 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs attached. Let the bread cool in the pan for 15 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
Tips for the Perfect Loaf
- Don’t Overmix: This is the most important tip for any quick bread. Mix the batter until the ingredients are just combined to ensure a tender crumb.
- Use Room Temperature Ingredients: Allowing your eggs and cottage cheese to come to room temperature helps them incorporate more easily into the batter, creating a more uniform texture.
- Tent with Foil: If you notice the top of your loaf is browning too quickly before the center is cooked, loosely tent it with aluminum foil for the remaining bake time.
Variations and Add-Ins
While this bread is delicious on its own, it’s also a fantastic canvas for other flavors. Feel free to fold in about one cup of your favorite add-ins to the batter.
- Chocolate Chips: Semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips are a classic and delicious addition.
- Nuts: Toasted and chopped pecans or walnuts add a wonderful crunch. Looking for another nutty recipe? Try these amazing Butter Pecan Cookies.
- Streusel Topping: Mix together flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and cold butter to create a crumbly topping before baking.
Storage Instructions
To keep your Cottage Cheese Pumpkin Bread fresh, store it tightly wrapped in plastic wrap or in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. For longer storage, you can refrigerate it for up to a week. This bread also freezes beautifully. Wrap the cooled loaf tightly in plastic wrap, followed by a layer of aluminum foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw it on the counter overnight before serving.
More Delicious Recipes to Try
If you enjoyed this recipe, you’re sure to love some of our other comfort food classics. For a savory and cheesy delight, check out our Marry Me Chicken Tortellini. And for another sweet treat perfect for any occasion, these Apple Cider Cookies are a must-try. If you’re in the mood for a hearty main course, our Ragu alla Bolognese (coming soon) is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Cottage Cheese Pumpkin Bread FAQs
Yes, this bread freezes exceptionally well. Allow the loaf to cool completely, then wrap it securely in plastic wrap and a layer of aluminum foil. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Absolutely! To make muffins, line a muffin tin with paper liners and fill each one about two-thirds full with batter. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
No, you cannot taste the cottage cheese at all. When blended until smooth with the pumpkin purée, its flavor becomes completely neutral, and it only enhances the texture, making the bread incredibly moist.
Store the bread in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in plastic wrap at room temperature for up to 4 days. It will last for up to a week in the refrigerator.
Full-fat (4% milkfat) small curd cottage cheese provides the best results, yielding the richest flavor and most tender crumb. However, low-fat cottage cheese will also work if that’s what you have on hand.
Ready to Bake?
This Cottage Cheese Pumpkin Bread recipe is sure to become a new fall favorite in your home. It’s the perfect way to welcome the season and fill your kitchen with the scent of warm spices. We can’t wait for you to try it! If you make this recipe, please leave a comment below and let us know what you think. For more delicious inspiration, be sure to follow us on Pinterest!
Cottage Cheese Pumpkin Bread Recipe
Cottage Cheese Pumpkin Bread (The Secret to a Moist, High-Protein Loaf)
Ingredients
Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
- In a blender, combine the pumpkin purée and cottage cheese. Blend until completely smooth. Pour into a large bowl.
- To the pumpkin mixture, add the sugars, eggs, oil, and vanilla extract. Whisk until well combined.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and fold with a spatula until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top.
- Bake for 55-65 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. If the top browns too quickly, tent loosely with foil.
- Let the bread cool in the pan for 15 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Notes
Store the bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
