Easy Pumpkin Bread With Cream Cheese

This easy pumpkin bread with cream cheese is like a classic pumpkin loaf with cheesecake in the middle! It’s soft, moist, and perfectly spiced for fall.

What if we combine cheesecake with the best quick bread for fall? This pumpkin bread with cream cheese gives the classic pumpkin bread a dreamy makeover: a cheesecake in the center!

Don’t let the autumn blues fill you with dread. Make this pumpkin cream cheese-filled bread instead. 

Every slice is soft and moist with just the right blend of sweetness, richness, and spices to get you excited for the season of baking. 

What Is Pumpkin Bread With Cream Cheese Filling?

Pumpkin bread is a quintessential quick bread for fall. It’s perfectly spiced, not overly sweet, and the delightfully tender loaf blurs the line between pound cake and breakfast bread. 

But what if we turn the classic fall bread into something rich enough to pass as a dessert but not over-the-top decadent that even people who say, “I don’t like eating sweets” will enjoy it?

You’ll get the best of bread and dessert in this pumpkin bread with cream cheese recipe!

And no, it’s not just a pumpkin loaf with cream cheese frosting. Instead, we’re keeping it mess-free and putting the surprise in the center.

After making the oh-so-easy batter, just pour it into a pan, add the cream cheese filling over it, then layer it with more batter on top. And voila!

You just made a no-fuss cream cheese-filled pumpkin bread. ?

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Simple Ingredients: The ingredient list for this cream cheese pumpkin bread may seem long at a glance, but some of them are likely already in your pantry. And to make this fall treat even simpler to prepare, you can just use canned pumpkin puree.
• No-Fuss Recipe: With its impressive taste and looks, you’ll be surprised how easy it is to bake this cream cheese-stuffed pumpkin bread. Just don’t overmix the batter, and make sure to beat the cream cheese filling until fluffy!
• Just The Right Richness: Enjoy your pumpkin and cream cheese bread for breakfast, snack, or dessert. The soft, moist bread is not overly rich, but it’s full of pumpkin flavor, comforting fall spices, and delicious tangy cheesecake to satisfy your sweet tooth. 

What Does Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread Taste Like?

This cream cheese-filled pumpkin loaf is the perfect treat if you’ve been missing cheesecake but also want something tender and filling like a sweet quick bread loaf. 

With its wonderful pumpkin flavor and cozy, warm spices loaded in one soft, moist loaf, it can easily be an excuse to have a “dessert” for breakfast! 

But of course, the star of this pumpkin bread with cream cheese is the cream cheese filling. Not a cream cheese frosting, but a swirl of rich, tangy cheesecake in the center of the loaf!

This smooth, rich surprise makes it hard just to have one slice of the fluffy pumpkin cream cheese loaf.

Can’t get enough of the tangy, sweet, and warm flavors in this cream cheese-stuffed pumpkin bread? Try our recipe for pumpkin cookies. Just take a look at these melt-in-the-mouth beauties:

Ingredients For Pumpkin Cream Cheese Filled Bread

Pumpkin bread:

• All-purpose flour – I haven’t tested this pumpkin bread with cream cheese recipe with other types of flour. 
• Baking soda – To help your pumpkin cream cheese-filled bread rise perfectly. I also have some tips below to avoid sunken pumpkin bread!
• Salt – Enhances the flavors of pumpkin cream cheese bread. 
• Pumpkin pie spice – You can also make your spice blend to adjust the amount of each spice!
• Ground cinnamon – With notes of cinnamon and nutmeg, this dreamy cream cheese pumpkin bread is a must to bake this fall.
• Nutmeg – Thanks to warm spices like nutmeg, this sweet pumpkin bread with cream cheese filling will also make your kitchen smell amazing!
• Pumpkin puree – Make sure that what you have is pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling! The latter is flavored with other ingredients that can alter the overall taste of the pumpkin loaf. 
• Eggs – To bind the batter together and help with the fluffiness of the bread.
• Vegetable oil – This helps the pumpkin cream cheese bread stay moist for days.
• Granulated sugar – You can’t make a sweet quick bread without sugar!
• Non-stick cooking spray – For greasing our baking pan.

Cream cheese filling:

• Cream cheese – Make sure it’s room temperature, or you’ll get lumps in the cream cheese filling. 
• Granulated sugar – Sweetens and balances the tangy cream cheese filling.
• Egg – This thickens the cream cheese filling, so it won’t easily sink to the bottom of the pumpkin bread. 
• All-purpose flour – Helps make a light and fluffy cream cheese mixture.
• Vanilla extract – Skip this classic baking staple on desserts, and you’ll notice its absence.

Tools Needed To Prepare Pumpkin Cream Cheese Loaf

• 9 x 5 or 8 x 4 loaf pan for baking the pumpkin bread
• Stand mixer for mixing the loaf batter
• Bowls for incorporating the ingredients together
• Whisk for mixing the dry ingredients
• Hand mixer for beating the cream cheese filling
• Foil for preventing over-browning
• Wire rack for cooling the cream cheese-stuffed pumpkin bread

Ingredient Additions & Substitutions For Cream Cheese Filled Pumpkin Loaf

Walnuts

Add your favorite quick bread mix-ins like nuts to this cream cheese-filled pumpkin loaf bread!

Chopped walnuts will be amazing with this recipe, but don’t go overboard with them because they can sink into the cream cheese layer and affect the marbled look of your bread.

Crumble topping

If you want to further push this pumpkin bread with cream cheese into the dessert realm, you can top it with crumble before baking! Just combine salted butter, sugar, and flour for this extra pizazz. 

Greek yogurt

Did you know that Greek yogurt is the secret to a super plush pumpkin cream cheese loaf? This amps up the moisture in the bread, but make sure that your final batter is not too wet.

How to Make Pumpkin Bread with Cream Cheese Filling

Ingredients:

For the pumpkin bread:

• 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• Non-stick cooking spray

For the cream cheese filling:

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg, room temperature
• 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Tools you need:

• 9 x 5 or 8 x 4 loaf pan
• Stand mixer
• Bowls
• Whisk
• Hand mixer
• Foil
• Wire rack

Instructions:

STEP 1: Gather and measure your ingredients for pumpkin bread with cream cheese filling.

STEP 2: Preheat the oven to 325°F and grease the loaf pan.

STEP 3: Whisk the dry ingredients together.

STEP 4: In another bowl, beat pumpkin puree, eggs, vegetable oil, and sugar.

STEP 5: Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients slowly. Stir just until combined.

STEP 6: For the cream cheese filling, beat the cream cheese, sugar, egg, flour, and vanilla extract until smooth. Set aside.

STEP 7: Pour 1 1/2 cups of the pumpkin bread batter into the greased loaf pan.

STEP 8: Spread the cream cheese mixture on top of the batter, then top with the remaining batter.

STEP 9: Bake the pumpkin bread with cream cheese for 85 minutes. Tent it with foil at the last 15 minutes to prevent over-browning,

STEP 10: Allow the cream cheese-filled pumpkin loaf to cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling. Slice and enjoy!

What To Serve With Cream Cheese Filled Pumpkin Bread

Looking for the coziest wake-up call this fall? Serve this cream cheese-filled pumpkin bread with a drizzle of maple syrup, and enjoy it with a cup of coffee!

Another delicious partner for this pumpkin cream cheese loaf is salted butter. Yep, salted.

This is how my dad eats his slice, but then again, he always likes butter with his bread. I don’t blame him, though! ?

Since you’re already baking a flavorful bread suited for autumn, why not pair your pumpkin bread with cream cheese filling with other fall-inspired delights?

It would be amazing with pumpkin spice syrup on top or alongside our pumpkin pie smoothie because who says you can’t chill with cold drinks during autumn???

Tips About Making Cream Cheese Pumpkin Bread

• Like any baked goodie, it’s crucial that you measure your ingredients accurately for this pumpkin cream cheese bread to avoid the risk of overflowing. For example, you’ll need one cup of pumpkin puree, not one can of puree! 
• Do not overmix your pumpkin batter because this can incorporate too much air, and you’ll end up with a deflated cream cheese-filled pumpkin loaf. If you overfill the pan, your bread might also sink since it won’t have support at the edges when it rises. 
• Keep the delicious cream cheese filling in the center by beating it with an electric mixer until perfectly fluffy. You can also blend it with the top batter layer.

How to Store Pumpkin Bread with Cream Cheese Inside

• Fridge: You can just keep your pumpkin bread with cream cheese in an airtight container at room temperature and enjoy it within 2 to 3 days. If you put it in the fridge, it can dry out, but it can help it last for up to a week. 
• Freezer: Once cooled, wrap your homemade pumpkin cheesecake bread in plastic wrap and store it in a freezer-safe bag. It can keep in the freezer for 3 months, so this option is perfect if you just want a loaf ready whenever the cravings strike!
• Serving: If frozen, thaw your pumpkin loaf with cream cheese filling overnight in the fridge before serving. Refrigerated pumpkin cream cheese bread, on the other hand, can be eaten as is, but I also recommend it with some salted caramel sauce on top. This recipe tastes like dulce de leche meets buttery toffee, so imagine how perfect it’ll be on pumpkin bread. ?

Why Won’t My Pumpkin Bread Cook in the Middle?

Your pumpkin bread is undercooked in the middle because your batter might be too watery. Usually, the culprit is the pumpkin puree.

It can add too much moisture to the batter, so drain it first if needed. The best puree for pumpkin bread is creamy and slightly thick.

Worried that you’ll get an undercooked pumpkin loaf? You can try other beginner-friendly recipes as decadent and delicious as this pumpkin bread with cream cheese filling.

I’m sure you won’t encounter issues with our pumpkin balls and Instant Pot pumpkin bites. These pumpkin recipes are very beginner-friendly!

Can I Use Fresh Pumpkin Instead of Canned for Pumpkin Bread?

Tempted to use the harvest this pumpkin season?

You can definitely use fresh pumpkin puree instead of canned pumpkin puree for your cream cheese-filled pumpkin bread! However, depending on the pumpkin, you might notice that the bread tastes more vegetal with fresh pumpkin puree.

Homemade pumpkin puree can also be watery, so it’s best to strain it first before using it on the batter to avoid sinking or soggy pumpkin loaves.

With that in mind, you might also be interested in a dairy-free pumpkin bread recipe. This one’s perfect for those who can’t tolerate milk! 

How To Keep Pumpkin Bread Moist?

Wrap it and store it at room temperature!

I know this storage option only limits you to 2 days compared to when you store the bread in the fridge, but this is the key for moist pumpkin bread.

After letting it cool, wrap the pumpkin loaf in plastic wrap, then place it in an airtight container. 

And if you have some ingredients left from making the bread, you can also bake pumpkin muffins! These can be stored at room temperature as well. 

FAQ About Pumpkin Bread

Conclusion

Pumpkin bread with cream cheese sounds simple, but you’re in for a treat with this indulgent twist on a classic.

No, it’s not just a pumpkin loaf with cream cheese frosting on top. The cheesecake is actually baked into the center of the bread!

This delicious surprise can be layered or swirled between the batter. It’s such a simple twist on the autumn quick bread, but I’m sure you’ll want more than just one slice after trying this. ?

And if you love this pumpkin bread recipe, I have other treats for you that are perfect for unleashing your inner baker at home. Now, let’s get this bread, literally!

• Old-Fashioned Zucchini Bread
• Double Chocolate Banana Bread
• Moist Apple Cinnamon Bread
• French Baguettes Made Easy
• Bananas Foster Croissant Bread Pudding