Easy Pumpkin Bread For Baby-led Weaning

This simple pumpkin bread for baby-led weaning is something I love making in the fall season. It’s a recipe that helps me bring together the warm flavors of the fall into one dish. 

Another thing I love about pumpkin bread for BLW is that you can make it with so many variations. You can add ground nuts, dried fruits, fresh fruits, etc to make it more complex. 

If you have extra pumpkins from Halloween or pumpkin picking, you can make this recipe for your family. 

Toddlers and kids of all ages will love this recipe. Parents enjoy it too with their favorite coffee drink.

Important Recipe Notes on BLW Pumpkin Bread

This recipe uses eggs

I try to make it clear in all my recipes when there are eggs in it. I know that some children may have an egg allergy, so I mention it out of an abundance of caution.

I’ve never used an egg substitute to make this pumpkin bread, but you are free to try it if you want. See below for the table of common egg substitutes.

Why Pumpkin Is Good For Babies and Toddlers

Pumpkins contain lots of nutrients that babies and toddlers need to grow. Pumpkin is a great source of vitamin A which helps develop proper eye function. 

Pumpkin also contains other important vitamins like Vitamin A, C, E, and B2. and Minerals like iron and potassium (source). 

What To Serve With Pumpkin Bread For Baby

Serve it With fruits 

Fruits are great to serve with pumpkin bread. My favorite fruits to serve my baby are berries like blueberries and strawberries. They help balance out the sweetness of the pumpkin bread.

Check out my other pumpkin recipes below

Recipe variations/ Add-ins

Pumpkin muffins for baby

One recipe variation you can make is pumpkin muffins for your baby. 

The recipe stays the same except you’ll put the pumpkin batter in a thin muffin. 

Add-ons for BLW Pumpkin Bread

To customize this pumpkin bread recipe for your baby, you can choose to add other things to the batter. 

Below are some ideas.

• Fine powdered nuts like almonds, walnuts, pistachios, etc.
• Dry fruits like raisins, cranberries, etc. 
• fresh fruits like strawberries, blueberries, chopped apples, etc. 

How To Serve Pumpkin Bread For Baby-led Weaning

6-9 Months old

To serve Pumpkin bread to babies between 6-9 months old, cut them into strips. 

Your baby will attempt to self-feed by picking them up with their palmar grasp.

If they get frustrated, you can cut them into chunks. 

9-12 months old

Babies between 9-12 months can have pumpkin bread cut into small chunks for them to pick up. 

Tips for Picky Eaters

Don’t pressure

Give your baby or toddler a chance to say no. It’s okay if they don’t like what we serve them. Keep trying. 

It takes at least 30 exposures for a baby to begin liking a food, so don’t give up.

Make it into a game

Sometimes I create games around the food I serve to get my kids interested in eating. 

A game we’ve played in the past is called “Here comes the airplane… open the garage”. This encourages them to open their mouth as I bring the food in like an airplane.

Sometimes my kids will try new foods this way.

Ingredients For BLW Pumpkin Bread

Flour – You can choose to use whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, or a mix of both. I use a mix of both for my recipes because I prefer the texture.

Pumpkin – You can use canned pumpkin for this recipe. I used Libby’s 100% canned pumpkin. Don’t confuse it for pumpkin pie filling. They are not the same thing.

You can also choose to roast a fresh pumpkin and then puree it to make this pumpkin bread.

Eggs – I used large eggs for this recipe. If your baby has an egg allergy, you can try using an egg substitute. See the table below for more info.

Maple syrup – Pumpkin bread needs a little sweetener because pumpkin is not a naturally sweet vegetable. To avoid using refined white sugar, I chose to use pure maple syrup which is healthier and more natural.

Spices – To make pumpkin spice, I combined my favorite spices, which are cardamom, cinnamon, and nutmeg. You can add whatever other spices you prefer, but I like these combinations.

Canola oil – some people use melted butter to make pumpkin bread but I prefer canola oil. Oil makes the pumpkin bread more moist. I’ve used butter in the past and it was drier than I wanted.

Egg Substitutes	Number of “eggs” Made
3 tbsp peanut butter	1 egg
1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water	1 egg (whisk until gelatinous)
1/2 mashed banana	1 egg
1 tbsp mashed sweet potato	1 egg
1/4 cup applesauce	1 egg
1 tbsp chia seed + 3 tbsp water	1 egg (stir & rest it for 15-30 min)
1 tbsp soy protein + 3 tbsp water	1 egg (mix & use immediately)

Cooking Directions For Pumpkin Bread for Baby

• Set the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 
• In a bowl, combine all the wet ingredients (oil, maple syrup, eggs, and pumpkin).
• In a separate bowl, combine all the dry ingredients (flour, nutmeg, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder).
• Combine both the wet and dry ingredients in one bowl. Mix batter gently to combine (do not overmix)
• Spray a loaf pan with cooking spray ( I used a 5” x 9” loaf pan). Pour the pumpkin bread batter into the pan.
• Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. 

FAQs About Pumpkin Bread For Baby

Can I use canned pumpkins for pumpkin bread?

You can use canned pumpkins for pumpkin bread. This recipe uses canned pumpkins. Fresh pumpkins are always ideal, but those may be hard to buy off-season.

Pumpkin Bread For Baby Storage Tips

Can I refrigerate pumpkin bread for a baby?

You can refrigerate pumpkin bread for baby for up to 2 weeks in the fridge. 

After that, the pumpkin bread will absorb too much moisture and get soggy. 

Make sure you store it in a ziplock bag, Pyrex container, or tin foil (less optimal) before putting it in the fridge. 

Can I freeze Pumpkin Bread for baby-led weaning?

You can freeze pumpkin bread for baby-led weaning if you don’t plan to eat them all. 

Doing this will prevent the pumpkin bread from becoming stale or losing its freshness. 

It’s best to slice the pumpkin bread first then place a piece of parchment paper in between each slice. This will help maintain the freshness. 

Store the pumpkin bread in a ziplock bag and squeeze out all the air before placing it in the freezer.

Reheating Pumpkin Bread For Baby

In the oven

You can reheat pumpkin bread for baby in the oven. To do so, set your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Slice a piece of pumpkin bread, and place it on a baking sheet, then put it in the oven. 

Heat for about 10-15 minutes or until the center of the pumpkin bread is hot. Remove from the oven and serve. 

In the microwave 

To reheat pumpkin bread for baby in the microwave, do this. 

Place a piece of pumpkin bread on a microwave-safe plate, and heat for 1-3 minutes or until the center is hot. Remove from the heat and serve. 

Did you make this baby-led weaning recipe? 

Let me know in the comments how it turned out!