Welcome to October 2022’s Fit Foodie Cooking Club — Pumpkin Bread. This loaf is tender and moist, lightly sweetened with maple syrup and brown sugar, and warmed through with classic fall spices. It’s an easy, comforting bake that showcases canned pumpkin and simple pantry ingredients.
What is Fit Foodie Cooking Club?
The Fit Foodie Cooking Club is a monthly community cooking challenge designed to bring people into the kitchen and encourage cooking from scratch. Each month the group makes the same recipe to celebrate seasonal, wholesome food and to share photos, tips, and results.
Join the Club!
Fit Foodie Cooking Club
Sign up to receive the recipe of the month and club updates delivered straight to your inbox. Being on the list helps you cook along with the community and never miss an announcement.
October 2022 – The Details
Read the details below carefully so your entry counts. If you have questions, leave them in the comments on the post.
Recipe of the Month: Pumpkin Bread
The pumpkin bread recipe featured this month mixes canned pumpkin with warm spices, maple syrup, and a touch of coconut oil (or butter). It’s a straightforward loaf that’s easy to adapt and perfect for fall breakfasts, snacks, or lunchbox treats.
Why you’ll love this recipe
Uses simple pantry ingredients you likely already have.
Full of cozy fall flavors—cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves.
Freezes and reheats well for busy weeks.
Kid-friendly and easy to customize.
All About Pumpkin Bread
Ingredients You’ll Need
This pumpkin bread relies on pantry staples and a few optional add-ins. Use what you have on hand and adapt where needed—below are the essentials and a few notes on substitutions.
- Flour: All-purpose or white whole wheat both work well.
- Baking powder: for lift and a tender crumb.
- Spices: cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and a pinch of salt for balance.
- Chocolate chips: optional—semisweet or dark chips add indulgence.
- Eggs: bind the batter; this recipe has not been tested without them.
- Almond milk: or any milk alternative you prefer.
- Brown sugar: light brown gives a deeper flavor; coconut sugar can substitute.
- Maple syrup: adds moistness and subtle sweetness.
- Pumpkin puree: use unsweetened canned pumpkin for consistent texture.
- Vanilla: enhances the overall flavor.
- Coconut oil: yields a tender crumb; butter is an easy alternative.
#1 Recipe Tip – Don’t overbake!
The key to a tender loaf is not overbaking. Start checking the loaf a few minutes before the recipe’s stated time by inserting a toothpick into the center. If it comes out with a few moist crumbs, the loaf is done. If the edges brown faster than the center, loosely tent the pan with foil to prevent further browning while the middle finishes.
A Few More Tips
- Omit chocolate chips if you prefer a pure pumpkin-spice loaf.
- Mix the batter gently—overmixing can make the bread dense.
- Don’t substitute with flax eggs unless you know how the texture will change—this recipe hasn’t been tested that way.
- Both coconut sugar and brown sugar perform well; adjust sweetness to taste.
- Switch between all-purpose and white whole wheat flour depending on your preference for texture and nutrition.
How to Enter
Once you’ve baked your loaf, submit your entry to join the monthly giveaway.
- Visit the Pumpkin Bread blog post.
- Make the recipe, then take a clear photo of your finished loaf or a plated slice.
- Leave a comment on the Pumpkin Bread blog post with your photo and a short note about how it turned out. A star rating is welcome but not required. Be sure to include your name and email in the comment form so we can contact winners.
Join the Fit Foodie Cooking Club on Facebook!
Share photos, tips, and results with other members in the Fit Foodie Facebook group. The group is a friendly place to celebrate your cooking, ask questions, and find inspiration from like-minded home cooks.
Important Dates
Saturday, October 1, 2022 – First day entries are accepted.
Tuesday, October 25, 2022 – Last day to submit your photo and comment to qualify.
Wednesday, October 26, 2022 – Winners will be randomly selected and announced on this blog post and via social media.
The Prize
Two participants will each win a $100 lululemon gift card. Winners are chosen at random from eligible comments submitted between October 1 and October 25, 2022. The announcement will be posted on the last Wednesday of the month (October 26, 2022).
Charity of the Month
Breast Cancer Research Foundation
Each month the club highlights a charity to support. For October 2022, the charity of the month is the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The organization focuses on advancing research to end breast cancer and is a primary supporter of breast cancer research efforts worldwide.
We encourage those who can to consider donating to the cause. Every contribution helps support research and the search for better treatments and prevention.
Donate
If you are able, please consider supporting the monthly charity. Your donation, no matter the size, makes a difference and helps fund vital research.