Right. If banana bread put on a scarf, this one lit a candle and queued a moody autumn playlist.
We’re continuing our Cosy Autumn Baking Series with a loaf that absolutely belongs in a Melbourne kitchen as the weather cools:
- 🎃 Pumpkin Loaf with Spiced Glaze (Single-Serve Friendly)
This is soft, gently spiced, lightly sweet, and topped with a simple warm-spice glaze that makes it feel far more impressive than the effort required.
It’s the kind of bake that:
- Works for breakfast
- Feels acceptable as an afternoon snack
- Doubles as dessert
- Makes you look like you planned your week properly
And yes — like all good Plan4One recipes — it’s scaled for a small household and freezes beautifully.
🍂 Why Pumpkin Is Perfect Right Now
Autumn in Australia = pumpkin season.
It’s affordable, widely available in supermarkets, and naturally sweet — meaning we can keep added sugar sensible while still getting that cosy bakery flavour.
For solo eaters, pumpkin is brilliant because:
- You can roast extra and use it in savoury meals
- It keeps well in the fridge
- It freezes easily
- It reduces waste when used across multiple recipes
One roast tray. Multiple wins.
🛒 Ingredients (1 Small Loaf – 4–6 Slices)
Pan size: Small loaf tin (approx. 20cm x 10cm) or 5–6 muffins
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup plain flour
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
Wet Ingredients
- ¾ cup mashed roasted pumpkin (cooled)
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup neutral oil (or melted butter)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1–2 tbsp milk if needed
👩🍳 Method
1️⃣ Roast Your Pumpkin (If Not Already Prepped)
Dice pumpkin into small chunks.
Roast at 180°C for 20–25 minutes until soft.
Cool and mash until smooth.
(Yes, you can do this ahead and keep it in the fridge for 3–4 days.)
2️⃣ Preheat & Prepare
Preheat oven to 170°C (fan 160°C).
Line or lightly grease your small loaf tin.
3️⃣ Mix Dry Ingredients
In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices.
4️⃣ Mix Wet Ingredients
In another bowl:
- Combine mashed pumpkin and sugar
- Add egg, oil, and vanilla
- Mix until smooth
5️⃣ Combine
Fold dry ingredients into wet mixture gently.
If batter feels thick, add 1–2 tbsp milk.
Pour into prepared tin and smooth the top.
6️⃣ Bake
- Loaf: 40–45 minutes
- Muffins: 18–22 minutes
Skewer should come out clean.
Cool 10 minutes in tin before transferring to rack.
✨ Simple Spiced Glaze
This takes it from “nice” to “oh hello.”
Ingredients:
- ½ cup icing sugar
- 1–2 tsp milk
- Pinch cinnamon
- Tiny pinch ginger
Mix until smooth and drizzle over cooled loaf.
You want it pourable but not watery.
🥗 Nutritional Highlights (Per Slice – Approximate)
- Beta-carotene (Vitamin A precursor) from pumpkin
- Moderate sugar compared to café loaves
- Balanced carbs + fat for sustained energy
- Spices that may support digestion
It’s comforting without being chaotic.
🧊 Storage & Freezer Tips
- Room temp: 3–4 days airtight
- Fridge: Up to 1 week
- Freezer: Slice and wrap individually up to 3 months
Reheat:
- Microwave 20–30 seconds
- Or toast lightly (excellent with butter or ricotta)
If freezing, glaze after reheating for best texture.
💡 Plan4One Smart Baking Tips
- No nutmeg? Use extra cinnamon.
- Want extra protein? Replace 2 tbsp flour with almond meal.
- Like texture? Add 1 tbsp chopped pecans.
- Watching sugar? Skip glaze — it’s still delicious.
And if you roasted a whole pumpkin? Use leftovers in:
- Pumpkin soup
- Pumpkin & feta salad
- Stir through risotto
We love multi-purpose ingredients around here.
☕ Perfect Pairings
- Strong black tea
- Chai latte
- Flat white
- Or eaten standing at the bench because “I’ll just have a corner piece”
We’ve all been there.
🍁 Why This Works for Plan4One Readers
You don’t need a giant tray bake.
You don’t need a mixer.
You don’t need 14 obscure ingredients.
You need:
✔ Simple
✔ Seasonal
✔ Scaled properly
✔ Flexible
✔ Freezer-friendly
And this ticks every box.
If you bake this Pumpkin Loaf, let me know — did you glaze it? Add nuts? Eat half of it warm? (No judgement.)
Share it with a fellow solo baker or subscribe to Plan4One so you don’t miss the next cosy bake in this autumn series.
