The Best Pumpkin Bread with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Butter

My first pumpkin recipe of the season and it was knocked out of the park! This moist pumpkin bread is the perfect breakfast or dessert treat and when it's smeared with the cream cheese butter it is out of this world good!

I sprinkled my loaf with crunchy pepitas for that extra pumpkin kick. The bread itself is spicy and so moist... It would be great with walnuts throughout or even a layer of cream cheese, if that is your thing. Let's get to baking, shall we?

For the Bread:
(makes 2- 9x5" loaves)
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temp
2 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs
3 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons salt
2 cups pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
1 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons vanilla

1/4 cup Pepitas for topping (optional)

For the Cinnamon Butter:
1 stick (8-ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Start by making the bread:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare the loaf pans with parchment paper, cooking spray, and flour coating. Set aside.
In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, scraping the sides as you go.
Add eggs, one at a time, until incorporated.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and salt. Add to the butter/sugar mixture and mix on medium just until combined.
Add in the pumpkin, sour cream, and vanilla. Mix to combine.
Pour batter evenly amongst the 2 prepared pans, sprinkle with pepitas if using, and bake in preheated oven for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Do not over cook or the cake will be less moist*.
Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 20 minutes before inverting and allowing to cool completely. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap to store and slice and serve when the craving strikes.

For the butter:
Mix all of the ingredients together with a hand mixer until smooth and creamy. Spread over the pumpkin bread in a thick layer and enjoy!
It's a slice of Fall...

*recipe adapted from FreutCake