42 Cozy Quick Breads to Make This Fall

Photo: Robbie Caponetto; Styling: Nicole McLaughlin

As the weather cools down, warm your kitchen with the smell of these delicious fall loaves. These soft, moist breads deliver the rich, nutty, and warmly spiced flavors you crave this time of year, without overloading you with the sweetness of a cake. Perfect for a fall breakfast, dessert, or afternoon snack with a mug of coffee, these comforting quick breads are ready within hours of the craving striking—no proofing required. From pumpkin spice to apple cinnamon, indulge in all the irresistible flavors autumn has to offer.

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Pumpkin-Honey-Beer Bread

Photo: Alison Miksch; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell

Pumpkin-Honey-Beer Bread Recipe

Mix the batter only until the dry ingredients disappear. (Lumps are normal.) Overmixing causes tough or misshapen loaves.

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Tuscan Pignoli-Orange Zucchini Bread

Tuscan Pignoli-Zucchini-Orange Bread image

Photo: Daniel Agee; Food Styling: Deb Wise; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Tuscan Pignoli-Orange Zucchini Bread Recipe

Got a boatload of zucchini? A loaf of so-simple quick bread is a delightful, kid-friendly way to put it to use. With bright citrusy notes, toasty pine nuts, and a delightful texture delivered by the blend of semolina and almond flours, this Italian-inspired uptake on your typical zucchini bread is sure to impress.

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Classic Banana Bread

Photo: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro, Laura Zapalowski

Classic Banana Bread Recipe

This healthier take on banana bread uses yogurt instead of butter, but it's just as moist and indulgent as classic recipes. This banana bread recipe isn't just easy. It's also highly customizable and can adapt to a number of flavors and substitute ingredients. Banana bread should form a crack down the center as it bakes--a sign the baking soda is doing its job. Serve toasted with a smear of cream cheese, Greek yogurt, or peanut and top with mixed nuts, if desired. You can even customize your bread with a crunchy streusal topping that the kids will love.

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Sweet Potato Bread with Buttermilk-Lime Icing

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Ginny Branch

Sweet Potato Bread with Buttermilk-Lime Icing Recipe

Try this spicy treat as an alternative to pumpkin bread. Serve it unadorned for every day or topped with this tangy icing for something extra special.

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Pumpkin-Maple Loaf

Greg DuPree

Pumpkin-Maple Loaf Recipe

For breakfast on the go, spin this recipe into individually portioned muffins by dividing the batter among 12 muffin cups coated with cooking spray and baking at 375°F for 22 minutes. To freeze muffins, let cool completely, and place in ziplock plastic bags. Reheat in the microwave for 30 seconds.

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Sesame-Cashew Zucchini Bread

Photo: Daniel Agee; Food Styling: Deb Wise; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Sesame-Cashew Zucchini Bread Recipe

Got a boatload of zucchini? A loaf of so-simple quick bread is a delightful, kid-friendly way to put it to use. Incredibly rich in toasty flavor, this nutty twist on classic zucchini bread was a fast favorite in the test kitchen. If you don’t have cashew butter on hand, feel free to use peanut butter or almond butter for the creamy glaze instead—either would be equally delicious.

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Miso Banana Bread with Yuzu Glaze

Photography: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer.

Miso Banana Bread with Yuzu Glaze Recipe

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Apple-Cheddar Bread

Photo: Alison Miksch; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell

Apple-Cheddar Bread Recipe

Try this bread sandwiched with ham and apple slices, or cut it into cubes and toast it to make croutons for salads and soups.

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Classic Zucchini Bread

Photo: Alex Farnum; Styling: Randy Mon

Classic Zucchini Bread Recipe

Neither oily nor dry, but perfectly moist.

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Chocolate Marble-Pumpkin Spice Bread

Linda Pugliese

Chocolate Marble-Pumpkin Spice Bread Recipe

A chocolate swirl adds a decadent twist to your usual loaf of pumpkin bread. These marbled loaves start with one basic batter that is flavored two different ways. Use a stand mixer to make the basic batter, then divide it into two bowls, and hand stir in the pumpkin and chocolate components to each bowl. This delicious recipe can be divided into eight 5 3⁄4- x 3 1⁄4-inch mini loaf pans. Bake the loaves as directed, but start testing for doneness after 25 minutes in the oven.

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Zucchini-Pecan Flaxseed Bread

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Zucchini-Pecan Flaxseed Bread Recipe

Ground flaxseed is a novel addition to this dense and sweet breakfast bread. You can freeze individual slices on a baking sheet, then transfer to a zip-top plastic bag to keep in the freezer for up to two months. On hurried mornings, grab a slice, and defrost by microwaving at HIGH for 30 seconds to one minute.

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Amish Cinnamon Bread

Photo: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro

Amish Cinnamon Bread Recipe

No kneading, you just mix it up and bake it.

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Avocado Matcha Banana Bread

Photo by Daniel Agee

Avocado Matcha Banana Bread Recipe
It's tasty being this green

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Chocolate-Swirled Pumpkin Bundt

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Chocolate-Swirled Pumpkin Bundt Recipe

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Banana-Oatmeal Bread

Photo: David Malosh; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Banana-Oatmeal Bread Recipe

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Coconut-Zucchini Bread

Photo by Victor Protasio

Coconut-Zucchini Bread Recipe
Coconut lovers, this one's for you

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Mexican Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Photo: Daniel Agee; Food Styling: Deb Wise; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Mexican Chocolate Zucchini Bread Recipe

Got a boatload of zucchini? A loaf of so-simple quick bread is a delightful, kid-friendly way to put it to use. This decadent twist spices up classic zucchini bread with cocoa powder, cinnamon, a rich chocolate glaze, and roasted pepitas. Easy-to-make, incredibly moist, and intensely chocolatey, this Mexican Chocolate Zucchini Bread is sure to be a new favorite.

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Bananas Foster Bread

Photo: John Autry; Styling: Cindy Barr

Bananas Foster Bread Recipe
This adult interpretation switches all of the sugar to brown sugar and cooks the mashed bananas with butter and cognac or dark rum. And it's topped with a slightly boozy glaze.

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Pumpkin Spice Cornbread

Pumpkin Spice Cornbread Recipe

Put a little something extra in that cornbread with this pumpkin spice variation that celebrates autumn's most famous flavor. Less than ten ingredients are all you need for this easy and classic cornbread recipe that includes seasonal ingredients like pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice. If you want an added dose of sweetness, simply top with fresh honey butter.

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Sweet Potato-Streusel Quick Bread

Photo: Karry Hosford

Sweet Potato-Streusel Quick Bread Recipe
To make this quick bread even quicker, we used the microwave to cook the potato and soften the butter for the streusel topping. Use an electric knife to get clean slices. Serve with the Chicken-Apple Crunch Salad (page 95) for an easy lunch.

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Hazelnut-Fig Quick Bread

Photo: Howard L. Puckett; Styling: Fonda Shaia

Hazelnut-Fig Quick Bread Recipe
Sprinkling nuts on top of the batter before it bakes, rather than mixing them in, helps concentrate the nut flavor.

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Mini Pumpkin Spice Loaves

Oxmoor House

Mini Pumpkin Spice Loaves Recipe
These mini-pumpkin bread loaves are flavored with cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, filled with golden raisins, and topped with a sweet cream cheese frosting. If you're giving the loaves as gifts, you can put the frosting in a separate container for easier packaging.

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Carrot Quick Bread with Cream Cheese Frosting

Photo: Karry Hosford

Carrot Quick Bread with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

This bread is rich in protein. Oats provide soluble fiber, and carrots contribute betacarotene. Slice the entire loaf, wrap slices individually in foil, and freeze for up to a month. Toss a slice in your briefcase - when you get to work, it should be thawed.

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Maple-Stout Quick Bread

Photo: Hannah Whitaker; Styling: Tizana Agnello

Maple-Stout Quick Bread Recipe
Stout beer--think of Guinness, with its black color and intense richness--gives this bread a slightly bitter background note and gorgeous nut-brown hue.

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Pumpkin Streusel Bread

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Pumpkin Streusel Bread Recipe
Skip the boxed mix and make this light and flavorful pumpkin bread for friends and family this holiday season. It's perfect for brunch; just slice, toast, and top with a smear of cream cheese. Heavenly.

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Chocolate-Hazelnut Banana Bread

Photo: Hannah Whitaker; Styling: Tizana Agnello

Chocolate-Hazelnut Banana Bread Recipe
Use a light hand when swirling the batter; too much swirling may lose the stripe effect.

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Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread Recipe

When life gives you too much zucchini, make this chocolate zucchini bread. Moist enough to feel like a cake, this recipe is a great way to use up excess zucchini as well as sneak vegetables into a sweet treat. There’s plenty of chocolatey flavor, so the entire family will love this healthier take on zucchini bread. Plus, it easily doubles and freezes well, so you can enjoy it even after summer ends.

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Spicy Pumpkin Bread

BECKY LUIGART-STAYNER

Spicy Pumpkin Bread Recipe
This particular pumpkin bread gets its kick from a blend of allspice, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Top with a sprinkle of chopped walnuts for a salty crunch that pairs perfectly with the sweet, moist bread.

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Sweet Beer Bread

Sweet Beer Bread Recipe
Make this easy, flavorful bread recipe to pair with an appetizing dip or a hearty bowl of soup. If you like cheese, be sure to check out the Cheddar-Chive variation, below.

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Pumpkin-Chai Quickbread

Photo: Andrew McCaul; Stylist: Alistair Turnbull/Pat Bates & Associates

Pumpkin-Chai Quickbread Recipe
Prep: 10 minutes; Cook: 60 minutes; Total time: 1 hour, 10 minutes.

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Yogurt-Zucchini Bread with Walnuts

Yogurt-Zucchini Bread with Walnuts Recipe

This moist, nutty bread is a terrific way to use up late-summer zucchini. The walnuts in the bread are super-heart-healthy, and the yogurt adds moisture without any fat.

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Pumpkin-Walnut Focaccia with Gruyère

Pumpkin-Walnut Focaccia with Gruyère Recipe

The recipe makes two generous free-form loaves--one to enjoy now, and one to freeze later or give as a gift. If you're making the bread for the Chicken and Ham Sandwich with Artichoke-Tomato Spread, pat the dough into a 9-inch circle so the sandwiches will be easier to eat.

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Winter Squash Chai Bread

David Prince

Winter Squash Chai Bread Recipe
Flavorful chai and colorful squash make this sweet quick bread a warming winter treat. Prep and Cook Time: about 1 1/4 hours, plus 10 minutes to cool.

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Pumpkin-Date Loaf with Cream Cheese Swirl

Becky Luigart-Stayner; Jan Gautro

Pumpkin-Date Loaf with Cream Cheese Swirl Recipe
White cream cheese batter contrasts with the orange pumpkin in this loaf.

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Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

Randy Mayor

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread Recipe
Enjoy this sweet and spicy chocolate chip pumpkin bread for breakfast or as a tasty mid-afternoon treat.

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Praline-Apple Bread

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lindsey Ellis Beatty, Katherine Eckert Coyne

Praline-Apple Bread Recipe
Sour cream is the secret to the rich, moist texture of this praline-apple quick bread recipe. There's no butter or oil in the batter—only in the glaze.

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Golden Pumpkin-Walnut Loaf

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Golden Pumpkin-Walnut Loaf Recipe
Seal this quick bread in plastic, then wrap with a pretty kitchen towel and tie it up with a ribbon. Add a card that suggests toasting slices of this moist bread for breakfast and spreading with light cream cheese for a special treat. You can even include a small crock of cream cheese in a basket with the bread for a hand-delivered gift.

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Farmer John's Favorite Pumpkin Bread

Angela Wyant

Farmer John's Favorite Pumpkin Bread Recipe
Prep and Cook Time: about 1 1/4 hours. Rich spice flavors shine in this tender, cakelike bread. Notes: You can store this bread airtight at room temperature up to 3 days or freeze up to 3 months.

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Cranberry-Sweet Potato Quick Bread

HOWARD L. PUCKETT

Cranberry-Sweet Potato Quick Bread Recipe

This sweet potato quick bread is delicious year-round, but it's best served at Christmas because of the cranberries. Wrap a freshly baked loaf in cellophane and tie with a pretty ribbon for a lovely homemade gift.

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Walnut Streusel Bread

Photo: Hannah Whitaker; Styling: Tizana Agnello

Walnut Streusel Bread Recipe

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Caramelized Banana Bread

Photo: Hannah Whitaker; Styling: Tizana Agnello

Caramelized Banana Bread Recipe
A few smart techniques take banana bread to the next level: Cooking ripe banana slices in butter deepens the sweet banana flavor, while browned butter gives the glaze nutty richness.

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Nana’s Banana Bread

Photo: Robbie Caponetto; Styling: Nicole McLaughlin

Nana’s Banana Bread Recipe

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42 Cozy Quick Breads to Make This Fall

1 of 43

Pumpkin-Honey-Beer Bread

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Tuscan Pignoli-Orange Zucchini Bread

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Classic Banana Bread

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Sweet Potato Bread with Buttermilk-Lime Icing

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Pumpkin-Maple Loaf

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Sesame-Cashew Zucchini Bread

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Miso Banana Bread with Yuzu Glaze

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Apple-Cheddar Bread

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Classic Zucchini Bread

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Chocolate Marble-Pumpkin Spice Bread

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Zucchini-Pecan Flaxseed Bread

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Amish Cinnamon Bread

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Avocado Matcha Banana Bread

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Chocolate-Swirled Pumpkin Bundt

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Banana-Oatmeal Bread

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Coconut-Zucchini Bread

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Mexican Chocolate Zucchini Bread

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Bananas Foster Bread

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Pumpkin Spice Cornbread

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Sweet Potato-Streusel Quick Bread

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Hazelnut-Fig Quick Bread

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Mini Pumpkin Spice Loaves

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Carrot Quick Bread with Cream Cheese Frosting

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Maple-Stout Quick Bread

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Pumpkin Streusel Bread

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Chocolate-Hazelnut Banana Bread

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Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

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Spicy Pumpkin Bread

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Sweet Beer Bread

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Pumpkin-Chai Quickbread

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Yogurt-Zucchini Bread with Walnuts

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Pumpkin-Walnut Focaccia with Gruyère

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Winter Squash Chai Bread

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Pumpkin-Date Loaf with Cream Cheese Swirl

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Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

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Praline-Apple Bread

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Golden Pumpkin-Walnut Loaf

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Farmer John's Favorite Pumpkin Bread

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Cranberry-Sweet Potato Quick Bread