8 Store-Bought Pumpkin Bread Mixes, Taste Tested And Ranked

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Even before the advent of and subsequent frenzy over pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin had always been a go-to flavor for fall and winter recipes. Its earthy taste and burnt orange color are tailor-made for days when fallen leaves crunch under your feet. Picturesque imagery aside, pumpkin is an extremely versatile ingredient to bake with, from classic pumpkin pie to pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, and everything in between. 

I try to bake from scratch as much as I can, but there are times I need a shortcut mix, including seasonal options, like pumpkin bread. I know not all mixes are equal, and when I bake with pumpkin, I want something with a rich color, the perfect amount of spice, and a soft texture. I wasn't sure I'd find it in a box. So, I baked eight store-bought pumpkin bread mixes, tasted them, and ranked them from worst to best. I considered the overall flavor, the pumpkin level, and the texture. Here are my results, including the one that squashed the competition. 

Prices are as of the date of publication and may vary based on region.

When I work on a food or beverage ranking, I try really hard not to let first impressions cloud my judgment. This was especially hard with Miss Jones Baking Co. Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bread & Muffin Mix, which produced a squat, cracked loaf in an uninspiring shade of beige that left me wondering how it could contain pumpkin. Priced at $4.19 at Walmart, this mix wasn't the most expensive in the ranking, but it also baked into one of the smallest breads. 

This was the only mix to call for melted butter instead of oil. While I love the flavor of butter, oil typically produces more tender quick breads that don't become dry after a long baking time, and I needed a full hour for this bread to fully bake through. This concern proved valid once I tasted the bread. The interior was even more pale than the crust, but I did detect a bit of pumpkin flavor, moderate sweetness, and plenty of peppery spices. The reason this pumpkin bread ranked last wasn't the flavor, but the texture. The bread is slightly bouncy, rather than plush, and incredibly dry and sandy. As I sampled it, the insides of my cheeks felt stripped of moisture, like after a sip of a tannic red wine, and it left behind a gritty sediment. I was more than done after a few bites. 

I had a hard time finding Simple Mills Almond Flour Pumpkin Muffin & Bread Mix at my stores, so I ordered it off Amazon for $6.49. After some shipping snafus, I was eager to finally try this bread. Simple Mills makes a ton of products, including the best crackers for any occasion, so I figured this would be a solid bake. I was wrong.

The first warning sign that this mix might not be so great was that the bread did not bake through in the suggested bake time. My bread took almost one hour for the center to change from soupy to firm enough to gently bounce back when pressed. The loaf was small, dark, and almost flat, with a gently rounded top. I was still unsure if it was properly baked, because even fully cooled, the bread looked wet and sticky. 

Luckily, it was cooked and had a light yet sturdy crumb, studded with bits of ground almond. The main reason this bread ranked second-to-last is that it really stretched the limit of how little sugar a pumpkin bread can have and still taste good. Sweetened only with coconut sugar, the bread was almost savory, and the deep, molasses-like flavor of coconut sugar made the bread taste slightly bitter and burnt. The overall experience was unbalanced and unpleasant. 

Great Value, Walmart's private label brand, has tons of groceries at reasonable prices. I ranked every Great Value cake mix, and the top two produced lovely cakes. However, Great Value Spice Cake Mix ranked low, and I was really hoping to avoid a repeat experience with Great Value Pumpkin Spice Quick Bread & Muffin Mix, the least expensive mix in this ranking, costing only $2.42. 

While the spice cake mix created a cake with a coarse texture, this pumpkin bread mix was the total opposite, producing a light, fluffy bread with a fine crumb. It was so airy that it almost spilled over the edge of the pan during its fast initial rise. I was grateful that it didn't overflow, and I avoided a messy oven. This texture was ultimately why the pumpkin bread fell towards the bottom of the ranking. Despite calling itself a quick bread, this tasted exactly like a lightly spiced yellow cake mix, complete with the artificial and chemical aftertaste that goes along with many cake mixes. I didn't taste pumpkin, despite seeing dried pumpkin flakes in the mix, and even the spicing was way too tame to fit expectations for something called pumpkin spice. It's not a bad cake, but it's not a pumpkin quick bread. 

Priced at $4.49, Trader Joe's Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread & Muffin Baking Mix was the most affordable gluten-free mix in the ranking, and it baked into a huge, deeply browned loaf. I was able to pick out a mild pumpkin taste, and there was just enough sugar to enhance the spices and temper the natural nutty flavor from the sorghum and millet flours in the dry mix. 

The reason this pumpkin bread fell to the middle of the ranking was that once again, the flavor was pretty solid, but the texture was off — a common theme in this ranking. Up to this point, most of the mixes have produced breads with either good flavor or texture, but not both. When I cut into the bread, the crumb wasn't well-defined, instead looking ragged with spots of squished, batter-like bread. I knew it wasn't underbaked, as I gave it extra time in the oven so a toothpick came out clean when inserted in the tall center. The cake didn't taste raw, but it was so dense and sticky that it became gluey as I ate it, reminding me more of a steamed pudding than a quick bread. Some might appreciate the taste and write off the texture as custardy, which is why it didn't rank lower, but for me it just wasn't right. 

Fairing slightly better than its gluten-free counterpart, Trader Joe's Pumpkin Bread & Muffin Mix lands in the middle of this ranking for producing a bread that's all around decent, but not amazing. Before delving into the finer details, I have to give this mix props for producing the most beautiful bread of the bunch. It baked tall with a perfect center crack down the domed center, had crisp edges, and a deep orange hue. 

This was my first time baking this mix, even though I have several friends who buy it on repeat. I loved how it looked, how easy it was to make with just water, eggs, and oil, and the $3.49 price, which made it one of the more affordable mixes. I really wanted this pumpkin bread to take one of the top spots, but I found it overall lacking. There wasn't much pumpkin flavor to the bread, and the texture was so moist that it was on the verge of being soggy and gummy, rather than tender. I even tasted it again the next day to see if it was too fresh when I initially sampled it, but it hadn't improved. It's a perfectly acceptable mix to pick up if you're already shopping at Trader Joe's, but there are better choices if you want a top-notch pumpkin bread. 

Be prepared, should you decide to pick up Libby's Classic Pumpkin Bread Kit with Icing Mix, because this kit makes a lot of bread. Three 8-by-4-inch loaves, 36 muffins, a Bundt cake, or a 13-by-9-inch cake are a few of the options. I didn't initially understand why the price was on the higher side, $6.64 at Walmart, until I noticed that the kit includes a baking mix, a can of pumpkin puree, and an icing mix. I skipped the icing for consistency, but it honestly doesn't need it.

Anyone who's made pumpkin pie knows Libby's. It took the No. 2 spot in our canned pumpkin ranking for its vibrant color and velvety texture. So, I had high expectations here, whether that's fair or not. I appreciate the bread's rich orange color, but I was surprised that the loaf was so heavily sweetened that it overshadowed the pumpkin. I mostly tasted spices and, unfortunately, the metallic tang of too much baking powder. The texture wasn't ideal either, as the four large eggs you add create a firm, bouncy crumb. 

Still, this pumpkin bread ranks third because I have to acknowledge my bias. After years in professional test kitchens, I've become hypersensitive to generously sweetened desserts and the aftertaste of baking soda and powder. I don't think others would pick up on it, so I have to give it some grace. Plus, there is no denying this bread is packed with pumpkin. 

Pillsbury Pumpkin Quick Bread & Muffin Mix was the most widely available mix in this ranking. It was on the shelves, at a comparable price, at nearly every store I went to. I picked it up at Walmart for $3.22. The bread baked into an autumnal orangey-brown with a rounded top and classic-looking off-center crack. There was no threat of overflow, and it even baked in the suggested time frame — a truly unique experience in this ranking. It was easy to mix together and required water, oil, and eggs. 

The interior had a slightly uneven crumb that was denser towards the bottom, but it didn't taste any different when I ate it. I pressed against the bread to test its springiness and was met with the same squishy wet sound as when you walk through a waterlogged field in rain boots. So, imagine my surprise when the cake turned out to be perfectly moist and not at all gummy. It's lighter than a homemade cake, but is in the realm of density I expect from a quick bread. In addition to cinnamon, I tasted the prickle of clove, nutmeg, and ginger. I'd happily have a slice or two with a hot cup of tea on a chilly afternoon. This mix is the runner-up for two minor reasons: The spice is stronger than the pumpkin, and ideally, it wouldn't be quite so fluffy. 

I know this pumpkin bread isn't a beauty, and it looks more like a loaf of whole wheat bread than a pumpkin treat, but King Arthur Baking Company Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bread Mix is fantastic. This was the only mix in the ranking that nailed both the flavor and texture, easily earning it the top spot. The fact that it's gluten-free really blew my mind. At $7.95, it's the most expensive mix here, but it's worth the few extra dollars. 

The box suggests resting the batter for 10 minutes before baking, which is key because gluten-free flours hydrate differently than all-purpose. My bread didn't have the attractive center crack that the box displayed; instead, it split lightly over the edge of the pan on one side, but it's easy to forgive as a surface-level blemish. 

The inside wasn't as fine as some of the other breads, which is a good thing. The slightly coarse texture gives it some heft and doesn't taste tough or bouncy. This grit-free, soft cake was perfectly tender and moist. Pumpkin flakes, molasses, and spices bring the flavor, and they work together, allowing pumpkin to take the lead. It's more of a pumpkin bread than a pumpkin spice bread, and I appreciate the nuance. This is one I'll be making for my gluten-free family at our next gathering. Bonus: It tastes just as great the next day.

After scouring stores and online retailers, I collected the eight different store-bought pumpkin bread mixes and started baking, using the same brand of eggs, vegetable oil, whole milk, and unsalted butter. I mixed and baked according to package directions, extending the baking time as needed to ensure the breads were fully cooked. It's worth noting that nearly every mix took longer to bake than instructed. Don't stick one of these in the oven if you have to rush out the door at a specific time. 

I used either an 8-by-4-inch or 9-by-5-inch pan, depending on the mix, and let the bread cool completely before slicing and tasting. I judged the overall flavor and how the ingredients balanced together, but I also based the ranking on the pumpkin level. After all, if you are buying a pumpkin bread mix, you expect to taste at least a little pumpkin. Along with the taste, I factored in the texture, favoring quick breads with some density, but not too dry or gummy. 

As an experienced recipe developer for over 15 years, I've baked countless quick breads, so I know the difference between moist and soggy, and what the proper crumb for quick breads should be. I concede that a mix will never taste exactly like homemade, but my broad experience still helps me sort out the best from the rest.