A Sweet Nutty Glaze That Instantly Elevates Pumpkin Bread Is Just 3 Ingredients Away

Nothing says fall like pumpkin bread. Whether you're a fan of the classic loaf or enjoy it filled with chocolate chips (like me), there's one genius addition you're going to wish you tried sooner — and it only requires three ingredients — peanut butter glaze.

To make peanut butter glaze for your pumpkin bread, combine creamy (not crunchy) peanut butter, powdered sugar, and water or milk together until you achieve a smooth consistency. If you want to add a fourth ingredient for some extra flavor, stir in a splash of vanilla extract. Keep in mind that the kind of peanut butter you use should inform how much powdered sugar to add: For all-natural peanut butter, you might want to use more than if you're using a type that already contains sugar. (For convenience, The Takeout ranked peanut butter brands from worst to best.)

Peanut butter and pumpkin might sound strange at first, but it's actually delicious. Think about it: Peanut butter is earthy, salty, creamy, and bold, while pumpkin tastes sweet, earthy, warm, and mellow. By using the peanut butter as a glaze, it doesn't overpower the spiced pumpkin bread — it enhances it. This three-ingredient glaze gives your pumpkin bread a little something special and adds a depth of flavor you didn't know you were missing.

Apart from peanut butter glaze and the requisite chocolate, more pumpkin bread add-ons include walnuts or pecans (toast them for deeper flavor), pepitas for some crunch and to give pumpkin bread a protein upgrade, dried fruit like cranberries, and a cream cheese filling or frosting. If you're feeling bold, try a streusel. Mix together flour, brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon, and sprinkle it on top of the bread before baking. You could also substitute eggs with flax meal eggs for extra nuttiness. 

My uncle's secret? If the pumpkin bread recipe calls for oil, use corn oil. Something about the corn flavor makes the loaf taste even more autumnal in the best way possible. I like to use apple cider if the recipe calls for a liquid. Water is just so ... blah, so why not use something that adds flavor instead?

For a less messy recipe, did you know you're only two ingredients away from easy pumpkin bread? Grab a box of spice cake mix and a can of pumpkin puree (strain it first). And for the love of all things quick bread, do not overmix the batter — it's a batter, not a dough. If you overmix, the gluten in the flour will develop more, and your texture will go from crumbly, moist goodness to tough, chewy mistake. Remember that pumpkin bread is more versatile than you think — there are countless ways to make it your own.