Description
A tender, moist Southern quick bread studded with buttery pecans and scented with vanilla. Perfect warm with coffee, delightful as dessert, and easy enough for any day of the week.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 cup whole milk, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup chopped pecans (lightly toasted for extra flavor)
- Butter or nonstick spray, for greasing the pan
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan and line with a parchment sling for easy removal.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla until smooth.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir gently with a spatula until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Fold in the chopped pecans, reserving a tablespoon to sprinkle on top if desired.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared pan, smooth the top, and sprinkle with the reserved pecans.
- Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then lift out and cool completely on a wire rack before slicing.
- Slice and serve warm or at room temperature, plain or with a pat of butter or a drizzle of honey.
Notes
- Toast pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes to deepen their flavor.
- Measure flour by spooning into the cup and leveling for accurate results.
- If your oven runs hot, begin checking for doneness at 40 minutes.
- Wrap the cooled loaf tightly to keep it soft and moist for days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 170 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
Keywords: Sweet Alabama Pecan Bread, pecan bread, Southern dessert, quick bread recipe, easy loaf cake, vanilla pecan loaf, brunch baking