Southern comfort in every slice
Sweet Alabama Pecan Bread is a classic Southern-style quick bread that’s rich, buttery, and loaded with crunchy pecans in every bite. It’s the kind of recipe that feels right at home on a cozy breakfast table, alongside afternoon coffee, or wrapped up as a thoughtful homemade gift. This easy pecan bread comes together with pantry staples and no yeast, making it perfect for busy days when you still want something warm and comforting from the oven. With its tender crumb and caramel-like sweetness, this Southern pecan bread recipe is simple, nostalgic, and always a crowd-pleaser.
⏱️ Time Breakdown
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 50–55 minutes
- Total Time: About 1 hour
- Servings: 8–10 slices
📝 Ingredients List
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- ½ cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup chopped pecans
✨ Kitchen Tools You’ll Need
This recipe doesn’t require fancy gadgets, just a few reliable kitchen basics to keep everything simple and stress-free.
- Mixing bowls
- Whisk
- Measuring cups & spoons
- Loaf pan (9×5-inch)
- Nonstick spray or parchment paper
- Cooling rack
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Beginner-Friendly Instructions
- Preheat and prepare.
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a loaf pan or line it with parchment paper. - Mix dry ingredients.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined. - Combine wet ingredients.
In a separate bowl, whisk melted butter, eggs, milk, and vanilla until smooth 🥣. - Make the batter.
Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and gently stir just until combined. The batter should be thick but pourable. - Fold in pecans.
Gently fold in chopped pecans, distributing them evenly throughout the batter. - Bake.
Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and smooth the top. Bake for 50–55 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs 🌰. - Cool and slice.
Let bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
💡 Pro Tips
- Toast the pecans: Toast pecans for 5–7 minutes before adding for deeper flavor.
- Extra richness: Swap half the milk for buttermilk for a tender crumb.
- Sweet finish: Drizzle with a simple vanilla glaze for dessert-style bread.
- Even baking: Tent loosely with foil if the top browns too quickly.
🧊 Storage & Freezing
- Store tightly wrapped at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for 5 days.
- Freeze slices individually for up to 2 months; thaw at room temperature.