Description
This delightful Apple Cinnamon Pecan Bread is a moist and flavorful quick bread perfect for breakfast or a cozy snack. It combines the warm spices of cinnamon and nutmeg with chopped apples and crunchy pecans, creating a deliciously spiced loaf topped with a sprinkle of turbinado sugar for extra texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon flour (for coating apples)
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Add-ins
- 1 1/2 cups peeled and finely chopped apples (about 2 medium)
- 3/4 cup chopped pecans
- Turbinado sugar for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan to ensure the bread doesn’t stick after baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, cream the softened butter with granulated sugar and light brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, indicating proper aeration.
- Add Eggs and Flavorings: Beat in the eggs one at a time, making sure each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Then mix in the sour cream and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Prepare Apples: In a small bowl, toss the finely chopped apples with 1 tablespoon of flour. This coats the apples and prevents them from sinking to the bottom of the bread during baking.
- Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Stir the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients gently until just combined to avoid overmixing which can make the bread tough.
- Fold in Apples and Pecans: Fold the coated apples and chopped pecans into the batter evenly.
- Fill Pan and Add Topping: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Sprinkle turbinado sugar on top if you desire a sweet, crunchy crust.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 55–65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean, indicating it is fully baked.
- Cool: Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing it and transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Use tart apples like Granny Smith for a bright, balanced flavor that complements the sweetness of the bread.
- This bread keeps well wrapped at room temperature for up to 3 days or can be frozen for up to 2 months.
- Toasted pecans add an extra depth of flavor and a pleasant crunch.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
