Print

Best Cozy Alabama Pecanbread with Bourbon Caramel Glaze

cozy Alabama pecanbread with bourbon caramel glaze - featured image
Print Recipe

This cozy Alabama pecanbread with bourbon caramel glaze is a simple, tender quick bread loaded with toasted pecans and topped with a glossy, boozy caramel glaze. Perfect for chilly evenings, holiday mornings, or anytime you want the house to smell incredible.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups (180g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened
  • ¾ cup (150g) packed light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup (120ml) buttermilk
  • 1 cup (100g) chopped pecans
  • ¼ cup (56g) unsalted butter
  • ½ cup (100g) packed brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons bourbon
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line your loaf pan with parchment paper, letting the edges hang over the sides. Lightly grease the exposed ends with butter or nonstick spray.
  2. Toast the pecans. Spread the chopped pecans on a baking sheet and toast for 5-7 minutes, until they smell nutty and are slightly darker. Watch them closely—they burn fast. Set aside to cool.
  3. Whisk the dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.
  4. Cream the butter and sugar. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. You can do this with a hand mixer or just a sturdy spatula. If doing it by hand, really work the butter into the sugar until there are no lumps.
  5. Add the eggs and vanilla. Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. Stir in the vanilla. The mixture should look smooth and a little glossy.
  6. Alternate adding dry ingredients and buttermilk. Add about one-third of the flour mixture to the butter mixture and stir until just combined. Then add half the buttermilk and stir. Repeat with another third of flour, the remaining buttermilk, and finally the last of the flour. Stir only until no streaks of flour remain. Overmixing makes the bread tough.
  7. Fold in the pecans. Gently fold in the toasted pecans with a rubber spatula. Reserve about 2 tablespoons to sprinkle on top if you want a prettier crust.
  8. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Spread it evenly with the spatula. Sprinkle the reserved pecans on top if using.
  9. Bake for 50-60 minutes. The bread is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. If the top is browning too quickly (around the 40-minute mark), tent it loosely with foil.
  10. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Then lift the bread out using the parchment paper and transfer to a cooling rack. Let it cool completely before glazing—at least 1 hour. If you glaze it while it’s still warm, the glaze will just soak in and disappear.
  11. Make the glaze. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the brown sugar and cream, whisking constantly. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 2 minutes, stirring often. Remove from heat and stir in the bourbon, vanilla, and salt. Let it cool for about 5 minutes—it will thicken as it sits.
  12. Glaze the bread. Place the cooled loaf on a serving plate or wire rack over a baking sheet. Pour the glaze slowly over the top, letting it drip down the sides. Use a spatula to spread it if needed. Let the glaze set for at least 10 minutes before slicing.

Notes

Don’t skip toasting the pecans—it brings out their oils and makes them crunchy. Room temperature ingredients matter; let eggs and buttermilk sit out for 20 minutes. Watch the glaze carefully; bourbon is flammable. Let the bread cool completely before glazing to avoid a soggy top. The flavors deepen after a day.

Nutrition

Keywords: pecan bread, bourbon caramel glaze, quick bread, Southern dessert, cozy bread, pecan recipe, bourbon dessert

Find it online: https://emacrave.com/best-cozy-alabama-pecanbread-with-bourbon-caramel-glaze/