Here’s a Best Sweet Alabama Pecan Bread recipe—old-fashioned, ultra-moist, buttery, and loaded with pecans, just like the Southern classic 🍞🥜
Best Sweet Alabama Pecan Bread
Ingredients (makes 2 loaves)
Dry ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
Wet ingredients
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup vegetable oil (or melted butter for richer flavor)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Add-ins
- 1½ cups chopped Alabama pecans (toasted for best flavor)
Instructions
- Preheat oven
Preheat to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9×5-inch loaf pans. - Mix dry ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda. - Add wet ingredients
Stir in eggs, oil, and vanilla. Mix just until combined—batter will be thick. - Fold in pecans
Gently fold in chopped pecans. - Bake
Divide batter evenly between pans.
Bake 50–60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. - Cool
Let cool in pans 10 minutes, then remove to wire racks to cool completely.
Why This Recipe Works
- No milk needed → super moist texture
- Oil-based → stays fresh for days
- Simple pantry ingredients → true Southern style
- Pecan-forward → nutty, sweet crunch in every bite
Pro Tips (Southern-Style)
- Toast pecans at 350°F for 5–7 minutes before adding
- Sprinkle sugar + pecans on top before baking for a crackly crust
- Brush warm loaves with melted butter for bakery-style shine
Variations (All Popular in Alabama Kitchens)
- Pecan Praline Bread: Add ½ cup brown sugar
- Orange-Pecan: Add 1 tbsp orange zest
- Cinnamon Pecan: Add 1½ tsp cinnamon
- Mini Loaves: Bake 30–35 minutes
Storage
- Room temp: 3 days (wrapped tightly)
- Fridge: up to 7 days
- Freezer: up to 3 months
If you’d like, I can also give you:
- a glazed pecan bread (praline glaze!)
- a butter-based version
- or a Southern church-cookbook style version with handwritten-style measurements
