Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Soft, tender texture with a rich honey and butter flavor.
- Crunchy pecans add a delightful nutty contrast.
- Easy to make with simple ingredients.
- Perfect for any time of day—breakfast, snack, or dessert.
- The honey butter topping adds an irresistible glaze and extra sweetness.
- Keeps moist for days when stored properly.
Ingredients
For the Bread:
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup honey
- 2 large eggs
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup buttermilk (or ½ tablespoon vinegar + ½ cup milk)
- ½ cup chopped pecans
For the Honey Butter Topping:
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ cup chopped pecans (optional, for extra crunch)
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
Directions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour an 8×8-inch baking dish or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the honey, eggs, and vanilla extract until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with buttermilk—starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Gently fold in the chopped pecans.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and smooth the top. Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
- Prepare the honey butter topping by mixing honey and melted butter in a small saucepan or microwave-safe bowl until smooth. Brush or drizzle generously over warm bread and sprinkle with additional pecans if desired.
- Slice and serve warm or at room temperature. Enjoy with coffee or tea!
Servings and Timing
- Servings: About 8 slices
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30–35 minutes
- Total Time: 45–50 minutes
Variations
- Drizzle extra honey over slices for added sweetness.
- Toast pecans before adding for a deeper nutty flavor.
- Substitute pecans with walnuts or almonds if preferred.
- Add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the batter for a warm spice note.
- Serve with butter or cream cheese for a richer experience.
Storage/Reheating
Store leftover bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week. Reheat slices gently in the microwave or oven for a warm, fresh-baked feel.
FAQs
Can I make this bread gluten-free?
Yes, substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend.
Can I use regular milk instead of buttermilk?
Yes, but add ½ tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice to the milk to mimic buttermilk’s acidity.
How do I toast pecans?
Toast pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until fragrant and lightly browned (about 3-5 minutes).
Can I freeze this bread?
Yes, wrap tightly and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Can I use honey alternatives?
Maple syrup or agave nectar can be used but may slightly change the flavor.
Is this bread very sweet?
It’s moderately sweet, balanced by the buttery and nutty flavors.
Can I double the recipe?
Yes, use a larger baking dish and adjust baking time accordingly.
What’s the best way to slice this bread?
Use a serrated knife for clean, even slices.
Can I add fruit to the batter?
Yes, chopped apples or dried cranberries pair nicely.
How do I make buttermilk at home?
Mix ½ tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice with ½ cup milk; let it sit for 5 minutes before using.
Conclusion
Honey Butter Sweet Alabama Pecan Bread is a comforting, flavorful treat that brings a taste of Southern hospitality to your table. With its moist crumb, rich honey-butter glaze, and crunchy pecans, this sweet bread is perfect for any time of day. Easy to make and utterly delicious, it’s sure to become a favorite in your baking repertoire.
Honey Butter Sweet Alabama Pecan Bread
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Total Time: 45-50 minutes
- Yield: About 8 slices
- Category: Breakfast, Snack, Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Honey Butter Sweet Alabama Pecan Bread is a rich, moist sweet bread featuring honey, buttery goodness, and crunchy pecans, perfect for breakfast, snacks, or alongside coffee or tea.
Ingredients
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup honey
2 large eggs
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup buttermilk (or ½ tablespoon vinegar + ½ cup milk)
½ cup chopped pecans
For the Honey Butter Topping:
¼ cup honey
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
¼ cup chopped pecans (optional, for extra crunch)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour an 8×8-inch baking dish or line with parchment paper.
- Cream softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in honey, eggs, and vanilla extract until combined.
- Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in separate bowl. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture, alternating with buttermilk—starting and ending with dry. Fold in chopped pecans.
- Pour batter into prepared baking dish and smooth top. Bake 30–35 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Cool in pan 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack.
- Mix honey and melted butter for topping; brush or drizzle over warm bread. Sprinkle additional pecans if desired.
- Slice and serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
Drizzle extra honey over slices for more sweetness.
Toast pecans before adding for deeper flavor.
Substitute pecans with walnuts or almonds.
Add cinnamon or nutmeg to batter for warm spice.
Serve with butter or cream cheese for richer taste.
Store bread in airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days or refrigerate up to 1 week.
Reheat slices gently in microwave or oven.
Use gluten-free flour blend for gluten-free version.
Make buttermilk by mixing vinegar/lemon juice with milk.
Freeze wrapped bread for up to 2 months.
Add chopped apples or dried cranberries to batter if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: approx. 250-300 kcal
- Sugar: 15-18 g
- Sodium: 150-200 mg
- Fat: 12-15 g
- Saturated Fat: 6-8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4-6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30-35 g
- Fiber: 2-3 g
- Protein: 3-4 g
- Cholesterol: 45-60 mg
