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Sweet Alabama Pecan Bread

Sweet Alabama pecan bread is a Southern-style loaf with a crackly brown sugar pecan top and a moist buttery crumb. Baked in a 9x5 pan until golden, it’s finished with a simple pecan-and-brown-sugar topping.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Southern American
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Sweet Alabama Pecan Bread
  • 2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 0.5 tsp baking soda
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 0.5 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 0.5 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 1/4 cups pecans, toasted and chopped, divided
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar for topping

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Prep the oven and pan
  1. Preheat the oven to 350F and grease and line a 9x5-inch loaf pan.
Mix the dry ingredients
  1. Whisk all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon in a bowl until evenly combined.
Cream the butter and sugar
  1. Beat softened butter and packed brown sugar until fluffy, then beat in eggs one at a time and mix in vanilla extract.
Combine wet and dry
  1. Add the dry ingredients alternately with buttermilk, mixing just until combined to keep the crumb tender.
Add pecans and fill the pan
  1. Fold in 1 cup pecans, then pour the batter into the loaf pan.
Top and bake
  1. Top the batter with the remaining pecans and the 2 tablespoons brown sugar, then bake for 55-60 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
Cool and slice
  1. Cool the bread in the pan for 15 minutes, then slice once it’s slightly set.

Notes

For the best crackly topping, make sure the pecans are truly toasted and chop them evenly so they bake at the same rate. Store airtight at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate up to 5 days; freeze slices up to 2 months. For a lighter option, you can swap half the butter for a neutral oil or use a reduced-fat butter substitute—texture will be slightly less rich but still tender.