This Easy Southern Peach Bread is a sweet and moist treat filled with delicious peaches. It’s perfect for breakfast or as a cozy snack, and your kitchen will smell amazing while it bakes!
I love spreading a little butter on warm slices—just heavenly! If you have ripe peaches lying around, this is the simplest way to brighten your day. 🍑
Key Ingredients & Substitutions
Flour: All-purpose flour works best for a nice texture in the bread. If you need a gluten-free option, use a gluten-free flour blend instead—it should yield good results!
Peaches: Fresh peaches add so much flavor, but if they aren’t in season, you can use canned peaches (just drain them well) or even frozen peaches—just thaw and drain excess liquid first.
Buttermilk: If you don’t have buttermilk, mixing regular milk with a teaspoon of vinegar or lemon juice is a great substitute! This will help keep the bread nice and moist.
Nuts: Personally, I love adding pecans for a little crunch. If you have nut allergies, feel free to skip them or replace them with seeds like sunflower seeds for a similar texture.
How Do I Prevent My Bread from Being Dense?
A common struggle when baking bread is avoiding dense results. Here are some tips to ensure your peach bread is light and fluffy:
- Don’t overmix the batter after adding wet and dry ingredients together. Stir just until combined, leaving some lumps.
- Make sure your baking powder and baking soda are fresh. Old leavening agents won’t help your bread rise.
- When measuring flour, spoon it into the measuring cup and level it off rather than scooping directly to avoid packing it down.
- Lastly, keep an eye on the baking time! Check with a toothpick starting at around 55 minutes.
Easy Southern Peach Bread
Ingredients You’ll Need:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup buttermilk (or regular milk with 1 teaspoon vinegar)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups fresh peaches, peeled and diced (about 2 medium peaches)
- Optional: 1/2 cup chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts)
How Much Time Will You Need?
This recipe takes about 15 minutes of prep time and 55-65 minutes of baking time. After baking, let it cool for about 10 minutes in the pan before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. So, in total, set aside around 1.5 hours to make this delightful peach bread!
Step-by-Step Instructions:
1. Preheat the Oven:
Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). While it’s heating up, grease and flour a 9×5 inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper to ensure easy removal later.
2. Mix the Dry Ingredients:
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. This creates a lovely base for your bread!
3. Prepare the Wet Ingredients:
In another bowl, beat the eggs and then add in the vegetable oil, buttermilk (or the milk-vinegar mix), and vanilla extract. Stir until everything is well combined.
4. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients:
Carefully pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Stir gently until just combined—don’t worry if it’s a little lumpy. Overmixing can lead to a denser bread.
5. Fold in the Peaches:
Now, gently fold in the diced peaches and chopped nuts, if you’re using them. This step really brings in that lovely peach flavor!
6. Pour the Batter:
Next, pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan and spread it evenly to ensure even baking.
7. Bake the Bread:
Place the loaf pan in the preheated oven and bake for about 55-65 minutes. To check if it’s done, insert a toothpick into the center; it should come out clean.
8. Cool Down:
Once baked, allow the bread to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. After that, transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
9. Serve and Enjoy:
Once cooled, slice the bread and enjoy it plain or spread with a little butter. Each slice is a taste of southern comfort!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Easy Southern Peach Bread
Can I Use Frozen Peaches Instead of Fresh?
Absolutely! If using frozen peaches, be sure to thaw and drain them well to avoid excess moisture in the batter. This will help maintain the bread’s texture!
Can I Substitute the Vegetable Oil?
Yes! You can use melted butter or coconut oil as a substitute for vegetable oil. This can add a rich flavor to your bread, just ensure it’s cooled slightly before mixing to avoid scrambling the eggs.
How Should I Store Leftover Peach Bread?
Store any leftover peach bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. You can also refrigerate it for a longer shelf life, but remember to enjoy it at room temperature or warm it slightly for the best flavor!
Can I Add Other Fruits or Ingredients?
Definitely! This recipe is versatile. Feel free to add other fruits like blueberries or chopped apples. You can also mix in spices like nutmeg or ginger for different flavor profiles!
