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Maple Pecan Loaf – A tender maple loaf studded with pecans and topped with a maple frosting. This recipe is great for gift giving any time of year.
I love giving homemade gifts to friends, neighbors and teachers around the holidays. So many people give gift cards, but I like to go the extra step and make something special. Everyone is so busy, so taking time out to give a homemade gift seems extra meaningful. Something like Homemade Vanilla Extract is such a great fit.
One of my favorite gifts to give is homemade bread or loafs like this maple pecan loaf. Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread has been a gift for more than one year. The other favorite is Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Bread. I mean that chocolate glaze will win over anyone.
What You’ll Need
Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post for the FULL PRINTABLE recipe card.
- All-Purpose Flour
- Baking Powder
- Butter
- Light Brown Sugar
- Pecans
- Eggs
- Milk
- Maple Syrup
- Maple Extract
- Powdered Sugar
- Milk
Does anyone know the difference between quick bread and a loaf? Quick bread is pretty much cake, and a loaf is pretty much cake, so I think you can use the term interchangeably. Most loafs I see have frosting or a glaze over the top, and we have that here. So I think we are good with calling this a loaf.
This loaf is tender and flavored with maple syrup as well as maple extract, to make sure you can really taste the maple. Then it is topped with a maple frosting, and chopped pecans. Soft, delicious, and such great flavors. I am normally a chocolate to the core, kind of girl. But this maple pecan loaf has won me over.
I made 2 loaves out of this recipe in slightly smaller, disposable baking pans that you can use for gift giving. The recipe fits in 1 normal 9×5 loaf pan, or 4 of the mini loaf pans. Perfect for your holiday baking tray, with a cup of tea or coffee in the afternoon, or to give as gifts.
Make Ahead
You could make this maple pecan loaf ahead of time and freeze, I would just add the frosting once thawed before you serve it. Wrap each loaf in cellophane and tie with a festive ribbon for an easy gift this holiday season. Or just make it for yourself, no one will tell.
Maple Pecan Loaf
Ingredients
Loaf
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, cut into cubes
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup pecans, roughly chopped
- 3 whole large eggs
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 5 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon maple extract
Icing
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 3 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Grease or line a 9×5-inch loaf pan or two 7 X 2.5-inch disposable loaf pans and set aside.
- In a large bowl, stir together flour and baking powder. Add cubed butter. Using a pastry cutter, a fork, or whisk attachment to a stand mixer; mix until incorporated and mixture has texture of breadcrumbs. Stir in sugar and pecans.
- In a separate bowl, beat together eggs and milk. Stir in maple syrup and extract. Add to flour mixture, and mix until just combined.
- Pour into prepared pans. Bake for 50-60 minutes (30-40 for smaller pans) or until a tester comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool completely.
- Meanwhile, prepare icing. Mix together all ingredients until well blended and spreadable. Adjust sugar and milk if necessary. Spread over cooled loaves.
- Top with chopped pecans.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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**I have an on going relationship with Imperial Sugar for recipe development. I was compensated for my time to create this recipe. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.
Oh my goodness this looks absolutely amazing