This Easy Southern Peach Bread is a sweet treat packed with juicy peaches that remind you of warm summer days. It’s so simple to make, you’ll want to bake it every week!
Trust me, your kitchen will smell amazing while it bakes. I love to enjoy a slice with my morning coffee—it’s the perfect way to start the day, right? ☕🍑
Key Ingredients & Substitutions
Fresh Peaches: Fresh, ripe peaches give the best flavor. If they’re out of season, feel free to use canned peaches, but make sure to drain them well. Some folks even use frozen peaches—just let them thaw and drain before adding to the batter.
Sour Cream: This ingredient keeps the bread moist and gives it a tangy flavor. If you don’t have sour cream, plain yogurt works as a great substitute. Greek yogurt is fine too, just note it may be a bit thicker.
Butter: Unsalted butter is preferred to control the salt in the recipe. If you’re in a pinch, you can use salted butter but just reduce the added salt a little.
Nuts: I love adding pecans for a Southern twist, but walnuts or even almonds could work nicely too! If you’re nut-free, simply leave them out.
How Do I Ensure My Bread is Moist and Flavorful?
The key to a moist peach bread lies in not overmixing your batter. Once you add the flour mixture and sour cream, mix just until combined. Overmixing can lead to a dense bread. Also, make sure your peaches are well-drained if using canned or frozen to keep excess moisture down.
- Consider lightly tossing your diced peaches in a bit of flour before folding them into the batter. This helps distribute them evenly and prevents them from sinking.
- For extra moisture, you can add a tablespoon of milk or more sour cream if you feel the batter is too thick.
Easy Southern Peach Bread
Ingredients You’ll Need:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 1/2 to 2 cups fresh peaches, peeled and diced (about 2 large peaches)
- Optional: 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
How Much Time Will You Need?
This recipe takes about 15 minutes to prepare and 60-70 minutes to bake. After baking, allow the bread to cool for about 10 minutes in the pan and then cool completely on a wire rack. All in all, it will take roughly 1 hour and 30 minutes from start to finish.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
1. Prepping Your Oven and Pan:
First, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). While the oven is heating up, take a 9×5-inch loaf pan and grease it with butter or cooking spray. Then, dust it lightly with flour to prevent sticking. Set it aside.
2. Mixing Dry Ingredients:
In a medium-sized bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg. Whisk these ingredients together until they’re well mixed. This helps to ensure that your baking powder and soda are evenly distributed throughout the bread.
3. Creaming Butter and Sugar:
In a larger bowl, take the softened butter and granulated sugar and cream them together with a hand mixer (or a wooden spoon) until the mixture is light and fluffy. This will take about 2-3 minutes. It’s important to aerate the butter and sugar to get a nice rise in your bread.
4. Adding Eggs and Vanilla:
Now, beat in the eggs one at a time into the butter mixture. After each egg, make sure it is well incorporated before adding the next. Finally, stir in the vanilla extract and mix until combined.
5. Combining Wet and Dry Ingredients:
Next, take your prepared flour mixture and alternate adding it to the wet ingredients in the butter, cream, and sugar bowl. Start with a scoop of dry ingredients, mix gently, then add a bit of sour cream, and mix again. Continue this until everything is combined. Don’t overmix; just stir until the dry ingredients are moistened.
6. Adding Peaches and Nuts:
Gently fold in the diced peaches and nuts (if you chose to use them) into the batter. Make sure they are evenly distributed without overmixing.
7. Pouring into the Pan:
Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan and use a spatula to smooth out the top. This will help it bake evenly in the oven.
8. Baking Time:
Place the loaf pan in the preheated oven and bake for 60-70 minutes. The bread is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. It should have a beautiful golden-brown color.
9. Cooling Your Bread:
Once baked, take the bread out of the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Then, carefully transfer the bread to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing into it. This is the hardest part—waiting to dig in!
Enjoy your delicious, moist Southern peach bread! Perfect for breakfast, a snack, or just to share with family and friends. 🍑💛
FAQs for Easy Southern Peach Bread
Can I Use Frozen Peaches in This Recipe?
Yes, frozen peaches work just fine! Just make sure to thaw them completely and drain any excess moisture before dicing and adding them to the batter. This will help maintain the bread’s texture and prevent it from becoming soggy.
How Should I Store Leftovers?
Store any leftover peach bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, wrap it well in plastic wrap and foil, then place it in the freezer. It can last up to 3 months in the freezer—just thaw overnight in the fridge before enjoying!
Can I Substitute the Sour Cream?
Absolutely! If you’re out of sour cream, you can use plain yogurt or buttermilk as an alternative. Both will help keep the bread moist and add a nice tangy flavor.
What Can I Serve with Peach Bread?
This peach bread is delicious on its own or with a spread of butter or cream cheese. It pairs wonderfully with coffee or tea for a lovely morning or afternoon treat!
