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Strawberry-Pecan Quick Bread
© Fredrika Stjärne

Strawberry-Pecan Quick Bread

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  • ACTIVE: 20 MIN
  • TOTAL TIME: 1 HR 30 MIN
  • SERVINGS: 8
  • •MAKE-AHEAD
  • •VEGETARIAN

As this loaf bakes in the oven, the texture of chewy dried strawberries softens slightly. Buy your dried strawberries at a specialty food shop or health food store that rotates its stock frequently to make sure that they're plump and moist.

  1. 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  2. 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  3. 1/2 teaspoon salt
  4. 1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
  5. 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
  6. 2 eggs
  7. 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  8. 1/2 cup milk
  9. 3/4 cup dried strawberries, coarsely chopped
  10. 1/2 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
  11. 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Spray a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with vegetable oil. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour with the baking powder and salt. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter with 1 cup of the sugar until pale and fluffy. Using a handheld mixer at medium speed, beat in the eggs one at a time, beating until fully incorporated between additions. Add the vanilla. At low speed, working in 2 batches, alternately beat in the dry ingredients and the milk. Using a spatula, fold in the dried strawberries and chopped pecans until evenly incorporated.
  2. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan. Mix the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar with the cinnamon and sprinkle on top. Bake for about 1 hour and 5 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean. Let the bread cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then turn it out onto a rack and let cool completely before slicing.
Make Ahead The bread can be wrapped in plastic and kept at room temperature for up to 2 days.