Packed with Cheddar cheese and flavored with dill, this quick bread recipe has fresh springtime flavor that highlights the richness of Sunnyland Farms Raw Georgia Pecan Halves. Made all the more tender from buttermilk in the batter, this loaf is delicious served warm from the oven and slathered in butter.
Cheddar-Pecan Loaf
Makes 1 (8½x4½-inch) loaf
Ingredients
- 2½ cups (313 grams) all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons (36 grams) granulated sugar
- 1½ teaspoons (7.5 grams) baking powder
- 1 teaspoon (3 grams) kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon (2 grams) garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon (1.25 grams) baking soda
- 1⅓ cups (320 grams) whole buttermilk, room temperature
- ¼ cup (56 grams) canola oil
- 1 large egg (50 grams), room temperature
- 1 cup (113 grams) roughly chopped toasted Sunnyland Farms Raw Georgia Pecan Halves
- ⅔ cup (75 grams) plus 3 tablespoons (22 grams) firmly packed shredded extra-sharp Cheddar cheese, divided
- ½ cup (56 grams) finely chopped green onion
- ¼ cup (10 grams) lightly packed finely chopped fresh dill
- ¼ cup (28 grams) roughly chopped Sunnyland Farms Raw Georgia Pecan Halves
- Softened butter, to serve
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (180°F). Spray an 8½x4½-inch loaf pan with baking spray with flour; line pan with parchment paper, letting excess extend over sides of pan.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, garlic powder, and baking soda. In a medium bowl, whisk together buttermilk, oil, and egg. Add buttermilk mixture to flour mixture; stir until well combined. (Batter will be very thick.) Fold in toasted pecans, ⅔ cup (75 grams) cheese, green onion, and dill until well combined. Spoon batter into prepared pan; using a small off set spatula, smooth into an even layer. Sprinkle top with raw pecans and remaining 3 tablespoons (22 grams) cheese.
- Bake until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean and an instant-read thermometer inserted in center registers 200°F (93°C), 1 hour to 1 hour and 5 minutes. Let cool in pan for 5 minutes. Using excess parchment as handles, remove from pan, and let cool completely on a wire rack. Serve with softened butter.
There is very little fresh dill here in the winter. If I use dried, how much would I use and how will it affect the loaf?
Hey Anita,
You’ll want to use less dried dill (it has more concentrated flavor) but it shouldn’t affect the bread too much because fresh dill doesn’t pack too much moisture. Try using one to the 1 1/2 tablespoons dried dill in the bread instead of the 1/4 cup fresh dill!
Can I sub sour cream for buttermilk? I don’t have pecans or sharp cheddar, but I have walnuts and white cheddar.
Hey Sarah,
Instead of sour cream, we suggest you make your own buttermilk with regular whole milk and either distilled white vinegar or lemon juice. Simply add one tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice to one cup whole milk for a proper substitution. Sour cream is a bit thicker than buttermilk and will lead to a much denser quick bread. Your other suggestions for substitutions should be great, though!
Do you have to use Dill? I have none. Can I use parsley or oregano? Thinking of a substitute
Hey Laura,
Feel free to use other herbs like oregano or parsley–just know that they may be stronger in flavor and you may want to go down in the 1/4 cup herb amount.
So You heat oven to 350 But bake at 200 ?
Hi Jean!
Thanks for reaching out. The loaf is baked at 350 deg F. The internal temperature of the loaf when it is done baking should register at 200 deg F.