Description
This Almond Quick Bread is a moist and flavorful loaf cake infused with almond and vanilla extracts, topped with a sweet almond glaze and crunchy sliced almonds. Perfect for breakfast, dessert, or a snack, it combines tender crumb with a delicate nutty sweetness, baked to golden perfection in under an hour.
Ingredients
Bread Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup buttermilk
- ½ cup neutral oil (such as vegetable or canola oil)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon almond extract
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Glaze Ingredients
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted
- 1-2 tablespoons milk (plus additional as needed)
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- Sliced almonds for topping
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8 ½ x 4 ½ inch loaf pan thoroughly to prevent sticking and set it aside.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, buttermilk, oil, eggs, almond extract, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Add the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to the wet ingredients. Whisk gently until just combined, taking care not to overmix to ensure a tender crumb.
- Transfer Batter: Pour the prepared batter into the greased loaf pan, spreading it evenly.
- Bake the Bread: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, indicating the bread is fully baked.
- Cool Bread: Remove the loaf from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 to 15 minutes. Run a thin knife around the edges to loosen it, then carefully remove the bread from the pan and transfer it to the wire rack to cool completely.
- Prepare Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, melted butter, milk, and almond extract until smooth. Add additional milk if needed to reach a pourable consistency.
- Glaze the Bread: Once the bread is completely cool, drizzle the almond glaze evenly over the top.
- Add Toppings and Serve: Immediately sprinkle sliced almonds over the glazed bread. Allow the glaze to set slightly before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Ensure the bread is completely cool before glazing to prevent the glaze from melting and sliding off.
- If you prefer a stronger almond flavor, you can increase the almond extract slightly but be cautious as it is very potent.
- Use fresh baking powder for the best rise and texture.
- Sliced almonds can be toasted lightly before sprinkling for added crunch and flavor.
- If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make a substitute by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to ¾ cup of milk and letting it sit for 5 minutes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American