Old Fashioned Orange Pecan Bread

This recipe was popular when I was a little girl.  It was made in the bakery of a popular department store and was one of their best sellers.  A long time ago, the recipe was published in the local paper and I have made it ever since.
First, toast 1-1/2 cups of pecans just until they become aromatic.  Set them aside to cool and roughly chop them.

Pour 2/3 cup of sugar and 1 cup of milk into your mixer bowl.

Add 2 eggs, 1 tsp. vanilla and 3 tablespoons of melted butter.

Add the zest of 1 orange.  Beat until combined then add 2-1/2 cups of flour, 4 tsp. of baking powder and 1 tsp. of salt.  Beat to combine. (Make sure you use baking powder and not baking soda so you don't have to throw the whole batch out.  I'm not saying how I know this.)

Add the toasted pecans.

Pour the batter into a buttered loaf pan.  Bake it at 350 degrees for about 1 hour or until a toothpick stuck in the middle comes out clean.

Remove it from the pan and cool it on a rack.

Wrap it and keep it on the fridge.  The flavor actually improves over the next few days.

Comments

Heritage Hall said…
"I'm not saying how I know this"
Thanks for a priceless chuckle...
Getting out the zester this morning.... tempting.
.
Alison Hunter said…
I love your blog! It makes me feel warm and cozy all year round. I especially love your witchy collection I always get great ideas from you around Halloween. Have you seen this?
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/WOEE-THE-BEAUCHAMP-FAMILY-SCREEN-USED-GRIMOIRE-SS-1-2-/311285015149?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item487a08626d
Anonymous said…
This is a must do, the only problem: where to find pecans :-) We have them around at Christmas and I guess we must have some this time of year too but where :-)
I guess I can use walnuts but then it wouldn't be the same cake.

Have a great day!
Christer.
Leanna said…
OMG! That has my mouth watering. Thanks for the recipe.
Robin Larkspur said…
I bet it smells divine when it is baking! Those eggs look like you separated them? Just the yolks?
Guillaume said…
I'd have that with tea.
Unknown said…
Sounds wonderful. I loved a local bakery in a popular department store when i was little also...kaufmanns! Those memories are wonderful. Thank you for sharing.
Ellen in Oregon said…
I had just finished baking 2 loaves of English muffin bread when I read this post & now there are a couple of loaves of your Pecan orange bread baking in my oven. The fragrance of orange zest alone was worth making this bread. I love the combination of orange & pecans, but I also love orange & cranberries. I decided to add fresh chopped cranberries to one of the loaves, so I can get my cranberry fix. Hopefully I can resist eating any until tomorrow when the flavor is more pronounced Just the thing to have with a cup of tea or coffee in the afternoon.
P.S., thanks for taking that trip to Punxsutawney. That is one trip I am happy you took & I didn't. Groundhog overload is all I can say.
Anonymous said…
looks wonderful, such great color, sounds delicious!
THIS is a recipe I've been wanting. My mother used to make this and I've been meaning to ask my sister. You wouldn't happen to have a DATE NUT bread recipe would you? Hmmmm? :) This one goes in my binder. :)
TARYTERRE said…
That looks scrumptious.
Jim said…
I can taste it from here!! YUMMY!