Fresh Strawberry Bread (with a hint of cardamom)

July 3, 2011
Fresh Strawberry Bread is a tender quick bread loaded with fresh strawberries, pecans, and just a touch of cardamom.  It's such a fabulously tasty bread to enjoy with that morning coffee, or as an anytime snack.

Sliced Fresh Strawberry Bread Image

When strawberries were in the height of their season a few weeks ago, I found a recipe for fresh strawberry bread while browsing a church cookbook from my mother-in-law's bookshelf.  I jotted the recipe down, all excited to make it with the gorgeous, fresh strawberries appearing around our area.

As soon as I got my hands on some beauties, I gave the recipe a whirl.  And was terribly disappointed.

I had envisioned a light, moist, beautifully-risen bread that let the flavor of fresh strawberries shine.  What I got was a dense, somewhat dry, dark bread overly-flavored with cinnamon to the point that the strawberries were ... well ... pointless.  Not what I wanted at all.

And now? -- I had strawberry bread on the brain.

The flavor of fresh strawberries does indeed shine, with just a hint of cinnamon and cardamom that beautifully compliment the strawberries rather than drown them out. 

So, back to the drawing board I went, making and re-making strawberry bread to find and create the recipe result I'd envisioned.

I've been through several iterations of this bread -- more iterations than I'd like to admit.  But now I'm happy with it.  Actually, I'm very happy with it.

This version of Fresh Strawberry Bread is indeed a moist, beautifully-risen loaf studded with diced strawberries throughout.

The flavor of fresh strawberries does indeed shine, with just a hint of cinnamon and cardamom that beautifully compliment the strawberries rather than drown them out.  And the crumb is what I would call a medium-density -- not completely light and airy, but not overly dense either.  The texture of the loaf needed to have a little heft to it to support the juicy fresh berries.

It's a recipe result I'll happily enjoy with that morning coffee or as a perfect-for-anytime snack.

Fresh Strawberry Bread Image

To make a tasty loaf of this strawberry quick bread, start by dicing some fresh strawberries.

Sprinkle them with a tiny bit of sugar to help bring out their sweetness, and set the berries aside while you prepare the rest of the batter.

Diced Strawberries to Make Fresh Strawberry Bread Image

Then mix up your bread batter, following the creaming method ... first creaming your butter and sugar, beating in the eggs, and then adding your dry ingredients alternately with your liquid.

I use buttermilk as the liquid in this recipe, because I just love the moistness and richness that buttermilk adds to baked goods.

I also add a dash of ground cardamom to this loaf, which compliments the strawberries just wonderfully.  Cardamom is an interesting and unique flavor, for sure.  With an almost floral-peppery taste, it's like like no other spice.  If you're familiar with chai tea, it's what gives chai tea its distinct flavor.

I add a dash of cardamom to this loaf, which compliments the strawberries just wonderfully.

I absolutely love cardamom - but you have to be careful with it because it's such a strong flavor.  It took me a couple of tries to figure out the "right" amount of cardamom for this strawberry bread.  If you're not a fan (which I know some people are not), by all means leave the cardamom out ... this bread is certainly still tasty without it.

Once the bread batter is prepared, gently fold in the sweetened diced strawberries and some coarsely chopped pecans.

Fresh Strawberry Bread Batter in Mixing Bowl Image

Bake up the bread for about an hour until it's golden brown and a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Loaf of Fresh Strawberry Bread in Baking Pan Image

Allow the bread to cool completely, then you're ready to dive in to its deliciousness.

The result?  Exactly what I was looking for in this fresh strawberry bread -- a moist, beautifully-risen loaf that lets the flavor of the strawberries shine.

Slice of Fresh Strawberry Bread Image
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strawberry quick bread, fresh strawberry bread recipe, recipes with cardamom, recipes with fresh strawberries
Breads
American
Yield: 1 loaf

Fresh Strawberry Bread

Fresh Strawberry Bread

Fresh Strawberry Bread is a tender quick bread loaded with fresh strawberries, pecans, and just a touch of cardamom. It's such a fabulously tasty bread to enjoy with that morning coffee, or as an anytime snack.
Prep time: 20 MCook time: 1 hourTotal time: 1 H & 20 M

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 c. butter, softened
  • 3/4 c. granulated sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 2 c. all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1/16 tsp. ground cardamom (optional)
  • 1/2 c. buttermilk
  • 1 1/2 c. fresh strawberries, diced
  • 2 tsp. sugar
  • 1/2 c. pecans, coarsely chopped

Instructions:

  1. Dice strawberries and place in a small bowl. Sprinkle with the 2 teaspoons sugar; set aside while you prepare the rest of the batter.
  2. Beat butter with an electric mixer until fluffy, about 1 minute. Add sugar and continue to beat until light and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes.
  3. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla extract.
  4. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and cardamom.
  5. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture and buttermilk, alternately, starting and ending with flour. Mix only until just combined; do not over mix.
  6. Gently fold in the strawberries and pecans.
  7. Scrape batter into a regular-sized (9x5x3") loaf pan that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
  8. Bake at 350℉ for about 1 hour, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack in the pan for about 15 minutes, then remove bread loaf from the pan and cool completely.
Created using The Recipes Generator


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This post is linked with Weekend PotluckMeal Plan Monday.

9 comments

  1. This looks amazing! So glad you kept trying until you got it just the way you like it!

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  2. Another great fruit bread! You are my hero. I'm so glad you took the time to figure this recipe out because it looks heavenly.

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  3. I came here to thank you for linking this to My Meatless Mondays of My Sweet and Savory and to tell you how much I like this bread. We are a family who is into muffins and quick breads. Both the breads, you posted, are winners, in my book. I plan to make the strawberry bread first and have it printed and ready to go. I have a big container of strawberries. just waiting.

    You might like to post this at Bake with Bizzy, also which is on the blog, I am writing to you from. Now, I have to check out your blog.

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  4. I've been trying to find a way to use up all my fresh strawberries and this looks awfully tasty! ~Courtney

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  5. Such a pretty bread. I've never tasted cardamom before but it all sounds delicious. Thanks for sharing on A Well-Seasoned Life's Sweet Indulgences Sunday.

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  6. I love this idea. I've never put strawberries in bread. Thanks for sharing at the What's for Dinner party. Have a wonderful week.

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  7. Your Strawberry Pecan Bread will be delicious! Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with us at Full Plate Thursday,483.
    Come back soon!
    Miz Helen

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  8. Looks delish! Thanks for sharing it. Interested in trying, minus the pecans, which don't agree with me.

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  9. Looks so good - can't wait to make it! Congrats for being one of our Featured Guests at Inspire Me Monday at Create With Joy this week! :-)

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