Imagine a slice of heaven that combines the rich, decadent flavors of chocolate, the nutty crunch of pecans, and a sultry bourbon-infused streusel that will make your taste buds dance with delight! This Chocolate Pecan Bread is not just a recipe; it's a culinary experience that transforms an ordinary bread into an extraordinary treat. Whether you're looking to impress your brunch guests or treat yourself to a luxurious homemade bread, this recipe promises to elevate your baking game and fill your kitchen with an irresistible aroma that will have everyone begging for a slice.
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 3 hrs
Total Time: 3 hrs 20 mins
Cuisine: American
Serves: 1 loaf
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 cups bread flour
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon bread machine yeast
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 1/4 cup bourbon
- 1/2 cup brown sugar for streusel
- 1/4 cup flour for streusel
- 1/4 cup butter for streusel
Instructions
- In a bread machine pan, add water and 2 tablespoons of butter first, ensuring they are at room temperature.
- Layer bread flour, sugar, and salt on top of liquid ingredients, creating distinct layers to prevent premature yeast activation.
- Create a small indentation in the flour and carefully add bread machine yeast, ensuring it does not directly contact liquid ingredients.
- Set bread machine to sweet bread or specialty bread cycle, typically using medium crust setting.
- During the first mixing cycle, carefully fold in chocolate chips and chopped pecans to distribute evenly throughout the dough.
- While bread is mixing and rising, prepare bourbon streusel topping by combining brown sugar, flour, and butter in a separate bowl.
- Drizzle bourbon into streusel mixture, mixing until it forms a crumbly, slightly moist texture.
- When bread machine signals final rise cycle, carefully sprinkle bourbon streusel evenly across the top of the bread dough.
- Allow bread machine to complete baking cycle, which typically takes approximately 3 hours.
- Once baking completes, remove bread immediately and let cool on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before slicing.
- Slice and serve warm, optionally drizzling additional bourbon or serving with butter.
Tips
- Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature for optimal mixing and rising.
- Use high-quality bread machine yeast for the best texture and rise.
- When adding chocolate chips and pecans, fold gently to prevent deflating the dough.
- For an extra bourbon kick, choose a good-quality bourbon that you'd enjoy drinking.
- Don't open the bread machine during the baking cycle to maintain consistent temperature.
- Let the bread cool completely before slicing to prevent a gummy texture.
- Store in an airtight container and consume within 3-4 days for maximum freshness.
- For an even more decadent experience, serve slightly warmed with a pat of butter.
- If you don't have a bread machine, you can adapt this recipe for traditional oven baking with some modifications.
- Experiment with different types of chocolate chips or nuts to customize the flavor profile.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 350kcal
Carbohydrates: 45g
Protein: 6g
Fat: 18g
Saturated Fat: 9g
Cholesterol: 30mg
