Nectarine Bread

Filled with fresh nectarines, brown sugar, and warm cinnamon, this homemade nectarine bread recipe is the best summer breakfast or snack! It’s so soft and moist, chock full of juicy fruit pieces, a tender, golden brown crust, and an easy nectarine glaze.

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The best nectarine bread loaf

This easy nectarine bread is an all-time summer favorite of mine! It tastes incredible with your morning cup of coffee, and it’s also a delicious gift idea for your neighbors and coworkers.

I love making this bread when fresh nectarines are in season, and my whole family loves eating it. It’s totally addicting and never last long at our house.

Every bite is full of warm, sunny flavors, from the juicy peach chunks and cinnamon to the crispy crust. Get the most out of this year’s nectarine harvest and bake a loaf of this delicious fruit bread!

If you enjoy easy quick bread recipes as much as we do, try our brown sugar bread, Nutella bread, and lemon banana bread next!

And in case you prefer muffins, try my nectarine muffins! They are loaded with buttery streusel and are such a tasty breakfast!

Ingredients

Fresh nectarines are really all you need here. The rest are basic pantry staples that are probably already waiting in your kitchen. All measurements can be found in the recipe card below!

• Nectarines: For me, summertime is all about fresh fruit. And once nectarines are in season, this nectarine bread, is all I can think about. I like to peel the skin off and chop them into little cubes before stirring them into the batter.
• Sugar: A blend of granulated sugar and light brown sugar gives the bread the perfect amount of sweetness and a hint of caramel flavor.
• Butter: We’ll use melted salted butter for a deliciously moist and buttery nectarine quick bread. If using unsalted butter, add a pinch of salt to the bread batter.
• Eggs: Always use room-temperature eggs when baking bread. If you forgot to set your eggs out ahead of time, place them in a bowl of warm water for 10 minutes before mixing them into the batter.
• Milk ensures the nectarine loaf stays soft and moist for days. I like whole milk, but any type of milk will work, including dairy-free options.
• All-purpose flour gives the bread a delicious, cakey texture. For the best results, measure your flour with a digital kitchen scale. Alternatively, fluff the flour up in the bag, spoon it into your measuring cup, and level off the excess with a butter knife.
• Baking powder: A little baking powder goes a long way to give the bread a nice rise.
• Vanilla: Every good bread needs a splash of good vanilla extract.
• Ground cinnamon rounds out the other flavors and adds a rich warmth.

Do I need to peel the nectarines?

Peeling the nectarines is optional. The skin might separate from the nectarines during baking, which can slightly alter the texture of this bread. If that doesn’t bother you, feel free to leave it on. But if you have picky eater, it’s best to take it off.

How to peel nectarines

If you want to take the extra step to peel your nectarines, here’s how to do it:

1. Boil. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
2. Blanch peaches. Once boiling, lower 2 to 3 peaches into the water and let them sit for 20 to 30 seconds. This is enough time for the nectarine skin to soften and pull away from the fruit. Tip: Use a knife to cut a small “x” on the bottom of each nectarine before placing them in the pot. Doing so makes it even easier to peel the fruit.
3. Ice water bath. After you’ve boiled the nectarines, put them in a bowl of ice-cold water. This stops the cooking process and allows you to handle the nectarines without burning your hands.
4. Peel. Use a small knife to peel away the skin if it doesn’t slide off on its own.

How to make nectarine bread

Making this delicious nectarine bread is as straightforward as it gets. It’s the type of recipe anyone can make. And given how insanely good it is, you’ll be coming back for more.

#1: Mix wet ingredients

• In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the melted butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, milk, and vanilla extract until everything is well combined.

#2: Combine wet and dry ingredients

• Add the flour, baking powder, and cinnamon to the mixing bowl with the wet ingredients. Stir until just combined and you no longer see streaks of flour. Be careful not to overmix.

#3: Add nectarines

• Gently fold in the chopped nectarines. Pour the batter into a parchment paper-lined loaf pan. If desired, decorate the top with extra nectarine slices.

#4: Bake bread

• Bake at 350°F for 60 to 70 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the middle of the loaf comes out clean. A few crumbs are fine, but you don’t want to see any liquid batter.

#5: Let cool

• Remove the pan from the oven and allow the loaf to cool for about 15 minutes. Then transfer the bread onto a cooling rack to cool completely.

Tips for success

Give this homemade nectarine bread a try today. It’s great for breakfast in the morning and snacking throughout the day. Let’s chat about some tips and tricks to ensure your nectarine loaf turns out perfect!

• Line the pan: This nectarine cake loaf is super moist, so make sure to grease your loaf pan completely. I also recommend lining the inside with a piece of parchment paper to ensure bread doesn’t get stuck or fall apart when you remove it from the pan.
• Don’t overmix: When adding the dry to the wet ingredients, stir until they are just combined. Over-mixing can lead to overly dense nectarine bread and a gummy texture.
• Fold the nectarines in gently: Be careful as you add the nectarines to the batter. Fold them in gently so you don’t squish the fruit or overmix the batter.
• Baking time: The bread needs to bake for 60 to 70 minutes, but the baking time might be shorter or longer, depending on how your oven heats. The bread is done when the top is golden brown, and a skewer inserted in the center should come out clean.

Nectarine glaze

Although you could stop here and have a delicious nectarine loaf cake, we’re not done just yet. Add a drizzle of this yummy nectarine glaze, and you’ve got the ultimate summer bread.

• Mix: To make the glaze stir together 1 cup powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons finely diced peaches, 1 tablespoon melted butter, and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract.
• Tip: If the texture seems too thick, add 1 tablespoon of milk to thin it out. But keep in mind that the sugar will moisture from the fruit pieces as it sits.
• Pour: Spread the glaze on top of the bread.
• Tip: Allow the nectarine bread to cool completely before adding the glaze, or it will melt and run off the bread.

Variations & add-ins

You can change up this nectarine bread in several ways to fit your taste and make it different every time. Here are a few ideas for you:

• Cinnamon sugar topping: Instead of the glaze, sprinkle a few spoonfuls cinnamon sugar on top of the bread before baking.
• Streusel topping: To make a streusel topping, stir together 2/3 cup flour, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 5 tablespoons melted butter until large crumbs form. Sprinkle over the bread before baking.
• Spices: Feel free to double the cinnamon or add 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, and 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves to bring out those warm, comforting aromas.
• Buttermilk: You can easily swap in buttermilk for regular milk. Buttermilk adds a lovely tang to bread.
• Sour cream or yogurt: Another idea is to replace the milk with 1/4 cup of sour cream or yogurt. It’ll make the bread extra moist.
• Peaches and other stone fruit: You can substitute peaches or other stone fruit, such as plums for the nectarines.
• Berries: To make blueberry nectarine bread, prepare the recipe with 1 cup of diced peaches and 1 cup of fresh blueberries. Raspberries, blackberries, or diced strawberries will work as well.
• Nuts: To give the bread a nice crunch factor, stir in 1/2 cup of chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds.
• Almond extract: If you love the taste of bitter almond, add 1/4 teaspoon of almond extract when you mix the wet ingredients. The taste is unbelievable!

Storage instructions

How to store nectarine bread

If you have leftovers, I’m proud of you. Nectarine bread never lasts long at my house! Here are some to keep it fresh and tasty for as long as possible.

• Store: The bread can sit out on the counter at room temperature for up to a day. Since it contains fresh fruit, you want to keep it in the refrigerator afterward.
• Wrap: Make sure to store your loaf in an airtight container so it doesn’t dry out.

Freeze nectarine loaf

The bread freezes well, but I recommend freezing it without the glaze so it’s easy to wrap and thaw.

• Freeze: Wrap the bread tightly with plastic wrap and place it in a large freezer bag for extra protection. Freeze for up to 3 months.
• Thaw: Let the loaf thaw completely before unwrapping, which helps to keep it fresh.

Reasons to love nectarine bread

• Taste: This nectarine bread has a wonderfully sweet flavor that allows the nectarines to shine. The nectarine glaze adds even more melt-in-your-mouth flavor.
• Texture: The texture is super soft and moist. It reminds me of a cross between cake and muffins.
• Ease: The recipe is super easy to make in a couple of minutes with a handful of simple pantry ingredients.

Other recipes with nectarines

You’ve tried it in bread, now let’s see how nectarines enhance so many other kinds of desserts! You’ll love the sweet, juicy flavor that shines in each of these recipes. Try them all, and let me know which is your favorite!

• Traditional Nectarine Pie
• Soft Nectarine Cake
• Nectarine Cobbler
• Nectarine Crisp
• Easy Nectarine Galette
• Nectarine Smoothie

More quick breads to love

Once you make this nectarine bread, you are going to want more! To save you some time, I’ve put together some of our most loved quick bread recipes. They are so good, and you can whip up a loaf any time you have a great for a delicious, sweet snack!

• Brown Sugar Bread
• Zucchini Bread
• Apple Bread
• Nutella Bread
• Peanut Butter Bread
• Condensed Milk Banana Bread
• Pistachio Banana Bread
• 4-Ingredient Banana Bread