Moist Strawberry Bread Recipe (Loaf)

Looking for a delicious and easy-to-make breakfast treat? Look no further than this mouth-watering strawberry bread recipe! Made with fresh strawberries and a handful of simple ingredients, for a super moist quick bread that’s sweet, but not so sweet that you would call it dessert.  Going for sweet, then add a strawberry glaze made with freeze-dried berries.

Have you ever tried strawberry bread? I’ve discovered what might be your new summer obsession: an easy strawberry quick bread recipe that incorporates fresh strawberries with a sweet batter, then blankets the entire loaf in a sweet, strawberry-infused optional glaze. This simple recipe is full of flavor with almost no effort. 

One bite, and you’ll agree: you’ll be making this recipe as long as strawberries are in season. The recipe makes two loaves so you can freeze one for later or to share with a friend. Find out when strawberries are in season and tips for storing your fresh strawberries so you can stock up to make this awesome bread.

This recipe makes a lovely bread to share over coffee in the afternoon, as an after-dinner treat, or in the morning for breakfast or brunch. It’s not as light as a strawberry rhubarb muffin, but dense and moist, and full of authentic strawberry flavor.

No strawberry flavoring or extracts, just real chopped berries, sugar, flour, and vanilla for a wholesome bread you’ll feel good serving to your family and friends.

The bread is perfectly sweet on it’s own, but I know there are times, when you need a little extra so I’ve included a fabulous strawberry glaze made with freeze-dried strawberries that you can smother over the top or drizzle on each slice.

If strawberries aren’t in season , they can be a little pricey at the grocery and frozen won’t work in this recipe, so try a strawberry recipe using strawberry jam like strawberry cream cheese coffee cake or strawberry french toast.

What is a quick bread?

A quick bread is a type of bread (usually baked in a loaf pan) that doesn’t use yeast to create the bread’s rise. Instead, it uses leavening agents like baking soda and baking powder. Quick breads are called ‘quick’ because the batter doesn’t need time to rise the way a yeast bread dough would.

This means instant gratification!

Quick breads are generally sweet, like banana bread and pumpkin bread. The batters are thick and hearty and can handle plenty of additives like berries, nuts, and raisins.

Why you’ll love this fresh strawberry bread recipe

• It’s a simple recipe that doesn’t require a lot of kitchen experience.
• It uses fresh strawberries and fresh ingredients.
• It’s perfect for any occasion: any time of day, Mother’s Day breakfast, holiday brunch, office breakfast meeting.
• It doesn’t require yeast or need any rise time, but still produces a moist, flavorful bread.

What are freeze-dried strawberries?

Freeze-dried strawberries are made from real strawberries and can be eaten as a snack or used in recipes like breads, muffins, and smoothies. They are great for adding to frosting or a glaze to give it that intense strawberry flavor.

Freeze dried fruit has almost all the water removed from it through a very fast and cold dehydration process. Dehydrated fruit has a lot of the water removed, but it is still rubbery. Freeze dried fruit has even more water removed. 

Freeze-dried strawberries are light and crunchy. You can find them in a bag at most grocery stores, or at amazon.

If you can’t find freeze dried berries, you can use pureed fresh berries. You won’t need as much milk when using fresh berries.

Strawberry bread recipe ingredients

• Fresh Strawberries – Look for juicy, berries and chop them into small pieces. Ripe strawberries will be red all the way to the stem.
  
• Freeze-Dried Strawberries – Most grocery stores will carry these. You can purchase them at specialty stores like Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods, too.
  
• Pecans – Fresh pecans will have more moisture in them and will provide a better texture to your bread.
  
• Confectioners Sugar – Sometimes called powdered sugar or icing sugar; make sure you sift it, especially if it’s been in your cupboard for a few months or more to avoid tiny lumps in your glaze.
  
• Vanilla – Use pure vanilla extract to add a warm, sweet flavor to the bread, and to balance out the sweetness of the sugar.
  
• Pantry Staples – flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, vegetable oil, eggs, vanilla and milk.

How to make moist strawberry bread

Step 1: Chop your strawberries.

Remove the stems and chop the strawberries into small diced pieces.

Step 2: Make the batter.

Whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs. Add the oil and mix together, then pour the egg mixture over the strawberries. Stir. Add the strawberry mixture to the flour mixture and gently stir just until combined. Finally, stir in the pecans.

Step 3: Bake the bread.

Divide the batter into two loaf pans, sprinkle the top of the batter with turbinado sugar. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean. Let them cool on a wire rack.

Step 4: Make the simple glaze.

Crush the freeze-dried strawberries. Combine them in a small bowl with the confectioners’ sugar and a bit of milk; just to make the glaze thin enough to pour over the cooled bread.

Tips for making perfect strawberry bread

• Use fresh, juicy berries. This will give you an explosive pop of flavor and color.
• Don’t overmix your batter. Mix just until the ingredients are incorporated. Overmixing can cause a breakdown of the gluten in the flour and result in heavy, dry bread.
• Don’t open and close the door while your loaves are baking. Keep the door closed until you’re pretty sure your bread is done baking. Then, quickly check with a toothpick. Opening the door during baking can result in the center of your bread sinking in.

How to store leftover strawberry bread

You can store this bread at room temperature for up to 3 days. Just wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or in a resealable bag or an airtight container to keep it moist and fresh.

You can also freeze this bread. Wrap it in plastic wrap, then place it in a Ziploc bag. Freeze it for up to 2 months.

What can I serve with strawberry bread?

While this is perfect with a cup of coffee or tea, if you plan to serve this bread as part of a brunch or breakfast, try it with some of these breakfast ideas:

• Sausage balls
• Puff pastry pockets
• Mini crustless quiches
• Baked eggs
• Sweet potato frittata
• Breakfast burritos
• Prosciutto egg cups

Strawberry bread FAQs

Can I use frozen strawberries in strawberry bread?

No, you can not use frozen berries in this recipe, they have too much moisture. 

Can I use a different fruit in a quick bread?

Yes! You can use blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, or other berries interchangeably in this recipe, or use up what you have in your fridge by mixing berries together.

More strawberry recipes to try

If you loved this recipe, give it a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating! Also, snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #butterandbaggage and tagging me @butterandbaggage.