This basic walnut bread recipe is one for the books! Your dinner party guests will be INCREDIBLY impressed with your loaf skills (because we all know that making loaves of bread isn’t always the easiest task!). This loaf is perfect to serve as a dessert or even as a sweet breakfast with a large cup of coffee!

Welcome back, foodie friends! My name is Lisa and I am the founder of the Sugar Agenda food blog. I’m a firm believer that every day deserves to be tasty!

Basic walnut loaf: Everything you need to know to make your first loaf.

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Can you believe this is actually one of the first loaves I’ve ever whipped up? I knew I wanted to make it special, so I decided to go for delicious flavor pairings, which is exactly why I used walnuts and maple syrup as the show stars!

Next, click over and try my delicious no-yeast cinnamon bread!

Two slices of walnut loaf piled on top of each other on a grey plate, surrounded by forks, walnuts, the entire loaf and a mason jar full of coffee.

If this is your first time making a loaf, well… step right in! I promise that this recipe isn’t hard to put together! In fact, there’s no yeast involved, so that’s one less thing to worry about.

Because there’s no yeast, my Basic Walnut Loaf acts halfway between bread and a cake. It’s moist and full of flavor but still tastes delicious with jams, honey, etc.

A close up of a basic walnut loaf, with a grey and white tea towel next to it

A close up of two slices of walnut loaf, sitting on a grey plate

How to Make Basic Walnut Bread

Two delicious flavors collide in this easy loaf recipe. You’ll adore the notes of fresh maple syrup and walnuts combined. Our Basic Walnut Loaf pairs perfectly with a hot latte or a chamomile tea.

Basic walnut loaf - extremely flavorful!

What you need:

Kitchen Tools Needed:

Ingredients Needed:

Tips for Making the Best Ever Basic Walnut Loaf:

Be Sure to Have a Parchment Overhang

When it comes to prepping for this recipe, the parchment overhang is vital! I like to overhang my parchment (which means you allow for parchment paper to be slightly higher than the pan itself), because it allows me to pull the loaf out of its pan without any sticking. I make sure that there’s a parchment overhang on all four sides of the pan.

I like to do the parchment overhang for other recipes like brownies, bars, etc.

Can I Use Table Syrup Instead of Maple Syrup?

Table syrup and maple syrup are two completely different syrups made up of completely different ingredients. Maple syrup is made from 100% maple sap, whereas table syrup is a sugar syrup with added flavorings.

In short, no. For our Basic Walnut Loaf recipe, we highly recommend using pure maple syrup to keep it tasting its best.

Can You Freeze Basic Walnut Loaf?

Yes! This Basic Walnut Loaf can definitely be frozen! We recommend pre-cutting it into slices, and wrapping each slice with plastic. Then, add the slices into an airtight container and freeze for up to three months.

Bird's eye view of slices of walnut loaf, on a grey plate with a few walnuts around it.

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Basic Walnut Loaf

Print Recipe

Two delicious flavors collide in this easy loaf recipe. You'll adore the notes of fresh maple syrup and walnuts combined. Our Basic Walnut Loaf pairs perfectly with a hot latte or a chamomile tea.

Prep Time:15

Cook Time:1

Resting Time:25

Total Time:1 40

SERVINGS

Equipment

Loaf Pan

Ingredients

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 ½ sticks butter approx. ¾ cup, cut into slices (not softened)
¼ cup + 2 tbsp sugar
½ cup chopped walnuts
3 large eggs room temperature
1 tbsp whole milk
5 tbsp maple syrup

Instructions

Begin by preheating oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9×5 loaf pan with parchment paper, with an overhang on the sides. Set aside.
Next, sift together dry ingredients (flour and baking powder) into a mixing bowl.
Add butter slices into the bowl and use a fork or pastry cutter to cut the butter into the flour mixture. Continue until the ingredients are fully incorporated with one another and sticks together slightly when pinched.
Add sugar and walnuts. Mix.
In a separate bowl, mix together eggs and milk. Add maple syrup.
Slowly add wet ingredients to the flour and butter mixture. Slowly incorporate all ingredients by mixing. The batter will be slightly lumpy.
Pour into the lined loaf pan and bake for 45-60 minutes. Test its readiness by inserting a toothpick in the center of the loaf. If it comes out clean, it is ready.
Allow to set in the pan for about 5-10 minutes then place on a wire rack and allow to cool before serving.