Peanut Butter Bacon Bread Recipe: Savory and Satisfying

Before you stick out your tongue in disgust, trust me when I say that peanut butter and bacon are an underrated flavor combination. (Move over peanut butter and jam.)

Sure, you can make a peanut butter bacon sandwich, but I’ll do you one better and show you a delicious peanut butter bacon bread recipe that incorporates a sprinkling of chopped nuts for a crunchy, sweet and savory, and oh-so-satisfying quick bread.

Whip it up for snack time, a side dish, or enjoy as a breakfast bread.

Note: Don’t write this recipe off if you have nut allergies or are looking for a meat-free alternative. Keep reading below for some ingredient alternatives!

Is peanut butter and bacon good together?

On first thought, bacon and peanut butter might sound like an odd pairing (maybe even a gross combination), but it’s one of those food pairings that’s surprisingly tasty and satisfying. Just like sweet and spicy sauce, sea salt and dark chocolate, or spicy chilies and dark chocolate, opposites attract.

The slightly sweet and creamy texture of nut butter combined with the saltiness and fattiness of bacon is a match-made in heaven. The opposing flavors and textures complement each other. Plus, the chopped peanuts add just the right amount of crunch!

What is this peanut butter bacon bread recipe all about?

The peanut butter bacon bread recipe is a unique combination of flavors, blending the richness of peanut butter and the smokiness of bacon in a delightful bread. It uses simple ingredients that you likely already have.

What is quick bread?

As the name implies, quick bread is a snappy way to bake a loaf of bread, as it’s made without yeast as a leavening agent. (That means less sitting time). Instead, it relies on traditional leavening agents such as baking powder or baking soda to rise. The recipe I’m about to share with you falls into this category.

Quick breads are typically easier and faster to make compared to yeast breads, as they don’t require time for the dough to rise. Unlike bread loaves made with yeast (which require several hours, or even overnight proofing), you can bake and enjoy this bread in the same day.

Quick breads can be sweet or savory. You can make muffins, scones, biscuits, and loaves. Quick breads are a popular choice for breakfast or as a quick snack option as they are convenient and versatile.

A note on food allergies and ingredient substitutions

If you’re vegetarian, or have nut allergies, don’t write off this recipe just yet. You can swap a few ingredients to tailor the recipe to your liking. Nut allergy? Ditch the chopped nuts and replace peanut butter with a nut alternative!

Don’t use meat products? Use vegetarian bacon instead! Here are a few ways you can customize this breakfast bread recipe:

Nuts: I used roasted unsalted peanuts, but you could easily use honey roasted nuts (for a sweeter taste). I would use salted nuts with caution as the bacon already adds a salty kick. Or ditch them altogether if you have a nut allergy. The recipe will still taste fine; it’ll just have less crunch.
Bacon: I had a few leftover slices of regular fried bacon, but you could use pretty much any type of bacon, such as turkey or vegetarian bacon. Cook the bacon to your liking: crispy bacon, or softer bacon, both work. You could also use pre-crumbled bacon (the type that is made from real bacon). I’m not sure how simulated bacon bits would taste — I haven’t tested it yet.
Nut butter: I used smooth and creamy peanut butter, but crunchy works great too! Almond butter works as well. If you’re allergic to nuts, you could substitute for other nut butters such as sunflower, soy, or pea butter.¹
Sugar: While the recipe calls for white granulated sugar, you could also substitute half of the sugar with a healthier alternative, such as baking stevia. You could also use brown sugar instead of white on a 1:1 basis.
Milk: You can ditch the regular dairy milk, and replace with others such as almond or cashew milk, soy, pea, oat, hemp, or other types of milk alternatives.

RusticWise, peanut butter bacon bread, chopped pieces of peanuts and bacon on cutting board — Coarsely chopped bacon and peanuts.

Peanut butter bacon bread recipe

Here’s how to make this sweet and salty loaf from start to finish. This recipe makes 1 loaf of bread.

Supplies you’ll need:

1 loaf pan
Measuring spoons
Wooden spoon
Whisk or fork to beat egg
Small bowl for beating egg
Cutting board and knife
1 medium mixing bowl
Wire rack for cooling (optional)

Note: I just hand-mixed this recipe as I found the peanut butter to be sticky. You also need to fold in the nuts and bacon, so I just ditched the stand mixer for this recipe!

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon melted butter (or shortening)
1 cup milk
1 egg, well beaten
1 cup peanut butter
½ teaspoon kosher salt (or table salt)
2 cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup chopped unsalted peanuts
1 cup cooked bacon, crumbled or coarsely chopped (roughly 12 to 16 bacon slices). If you have a little less, no worries!

RusticWise, peanut butter bacon bread, bread batter in mixing bowl with wooden spoon — Fold in the chopped peanuts and bacon.

Follow the following instructions to make your quick bacon peanut butter loaf:

Chop peanuts and cooked bacon if you haven’t already done so.
Mix sugar, butter, and milk with beaten egg. Add peanut butter.
Add in salt, flour, and baking powder.
Fold in nuts and bacon. Pour batter into a greased and floured pan (or you could line the pan with parchment paper or a silicon liner for easy cleanup). Let it sit for 20 minutes. This sitting time is important as it allows the dough to rest and allows the flour in the bread to fully hydrate, resulting in a better texture. While the batter is resting, preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 degrees Celsius) for 1 hour, or until done. Bread is done when the top is golden brown, or when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Remove from the loaf pan after it has cooled slightly and let it cool completely on a wire rack.

RusticWise, peanut butter bacon bread, loaf of bread on wooden cutting board — Doesn’t this loaf of bread look delicious??

Ways to enjoy bacon peanut butter bread

There are so many ways to enjoy this savory quick bread. I highly recommend warming up the bread before eating!

Enjoy on its own or with a pat of butter, or drizzle with honey.
Spread peanut butter on top for a nutty blast.
Add extra slices of bacon AND peanut butter on top for a satisfying breakfast, lunch or snack.
Serve as a side with savory dishes like soups or salads.

How to store bacon peanut butter bread

It’s important to wait until the bread has fully cooled before storing (or risk condensation buildup). Keep it in an airtight container or a ziploc bag in the refrigerator. It’s best used within 2 to 4 days. While I don’t normally store my bread in the fridge, this recipe contains bacon which should be kept cool. Remember to warm before serving.

You can also store a cooled loaf of bread in the freezer for up to 3 months. Don’t forget to label with the name and the date!