In the past I have added dried cherries to my quick breads, but I have never used fresh, tart, cherries. The result is a flavorful and super-moist quick bread. It is easy to make and so simple but so good. If you don’t have fresh cherries, frozen or canned tart cherries will work well too, just make sure you allow them to dry on paper towels a bit before you put them in your bread batter. This makes a great breakfast or brunch bread, especially if you add a thin drizzle of white icing once the bread has cooled. Have you ever tried French toast from a quick bread? Oh my, treat yourself sometime and make it from your favorite fruit & nut quick bread. Hmm, I think I know what I will have for breakfast tomorrow!
This recipe makes one large loaf.
1 ¼ cup halved, pitted, tart cherries*
½ cup orange juice
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ cup chopped nuts – almond, pecans, or walnuts
¼ cup vegetable oil
1 large, beaten, egg
½ cup milk
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
¾ teaspoon salt
¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
Preheat oven to 350˚. Pit and cut tart cherries in half. Set on paper towel to drain a few minutes. In a large bowl add the egg, oil, juice, and milk. Stir well. Add baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and sugar. Stir again. Add the flour and mix well. Batter should be the consistency of a thick pancake batter. If too thin add more milk, a few tablespoons at a time. Fold in the cherries and nuts. Oil and flour a 9 x 5 loaf pan. Add the batter to the pan. Build the batter up a bit on all four sides so center seems a bit lower than the edges. Bake 50 – 55 minutes. Cool on a rack for ten minutes. Remove bread from the loaf pan and allow to cool completely before cutting. If you are using the bread for French toast allow the slices to sit out a few hours before dipping in the egg mixture.
*If you are using frozen, tart cherries be sure to thaw the cherries and allow to drain on paper towels before putting them in your batter. Canned cherries need to drain and also be placed on paper towel to drain before using in your batter.
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