CHERRY-CHOCOLATE LOAF

Cherry-Chocolate Loaf image

I am very proud of my banana bread recipe, which is why I adapted it into this amazing cherry-chocolate loaf. While cherries really aren't anything like bananas, this really did work out extremely well--this loaf is a delicious option for breakfast, brunch, or dessert.

Provided by Chef John

Categories Bread Quick Bread Recipes Fruit Bread Recipes

Time 1h50m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 15

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Ingredients

1 teaspoon unsalted butter
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
¼ cup plain yogurt
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups pitted cherries
½ cup dark chocolate chunks
½ cup chopped walnuts
¼ cup powdered sugar
3 teaspoons milk, or more as needed

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x4-inch loaf pan with 1 teaspoon butter and reserve.
Whisk flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda together in a bowl.
Cream 1/2 cup butter and sugar together in another bowl with a spatula or an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Beat in eggs one at a time with a whisk or an electric mixer, fully blending in the first egg before adding the next. Stir in yogurt and vanilla extract.
Chop pitted cherries coarsely with a knife, or by pulsing on and off a few times in a food processor. Add to the wet ingredients along with the chocolate chunks and chopped walnuts. Stir briefly to combine. Batter may look curdled, but don't worry.
Pour in the flour mixture and mix with a spatula until all the flour has disappeared. Transfer batter into the prepared loaf pan, making sure to smooth the top evenly and fill in the corners. Tap pan on the counter to release any air pockets.
Bake in the preheated oven until nicely browned and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Let bread rest in the pan for 15 minutes before removing to a wire rack.
While bread is resting, combine powdered sugar and milk in a bowl for icing, adding more milk as needed to reach a thin, runny consistency.
Brush icing over loaf, allowing to drip down the sides. Let cool completely before slicing and serving, about 20 minutes more.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 321.1 calories, Carbohydrate 45.3 g, Cholesterol 52.6 mg, Fat 14.5 g, Fiber 1.5 g, Protein 5 g, SaturatedFat 6.9 g, Sodium 272.3 mg, Sugar 23.3 g