Description
Chocolate Cherry Quick Bread is a rich cocoa loaf filled with sweet cherries and chocolate chips, finished with a smooth chocolate glaze. The crumb stays soft and tender, making it just as good with morning coffee as it is after dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 3/4 cups flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp almond extract
- 1 cup milk
- 1 1/2 cups fresh sweet cherries, pitted and halved
- 3/4 cup chocolate chips
- For the glaze:
- 1/4 cup half-and-half
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1-2 Tbsp hot water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a standard bread pan well.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and cocoa powder.
- In another large bowl, cream the butter and sugar with an electric mixer for about 2-3 minutes until lighter in texture.
- Add the eggs and almond extract and beat for another 1-2 minutes until smooth.
- Add the dry ingredients and milk to the butter mixture and mix just until combined without overmixing.
- Fold in the cherries and chocolate chips with a large spoon.
- Pour the batter into the prepared bread pan and smooth the top lightly.
- Bake for 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or the internal temperature reaches 200°F.
- Cool the bread in the pan for 20-30 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- For the glaze, warm the half-and-half in a microwave-safe bowl for about 45 seconds.
- Add the chocolate chips and stir until melted and smooth.
- Mix in the powdered sugar, then add hot water 1 tablespoon at a time until the glaze reaches a pourable consistency.
- Drizzle the glaze over the cooled bread before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Do not overmix the batter or the loaf can turn dense.
- Pat fresh cherries dry lightly if they are very juicy.
- Use a thermometer to check for an internal temperature of about 200°F in the center.
- Let the bread cool completely before glazing so the chocolate stays on top instead of melting into the loaf.
- If the top browns too quickly during baking, loosely tent the loaf with foil for the last 10-15 minutes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Category: Quick Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 32
- Sodium: 290
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 13
- Unsaturated Fat: 7
- Trans Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 54
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 5
- Cholesterol: 78
