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Chocolate-Cherry Loaf

Source of Recipe


From "Family Circle Annual Recipes 2008"



List of Ingredients



• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
  
• 1/3 cup plus ¾ cup sugar
  
• 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
  
• 1 tsp baking powder
  
• ½ tsp baking soda
  
• ¼ tsp salt
  
• 2 eggs
  
• 1/3 cup oil
  
• ½ tsp almond extract
  
• 1 cup sour cream
  
• ½ cup dried cherries, chopped
  
• 3 Tbsp mini chocolate chips
  






Instructions



1. Heat oven to 350° F. Coat three 5¾- x 3- x 2-1/8-inch loaf pans (*) with nonstick cooking spray.
   In small bowl, whisk cocoa powder, 1/3 cup of the sugar, and 1/3 cup water until smooth. Set aside. In a large bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a medium bowl, whisk together remaining ¾ cup sugar, the eggs, oil, and almond extract. Whisk in sour cream.
   
   
2. Stir sour cream mixture into flour mixture until blended. Stir 1½ cups of the batter into the cocoa mixture, along with the chopped cherries, until no white streaks remain. Dollop alternating spoonfuls of batter into prepared pans. Swirl batters together with a butter knife until marbled in appearance. Top each loaf with 1 tablespoon mini chips.
   
   
3. Bake at 350° F for 35 minutes, until toothpick inserted in center of loaves comes out clean. Cool loaves in pans on wire rack for 10 minutes, then remove directly to rack to cool completely.
   
   Makes 3 mini-loaves (8 slices each) or one standard-size loaf.
   
   






Final Comments


* Batter may be baked as one 9x5x3-inch loaf; bake for 45-50 minutes. Test center of loaf with a toothpick before removing.