Fresh Cherry Quick Bread
User Reviews
4.4
Fresh Cherry Quick Bread
Description
This quick bread uses pitted, diced cherries folded into a batter made from creaming coconut oil with sugar, then combining eggs, vanilla, applesauce, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Dry ingredients including flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt are mixed separately and gently combined with the wet mixture to avoid overmixing. The batter is poured into a prepared loaf pan and topped with additional cherry halves before baking at 375°F until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
The lemon zest and juice brighten the bread’s flavor, complementing the sweetness of the cherries without overwhelming it. The applesauce contributes moisture and helps keep the bread tender, while coconut oil adds subtle richness. The texture is soft with evenly distributed fruit pieces, and the lemon provides a fresh aroma.
This bread works well for breakfast, a snack, or a casual dessert. It can be sliced and served plain, with butter, or alongside tea or coffee. Substitutions like mashed banana instead of applesauce or different flavorless oils instead of coconut oil allow flexibility based on pantry contents.
Take care not to overmix the batter to ensure a light crumb, and use fresh, ripe cherries for the best flavor. The topping cherries add visual appeal and a textural contrast when baked into the crust. Cooling the bread before slicing helps maintain its structure.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup Cherry plus extra halves for the top of the bread
- 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ cup coconut oil melted and cooled slightly (can use the same amount of any other flavorless oil)
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract pure
- ¼ cup applesauce unsweetened, if possible
- 1 lemon zested (about 1 tablespoon zest)
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice from 1-2 lemons, freshly squeezed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Spray a loaf pan with nonstick baking spray, then set aside.
- Pit and dice the cherries, then place in a glass bowl. Set aside. Make sure to have a few cherry halves to place on top of the bread before it bakes as a garnish.
- In a large glass bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and kosher salt. Whisk together until combined, then set aside.
- In another large glass bowl, cream together the melted coconut oil and granulated sugar using a hand mixer.
- Once the coconut oil and sugar are a smooth mixture, crack the egg into the mixture.
- Pour in the vanilla and applesauce to the wet ingredients, too. Beat with the hand mixer until combined.
- Add the lemon zest and freshly squeezed lemon juice, and mix with the hand mixer until combined.
- Toss the pitted and diced cherries in the dry ingredients.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, gently stirring with a rubber spatula until just combined.
- Carefully pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Use the additional halved cherry to decorate the top of the loaf, then transfer to the oven.
- Bake at 375°F for 45-55 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
- Let the loaf cool for 15-30 minutes, then remove it from the loaf pan, and slice.
- Enjoy at room temperature or toasted!
Notes
- Mashed banana can replace applesauce in equal quantities if applesauce is not available.
- Any flavorless oil or melted unsalted butter can substitute the coconut oil.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 1loaf bread
Amount Per Serving
Calories 194 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1slice | |
| Calories | 194kcal | 10% |
| Carbohydrates | 31g | 10% |
| Protein | 3g | 6% |
| Fat | 6g | 9% |
| Saturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Cholesterol | 19mg | 6% |
| Sodium | 132mg | 6% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 12g | 24% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.4
You'll Also Love
