Cherry-Chocolate-Banana Bread

 "Over the Top" Banana Bread

This morning I woke up early and as I went to get my cup of coffee, I saw them... yes, them! Three BROWN BANANAS! I mean 'really' brown bananas. Well, what could I do, but make some tasty banana bread!

Now, this is not the recipe I used, so don't get too excited, haha! Although, the recipe of I used of Banana Chocolate Chip bread on this blog is absolutely delicious! I have to admit, I would have loved to try this one, had I known about it first.

My friend commented on the post of my bread, saying his mom used to make banana bread with cherries. Well, I'd never heard of it, so I did "that thing I do". You know, search the web for a recipe, and that's when I found this one. Doesn't it look fantastic?! I found this on "insidebrucrewlife.com" and it was the first one that caught my eye. Thank you, Jocelyn, for sharing! I can't wait to try it!

(photo from pinterest)

Ingredients:

For the bread:

1 (12 oz. jar) Maraschino Cherries

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp. almond extract

2 large eggs

1 cup (3 medium) bananas (brown is best)

1/2 cup sour cream

1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour plus 2 Tbsp.

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup mini chocolate chips

For the glaze: (optional)       

(photo from insidebrucrewlife)

1 cup confectioner's sugar

2 Tbsp. cherry juice plus 1 tsp.

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350'F. spray a 9x5 loaf pan with nonstick spray.

Drain cherry juice into a cup and save for later for glaze.

Cut each cherry into quarters and pat dry with paper towels.  Place the chopped cherries on a plate lined with paper towels and set aside. (You can do this ahead of time, cover and refrigerate until ready to use.)

Beat butter, sugar and extract until creamy. Stir in eggs, bananas and sour cream.

Gently stir in 1 1/2 cups flour, baking soda, salt into banana mixture. 

Stir 2 tsp. of flour into the chopped cherries. Gently add cherries and chocolate chips to banana batter.

Pour into prepared loaf pan and bake for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few crumbs.

Remove from oven and cool for 10 minutes in the pan. Place a plate on top and flip the bread out. Carefully turn upright and cool completely.

Stir together the powdered sugar and cherry juice. Drizzle over top of the cooled bread and let set.

A Tip from Grammy:

-Mix this by hand, so as not to create a tough, dense bread.

-Pat cherries as dry as possible before adding them to the batter.

-Variations include adding, nuts, or switch to white chocolate chips.

-Make muffins. Bake at 350'F for 20 minutes. 

Be encouraged!

"When I am afraid, I put my trust in Thee."  -Psalm 56:3