Diana's Desserts - www.dianasdesserts.com
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Christmas Fruit Nut Bread

Servings: 1 loaf or 16 slices
Ingredients:
1 (10-ounce) jar maraschino cherries
1/3 cup unsalted butter or margarine, softened
2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup mashed ripe bananas
1/2 cup chopped macadamia nuts or walnuts, Optional


Instructions:
Drain maraschino cherries, reserving 2 tablespoons juice. Coarsely chop cherries; set aside. Combine butter, brown sugar, eggs and reserved cherry juice in a large mixing bowl. Mix on medium speed with an electric mixer until ingredients are thoroughly combined.
Combine flour, baking powder and salt; mix well. Add flour mixture and mashed bananas alternately, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Stir in drained cherries and nuts. Lightly spray a 9x5x3-inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. Spread batter evenly in pan. Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven 1 hour, or until golden brown and wooden pick inserted near center comes out clean. Remove from pan; let cool on wire rack. Wrap in plastic wrap or store in a tightly covered container. Makes 1 loaf, or about 16 slices.


Source: DianasDesserts.com
Date: Aug. 4, 2002