We have nothing but good things to say about loaf cakes. They’re simple to make, a breeze to transport, and you can probably get away with eating a slice for breakfast. Checks all the boxes for us! And this new Cherry Almond Loaf has only cemented our love for these quick and easy “bread” recipes. A tasty treat any time of day, this is a recipe you’ll want to make over and over!
The batter for this cake is packed with maraschino cherries and loaded up with almond flavor making it perfectly sweet and sinfully rich. You’d think one slice might be enough to satisfy, but I can never help but go back for more! While the batter will look pink in color as you’re mixing the ingredients together, if you want your baked loaf to have a rosy hue add a few drops of red food coloring. Otherwise most of the color will bake off, but that will vary some with the kind of maraschino cherries you use.
The color makes this recipe a great option for Valentine’s Day, girls’ nights, baby showers, and any get-together that could use a sweet touch! Topping it all off with our sweet almond glaze gives the loaf a beautiful finish. You could also add in a handful of chocolate chips or some chopped nuts if you want to mix things up. There’s really no way to go wrong with a delicious treat like this. No matter the occasion, this tangy cherry almond loaf is sure to be a crowd pleaser!
Cherry Almond Loaf
Ingredients
- 10oz jar maraschino cherries, cherries and juice divided
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- ¼ cup juice from cherry jar
- 1 ½ teaspoons almond extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Optional: 5 drops red food coloring
Glaze
- 1/2 -1 cup powdered sugar
- ¼ cup juice from cherry jar
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9x5 loaf pan.
- In a large bowl, beat together the sugar, eggs, oil, ¼ cup of cherry juice, almond extract, and vanilla extract until well combined.
- In a small bowl, mix together the dry ingredients and then slowly add them to the wet ingredients. Stir until just combined.
- Roughly chop the maraschino cherries and fold them into the batter.
- Transfer batter to the prepared loaf pan and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
- Whisk together the glaze ingredients (using more powdered sugar to reach your desired consistency) and pour over the loaf once cooled.
Recipe adapted from Averiecooks.com