This Easy Classic Cherry Bread is moist and packed with sweet cherry goodness. It’s a simple recipe that brings together fresh or dried cherries with a soft, fluffy texture. Yum!
Baking this bread fills my kitchen with such a wonderful aroma that I can hardly wait! I love to enjoy it warm with a bit of butter—such a treat for breakfast or a snack!
Key Ingredients & Substitutions
All-Purpose Flour: This is the base of your bread. If you need a gluten-free option, try using a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend. It works well in most recipes!
Maraschino Cherries: These give a sweet cherry flavor. If you’re looking for something more natural, you can use fresh cherries or dried cherries instead. Just chop them up small!
Sour Cream or Greek Yogurt: Both add moisture. If you don’t have either, you can use buttermilk or regular milk mixed with a bit of vinegar to create a similar effect.
Butter: Unsalted butter helps control the salt level. If you need a dairy-free option, you can substitute with coconut oil or a dairy-free butter alternative.
How Can I Ensure My Bread Doesn’t Turn Out Dense?
To keep your Easy Classic Cherry Bread light and fluffy, pay attention to mixing. When combining your wet and dry ingredients, mix until just combined—no need to overwork the batter. This helps maintain a tender crumb!
- Use room temperature ingredients, especially butter and eggs. They blend better!
- Be careful not to overmix when you add in the flour—stop as soon as no dry flour is visible.
- Gently fold in the chopped cherries to avoid breaking them down too much.
Easy Classic Cherry Bread
Ingredients You’ll Need:
For the Bread:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
- 1 cup maraschino cherries, finely chopped (drain well to avoid sogginess)
For the Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2-3 tbsp cherry juice (or milk)
- A few drops red or pink food coloring (optional)
- Maraschino cherries for garnish
How Much Time Will You Need?
This recipe takes about 15 minutes to prepare and 50-60 minutes to bake, plus an additional cooling time of about 10 minutes. Total, you’re looking at around 1 hour and 15 minutes until you can enjoy your delicious cherry bread!
Step-by-Step Instructions:
1. Preheat Your Oven:
First, make sure to preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). This helps your bread bake evenly. Don’t forget to grease and flour a 9×5 inch loaf pan so your bread doesn’t stick!
2. Mix the Dry Ingredients:
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. This step ensures good mixing of the leavening agents with the flour. Set this bowl aside for later!
3. Cream Butter and Sugar:
In a large bowl, use a hand mixer (or stand mixer) to cream the softened butter and sugar together. Beat until the mixture is light and fluffy; this usually takes about 3-4 minutes.
4. Add Eggs and Vanilla:
Beat in the eggs one at a time—mix each egg until fully incorporated before adding the next. Then stir in the vanilla extract, which adds lovely flavor!
5. Incorporate Sour Cream:
Next, mix in the sour cream (or Greek yogurt) until everything is smooth and well blended.
6. Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients:
Gradually add your flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix just until you can no longer see any dry flour. It’s important not to overmix here to keep the bread tender!
7. Add the Cherries:
Gently fold in the finely chopped maraschino cherries. This ensures they’re evenly distributed without breaking them down too much.
8. Pour into the Pan:
Pour the batter into your greased loaf pan and spread it evenly. It’s all coming together!
9. Bake!
Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Your kitchen will smell amazing!
10. Cool the Bread:
Once baked, let the bread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. After that, turn it out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Patience is key here!
11. Prepare the Glaze:
While waiting for the bread to cool, whisk together the powdered sugar and cherry juice until smooth. If you want that pop of color, add food coloring until you reach your desired shade!
12. Drizzle the Glaze:
Once the bread is completely cool, drizzle the glaze over the top. Add whole maraschino cherries on top for a fun garnish.
13. Slice and Enjoy!
Now it’s time to slice that lovely bread! Enjoy a piece with butter or all by itself. It’s perfect for breakfast, snacks, or dessert!
This Easy Classic Cherry Bread yields a moist, tender crumb speckled with bright cherry bits and topped with a sweet cherry glaze. Enjoy every bite!
FAQ About Easy Classic Cherry Bread
Can I Substitute Fresh Cherries for Maraschino Cherries?
Yes, you can use fresh cherries instead! Just make sure to pit and chop them into small pieces. Keep in mind that fresh cherries will be less sweet than maraschino cherries, so you might want to adjust the sugar in the recipe slightly if you prefer a sweeter bread.
How Should I Store Leftover Cherry Bread?
To store leftovers, wrap the bread tightly in plastic wrap or foil and place it in an airtight container. It will stay fresh at room temperature for up to 3 days or you can refrigerate it for about a week. For longer storage, consider freezing slices to enjoy later—just wrap them well to prevent freezer burn!
Can I Make This Recipe Dairy-Free?
Absolutely! You can substitute unsalted butter with a dairy-free margarine or coconut oil. For the sour cream, try using a dairy-free yogurt alternative or a homemade mixture of almond milk with a bit of vinegar to mimic the tanginess.
What Can I Use for the Glaze Besides Cherry Juice?
If you don’t have cherry juice on hand, milk or even orange juice can work well in the glaze. Just whisk it into the powdered sugar until you reach your desired consistency. Enjoy experimenting with different flavors!
