CHOCOLATE CHERRY QUICK BREAD

Chocolate Cherry Quick Bread image

Provided by Dan Langan

Time 2h15m

Yield One 8-inch loaf, enough for 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

Nonstick cooking spray
3/4 cup dried cherries, chopped
1/2 cup (45 grams) Dutch-process cocoa powder, plus 1 more teaspoon for coating the cherries
3/4 cup cherry juice (or water)
1 1/4 cups (155 grams) all-purpose flour
1 cup (200 grams) sugar
1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
Heaping 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 large egg, at room temperature, beaten
1 large egg white, at room temperature, beaten
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

Steps:

Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Spray an 8-by-4-inch loaf pan with nonstick spray and line it with parchment paper.
Combine the dried cherries with the 1 teaspoon cocoa powder in a small bowl. Toss to evenly coat and set aside.
Microwave the cherry juice in a microwave-safe measuring cup until steaming, about 1 minute. Transfer to a medium bowl, add the 1/2 cup cocoa and whisk until smooth. Set aside while you prepare the dry ingredients.
Put the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in another medium bowl and whisk well to combine.
Add the oil, egg, egg white and vanilla to the warm cocoa mixture then whisk to combine. Pour into the dry ingredients and stir until incorporated. Pour about 1/3 of the batter into the prepared pan. Stir the cocoa-coated cherries into the remaining batter, then pour that batter into the pan. Sprinkle the chocolate chips on top.
Place the loaf pan on a baking sheet and bake on the center rack until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs, 60 to 64 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes then remove the quick bread to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing with a serrated knife (this will cut through the cherries easily and yield a clean slice).
Serve or wrap the cooled loaf in plastic wrap or foil and store on the counter for up to 3 days.