GIFT OF THE MAGI BREAD

Gift of the Magi Bread image

"I make this extra-special banana bread only once a year to celebrate Christmas," says Sandra Bonow of Lewiston, Minnesota. "It's loaded with scrumptious ingredients such as coconut, mandarin oranges, dates, cherries, chocolate chips and almonds."

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 1h5m

Yield 2 loaves.

Number Of Ingredients 14

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Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 medium)
1 can (11 ounces) mandarin oranges, drained
1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2/3 cup sliced almonds, divided
1/2 cup chopped maraschino cherries
1/2 cup chopped dates

Steps:

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with bananas. Stir in the oranges, coconut, chocolate chips, 1/2 cup almonds, cherries and dates., Pour into two greased 8x4-in. loaf pans. Sprinkle with remaining almonds. Bake at 350° for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 159 calories, Fat 7g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 21mg cholesterol, Sodium 120mg sodium, Carbohydrate 24g carbohydrate (16g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 2g protein.