Description
This delicious Cherry Cream Cheese Loaf combines the tartness of fresh cherries with a creamy, rich batter featuring cream cheese and butter. Perfect for breakfast or a sweet snack, these loaves bake to golden perfection with a moist, tender crumb and a subtly nutty almond hint.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruit
- 1 1/2 cups fresh cherries, pitted and quartered
Dairy & Eggs
- 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup milk
Dry Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
Flavorings
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare pans: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease two 8.5 x 4.5-inch loaf pans thoroughly to prevent sticking.
- Prepare cherries: Pit the fresh cherries and roughly chop them into quarters. Set aside to add later into the batter.
- Cream cheese and butter mixture: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened cream cheese and butter until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Add sugar, eggs, and extracts: Incorporate the granulated sugar, add the eggs one at a time, then mix in the vanilla and almond extracts. Beat this combination until the mixture is light and airy.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate small bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt ensuring an even mixture.
- Mix wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients alternately with the milk into the wet cream cheese mixture, mixing gently until just combined.
- Fold in cherries: Carefully fold the chopped cherries into the batter making sure they are evenly distributed without overmixing.
- Fill pans and bake: Divide the batter evenly between the prepared loaf pans. Place them in the oven and bake for about 50 to 60 minutes. To prevent excessive browning, cover the loaves with foil after 35 to 40 minutes of baking.
- Check doneness and cool: Insert a toothpick into the center of the loaves to check if they are done; it should come out clean. Once baked, allow the loaves to cool completely in the pans before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Covering loaves with foil during the last 20 minutes prevents over-browning on top.
- Make sure cream cheese is softened to avoid lumps in the batter.
- Fresh cherries give the best flavor; if unavailable, frozen cherries can be used but thaw and drain well.
- This loaf tastes great toasted and spread with a little butter or cream cheese.
- For almond extract, do not exceed 1/2 teaspoon as it can overpower the flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12th of loaf)
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
