Description
A delightful Cherry Cream Cheese Loaf combining sweet fresh cherries with a rich cream cheese batter, perfect for breakfast or dessert. This moist and flavorful loaf is easy to prepare and bakes to golden perfection with a tender crumb.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruit
- 1 1/2 cups fresh cherries, pitted and quartered
Cream Cheese Mixture
- 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
Liquids
- 1 cup milk
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pans: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F and grease two 8.5×4.5-inch loaf pans thoroughly to prevent sticking.
- Prepare cherries: Pit the fresh cherries and roughly chop them into quarters, setting them aside for folding into the batter later.
- Cream the base: In a large bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy. Gradually add sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, and almond extract, continuing to beat until the mixture is light and airy.
- Mix dry ingredients and combine: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Slowly add the dry mixture alternately with the milk to the wet cream cheese mixture, blending until just combined without overmixing.
- Fold in cherries: Gently fold the quartered cherries into the batter, ensuring they are evenly distributed without crushing them.
- Fill pans and bake: Divide the batter evenly between the prepared loaf pans. Bake in the preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes. After 35 to 40 minutes, cover the tops loosely with foil to prevent over-browning.
- Check doneness and cool: Test the loaves by inserting a toothpick into the center; it should come out clean when fully baked. Remove the loaves from the oven and allow them to cool completely in the pans before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Covering with foil midway prevents the loaf tops from burning while ensuring they bake through.
- Softened cream cheese and butter will blend more smoothly; avoid overheating.
- Gentle folding of cherries helps keep them intact and evenly dispersed.
- You can substitute milk with buttermilk for a tangier flavor and softer crumb.
- The loaf keeps well for several days wrapped at room temperature or can be refrigerated.
- For extra cherry flavor, consider adding a tablespoon of cherry extract along with vanilla and almond extracts.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12th loaf)
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
