This easy quick bread is chock-full of maraschino cherries and almond flavor, and drenched in an unbelievable maraschino cherry-almond glaze! This Cherry Almond Bread is a perfect treat for Valentine’s Day!
So when the idea for Cherry Almond Fudge fell through, and we got this 5-Minute Strawberry Shortcake Fudge instead, I decided to channel my cherry-almond idea into another recipe, this Cherry Almond Bread.
This Cherry Almond Bread is something I’ve wanted to make for a long time, and it’s been an idea I’ve had for a while, but I waited until Valentine’s Day because something about cherry and almond feels like Valentine’s Day to me.
Maybe it’s because it’s pink food. My kitchen was an explosion of pink for basically all of January. I would look around every day at the desserts on the counter, and everything was PINK. It wasn’t intentional, it just worked out that way.
Is it a requirement that a Valentine’s Day dessert have some pink in it?
Well, as it turns out, Cherry Almond Bread has been done before. I mean, of course! Because it’s a great idea. I always try to brainstorm new and innovative ideas, but sometimes somebody else had the same idea already, and it’s usually because it’s a good one. So at least there’s some validation in that!
I’m not reinventing the wheel a whole lot here, but this bread is HEAVENLY. Cherry and Almond were MADE to go together – like Amaretto.
With two entire bottles of diced maraschino cherries in the batter, and a seriously bold and intensely-flavored maraschino cherry glaze smothering the whole bread, this sweet bread is as decadent as cake. Slivered almonds and almond extract give it loads of flavor in the nut department too.
It doesn’t require a lot of ingredients, and you can whip this up without a mixer! This Cherry Almond Bread is a super simple quick bread recipe, but it’s pretty in pink, sweet, and indulgent!
Cherry Almond Bread with Cherry Glaze
Ingredients
For Cherry Almond Bread:
- 2 - 10 oz. jars maraschino cherries
- 3/4 c. sugar
- 1/2 c. whole milk
- 1/2 c. vegetable oil
- 1 egg
- 1 1/2 tsp. almond extract
- 2 c. all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp. baking powder
For Cherry Glaze:
- 3 c. powdered sugar
- 4 tbsp. butter melted
- 1/2 c. maraschino cherry juice
- 1 tsp. almond extract
Instructions
For bread:
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Drain the maraschino cherries very well, reserving the juice. Finely chop the cherries.
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In a medium bowl, combine the sugar, milk, oil, egg, and almond extract.
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In a large bowl, combine the flour and baking powder.
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Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, and stir until just combined.
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Fold in the chopped cherries.
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Pour the batter into a well-greased 9x5-inch loaf pan.
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Bake at 350 degrees for 45-55 minutes, or until edges are golden brown, and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
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Cool for 20 minutes, before removing bread to a wire rack to cool completely.
For glaze:
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In a medium bowl, combine powdered sugar, butter, maraschino cherry juice, and almond extract, whisking until smooth.
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Once the bread is cool, drizzle with glaze. Slice and serve!
Adapted from Tastes of Lizzy T.
Teresa says
February 15, 2016 at 1:20 pmOh, that sounds so wonderful! I wonder if it works well with strawberries too…
If you can, I would love for you to share this post over at the Really Crafty link party that is live right now!
Nicole says
February 19, 2016 at 10:54 amThis looks SO VERY delicious!!! We love cherry flavored things, and when you add in almond it just makes it even better!! We will be giving this a try for sure!! Pinning, tweeting, stumbling, and sharing on Google+.
Sarah says
February 19, 2016 at 5:53 pmThank you so much!
Nellie says
February 20, 2016 at 11:48 amOh Sarah,
This looks divine, and I will definitely be trying it.
Perfect for Valentines day or a lil girls birthday maybe,
or a ladies luncheon,,,,,,,,,wouldn’t mind a piece right now!! lol
YUM!
Blessings, Nellie
Frugal Hausfrau says
February 23, 2016 at 1:59 amI love cherries and almonds together and this is really pretty in pink! And no cherry trees sacrificed, I assume! Perfect for President’s day!
Thanks so much for sharing this with us at Throwback Thursday!
Mollie
Sarah says
March 1, 2016 at 6:48 pmHaha! No trees sacrificed. LOL. Thanks so much!
[email protected] says
February 24, 2016 at 1:21 amLooks yummy! Thanks for sharing at the Inspiration Spotlight party. Pinned and shared.
kareenliez says
March 28, 2016 at 1:01 amFound you from Monday Madness blog hop. Oh my! This looks so yummy! Pinning this for future use.
Laurie says
March 28, 2016 at 1:53 pmThis really looks delicious! Can’t wait to try your recipe! Pinned and fb shared! Thank you for linking up and sharing with us this week for Snickerdoodle Sunday!
Audrey says
March 29, 2016 at 3:50 pmCherry and Almond anything is a favorite in my book. Thanks for sharing on Creative K. Kids Tasty Tuesdays. I hope you will party with us again next week.
Felicia says
March 30, 2016 at 12:21 amI love cherry and almond. Pinned and can’t wait to try. Found you on Wine’d Down Wednesday.
Elizabeth @ Guilty Chocoholic Mama says
March 31, 2016 at 7:45 amOh. My. Word. You SO had me at “cherry” and “almond.” When I leave the land of chocolate, I love to go to the land of cherry + almond. Yum. My family is leaving me for Spring Break, and I just might make a loaf of this and eat the whole thing BY MYSELF. Glad I found you at Think Tank Thursday!
Wendy says
April 4, 2016 at 9:23 pmIm a newbie to this site, and Im from the UK.
I think Im going to like it here!!!!!! XX
Sarah says
April 16, 2016 at 9:25 amYAY! So glad to have you here!! Please check back often! 🙂
Leah @ Love and Blues says
April 7, 2016 at 8:49 amOhhhhhhh this looks amazing! My husband’s favorite cake is cherry with cherry frosting like his grandma used to make, and I think this might give that a run for its money. I can’t wait to try!
Sandie Davidson says
April 11, 2016 at 6:29 pmI used frozen fresh cherries and added one quarter cup more of sugar. I also put in cinnamon as we love a coffee bread with cinnamon aroma and with cherries, awesome. I baked in a tube pan for 45 min and glazed with warmed white icing with a bit of cherry juice!! An absolute hit for us♡
Sarah says
April 16, 2016 at 9:19 amI’m so glad to know that frozen cherries worked well too – thanks for the tip! I love the idea of cinnamon added to this too, maybe in the fall when I like warm spices in EVERYTHING. So glad you liked it! 🙂
Diana Johnson says
July 11, 2016 at 3:43 pmI just made this bread with the last of the 4th of July marachino cherries from ice cream sodas. Next time I will add 1/2 tsp of salt to perk up the flavor a bit.
Jane Warne says
July 24, 2019 at 12:30 pmcan they be baked in smaller pans
Sarah says
July 24, 2019 at 4:34 pmI think you could make this in two 8×4 pans, but I haven’t tried it myself. I would watch the baking time, I’m sure it would be shorter! Let me know how it turns out for you!
Jennifer Shirey says
April 5, 2020 at 10:07 amMaking this today. Can’t wait. I’m in love with anything cherry/almond. Thanks.
Sarah says
April 5, 2020 at 10:08 amYAY! Please let me know how you like it. I adore cherry and almond together too — an absolute favorite duo. Hope you have a wonderful Sunday (despite all the weirdness of the world). Take care! -Sarah