Cherry Bread with Streusel Topping

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Our Cherry Bread is loaded with fresh, juicy cherries and crowned with a crunchy streusel topping that’s to die for.

Who is ready for fresh summer fruit? I am so excited that local fruits and vegetables are finally coming to the farmers markets. I miss having local produce in the winter to bake and cook with so when it finally comes in the summer it’s an awesome treat.

When I got to the farmer’s market last week I found myself faced with plenty of fresh vegetables.  The surprise was that one of the local orchards was there selling stone fruit!

what is stone fruit?

Stone fruit refers to fruit that contains a single large seed, also called a stone, in the center. The stone is surrounded by juicy flesh, which is typically sweet and flavorful. Common examples of stone fruits include peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots, and cherries.

One of the first things I got to make with my local produce was a delicious bread using sweet cherries.  I chose to make a quick bread because they tend to be sweeter and are quick to make.

what is quick bread?

Quick bread is a type of bread that uses a leavening agent other than yeast, such as baking powder or baking soda. Unlike traditional yeast breads which require a rising time, quick breads can be prepared and baked quickly.  Ingredients like fruits, nuts, chocolate chips, spices, or flavorings can be added to enhance the taste and variety of quick breads.

ingredients:

• all purpose flour
• baking powder (this helps the bread to rise in the oven)
• baking soda
• salt (omit the salt if using salted butter)
• brown sugar (you can use granulated but I like the deeper flavor of the brown sugar)
• eggs
• vanilla yogurt (I use Greek yogurt but you can use regular yogurt)
• butter (I use salted but you can substitute unsalted and add additional salt)
• milk (whole milk or 2% is preferred)
• vanilla extract
• sweet cherries

Cherries are definitely my favorite stone fruit and may be my favorite fruit overall. I love how sweet they are yet how they can still be a bit tart.  The only thing I don’t like about them is having to take out the pit.

Thankfully about five years ago I found out about cherry pitters.   A cherry pitter is a cheap gadget that makes quick work of pitting cherries.  Now I will wash my cherries, pit them all, and keep them in a container in the refrigerator.

how do you pit a cherry?

The easiest way to pit a cherry is with a cherry pitter.   First you will wash the cherries and remove the stems.  Place the cherry in the center of the cherry pitter and squeeze until you see the pit come out.   I always wear an apron when pitting cherries because cherry juice stains.  I also pit them on a clean cutting board that washes up easily.

I simply used the base for my favorite quick bread which consists of flour, sugar, eggs, butter, and yogurt.   Then I added in the sweet cherries.

What really makes this bread special is the crumble streusel topping.It is made with flour, butter, sugar, and cinnamon.   You can also add oats if you would like.

I popped the bread in the oven and forgot about it for an hour. When it came out it not only smelled amazing but it looked pretty good too. This is one of the best crumble toppings I’ve made.

more cherry recipes:

• Fresh Cherry Scones
• Cherry Muffins with Crumb Topping
• Cherry Rhubarb Pie
• Sour Cherry Coffee Cake
• No Churn Cherry Vanilla Ice Cream

The bread is sweet but not overly so and the cherries add a delicious flavor to the bread. The streusel is sweet and spicy and adds just a bit of crunch.

This is a great dessert bread or one to take to a brunch and serve with butter or jam.  We also really enjoyed it as a quick and easy breakfast!

If you’ve tried my Cherry Bread with Streusel Topping or any other recipe on Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks please take a minute to rate the recipe and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. I love hearing from you! You can FOLLOW ME on:

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Cherry Bread with Streusel Topping

Yield: serves 12

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

A delicious sweet cherry bread with a crunchy streusel topping.

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Ingredients

For the bread:

• 2 c. flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 c. brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 c. sour cream
• 1/2 c. applesauce
• 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
• 3/4 c. skim milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/2 c. cherries (fresh or frozen), chopped

For the streusel topping:

• 1/4 c. brown sugar
• 1/4 c. sugar
• 1/3 c. flour
• 2 Tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl beat together the brown sugar, eggs, sour cream, and applesauce. Mix well then stir in the vegetable oil and vanilla.
4. Add half the flour mixture to the brown sugar mixture and mix well. Add the milk and mix until combined. Add remaining flour and mix well.
5. Fold in the cherries. Pour into a bread pan sprayed with cooking spray.
6. In a small bowl combine all the ingredients for the streusel. Crumble over the top of the bread.
7. Bake for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Notes

Adapted from Will Cook for Smiles