It was inevitable. I had to crack at some point. After an entire month of being dessert-free on Cookin’ Canuck – well, there was that Carrot Ginger Cupcake incident on my birthday but, come on, a girl’s gotta celebrate – I broke down and pulled out the baking pans. After all, it’s been a month of Mushroom Caramelized Onion Salads, Yogurt Parfaits, and Turkey Meatball Sandwiches. My sugar levels were dropping dangerously low (snort).
Now, I could pretend that this quick bread is an innocuous little breakfast treat, made relatively guilt-free by the addition of dried cherries, but I would be leading you down the butter and sugar-laden garden path. Let’s just call a spatula a spatula. It is a cake. A tart, fruit-filled lemon cake with a glaze drizzled on top at the last minute. Was it worth the indulgence? My taste buds say yes. And my jeans? Well, I am choosing not to ask their opinion.
The recipe:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease a 8 1/2- by 4 1/2-inch loaf pan with butter or cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons flour, baking powder and salt. In the bowl of a stand mixer (or a large bowl, using a hand mixer) set on a medium speed, beat together butter, sugar and lemon zest until light and fluffy, 4 to 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating to combine after each addition.
Turn the mixer to low and gradually add the flour mixture, milk and lemon juice. Beat until just combined. Take care not to overbeat or the bread will be tough.
In a small bowl, toss the dried cherries with the remaining 2 tablespoons flour, and gently mix into the batter. Pour the batter into prepared pan and level with a spatula.
Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with only a few crumbs attached, 55 to 65 minutes. Let the bread sit in the pan for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the outside and turn the pan upside down to release the bread. Let cool on a wire rack for 1 hour, then glaze.
Glaze:
In a medium bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, lemon juice and zest, and salt until combined. Drizzle over cooled quick bread.
Slice and serve.
Other quick breads for breakfast:
Joy the Baker’s Raspberry Almond Bread
Two Peas and Their Pod’s Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread
How To: Simplify’s Banana Pecan Bread
Brown Eyed Baker’s Bananas Foster Banana Bread
Glazed Lemon & Dried Cherry Quick Bread
Adapted from The America’s Test Kitchen Family Baking Book
Bread:
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
8 tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
2 tbsp grated lemon zest
3 large eggs
1/4 cup 2% milk
3 tsp fresh lemon juice
1 cup dried cherries
Glaze:
3/4 cup powdered (confectioner’s) sugar
4 1/2 tsp fresh lemon juice
3/4 tsp grated lemon zest
Pinch salt
Bread:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease a 8 1/2- by 4 1/2-inch loaf pan with butter or cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons flour, baking powder and salt. In the bowl of a stand mixer (or a large bowl, using a hand mixer) set on a medium speed, beat together butter, sugar and lemon zest until light and fluffy, 4 to 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating to combine after each addition.
Turn the mixer to low and gradually add the flour mixture, milk and lemon juice. Beat until just combined. Take care not to overbeat or the bread will be tough.
In a small bowl, toss the dried cherries with the remaining 2 tablespoons flour, and gently mix into the batter. Pour the batter into prepared pan and level with a spatula.
Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with only a few crumbs attached, 55 to 65 minutes. Let the bread sit in the pan for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the outside and turn the pan upside down to release the bread. Let cool on a wire rack for 1 hour, then glaze.
Glaze:
In a medium bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, lemon juice and zest, and salt until combined. Drizzle over cooled quick bread.
Makes 1 loaf.
Sanjeeta kk says
The quick bread looks gorgeous, perfect texture and love those dried cherries in it. Lovely click!
MaryMoh says
I love any bake with lemon in it. Love the smell and the taste. Yours looks very delicious with the cherries.
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen says
This lemon cake must have real zing with both lemon zest and juice in the batter as well as the glaze. Looks wonderful.
Heather (Heather's Dish) says
i love how cherries and lemon go together…and dried cherries are just another amazing way to make it all work! love this bread 🙂
marla says
I am with you girl, these breads are cakes and that is all there is too it. Looks wonderful, wish we could connect with this treat & some coffee "for real" today 🙂 xo
Pretend Chef says
I prefer the route of claiming this to be a breakfast bread. Anytime fruit is involved then it's suitable for breakfast. C'mon. I bet this tastes amazing with coffee! This looks and sounds incredible.
briarrose says
Beautiful loaf….love the mix of lemon and cherry.
Tes says
Wow… your bread looks so amazing. The glazing sounds so delightful. I wanna try baking this first thing in the morning 🙂
Jenny says
Gorgeous! I think I need to make some quick bread this weekend 🙂
Lick My Spoon says
Heck, it had fruit so it must be healthy…..somewhat!! Good looking bread!
Steph says
Whether it's a cake or a bread, it needs to get in my belly :)YUM!
Viviane Bauquet Farre - Food and Style says
Lemon and cherries! This quick breakfast loaf has my name on it…. I won't ask my jeans either!
Elena Toma says
Truly fabulous! I will really try this recipe. A nice weekend!
Stephanie says
That looks heavenly, heavenly…and oh, did I say heavenly?! I think I could just lick the glaze off that thing and be perfectly content. :-p So good!
ceecee says
Looks great Dara. Haven't used dried cherries in awhile – looks like a good excuse to go buy some!
Maria says
What a lovely loaf a bread! I know we will be enjoying this soon!
Tracy says
I'd love a slice of this for breakfast! Especially with that glaze – yum!
megi says
Yum! I love the texture of this quick bread, plus it was well deserved after a month without desserts (birthdays don't count!).
Drick says
what a beautiful loaf of cake, as you say… I just know it was well worth it by the pics and the recipe, great sounding 'light' lemon tasting cake I bet and the glaze just added another bit of sunshine…
Torviewtoronto says
these look delicious
lovely pictures
Cake Duchess says
I love quick breads and any dessert with lemon…and a gorgeous drizzle like this one. Beautiful and very tempting photos:)
DessertForTwo says
This looks gorgeous! And I'm with everyone else–let's call this breakfast bread so we can have it first thing in the morning! 🙂
Angie says
Such a pretty cake! I love it!
Tracey says
What a gorgeous quick bread! I love the America's Test Kitchen book you adapted the recipe from, definitely a favorite.
Medeja says
Cake looks wonderful ! I love those dried cherries in it 🙂
Lana @ Never Enough Thyme says
I'd say that was worth every single calorie. Anything with lemon immediately grabs my attention. And the dried cherries – just put it over the top I'm sure. Fabulous.
Tammy says
OOOOOOHHHHH I love lemon and cherries ~ can't wait to try this!! Never mind what the jeans have to say ~ ha ha. Thanks for sharing this!
SMITH BITES says
lemon and cherries folded into flour/sugar and then drizzled with a glazed . . . happy dance, oh yeah!s
Megan says
I love a good quick bread and you had me at lemon glaze!
Paula says
oh, this looks so delicious! I`m absolutely sure that`s really tasty!
Have a great time,
Paula
Jemma says
This looks like a gorgeous quick bread – only problem is my hubbie hates cherries – any suggestions on a substitute …. ??? And I definitely think two fruit components equals healthy breakfast !
Joanne says
A whole month without dessert?!?!? You are a far stronger woman than I.
I never consult my jeans on topics like this. They're a third class citizen. They're vote doesn't count anyways.
This cake looks delicious! I love the tart lemon with the sweet cherries. Yum.
Darla @ Bakingdom says
Mmmm! I love the addition of cherries! Such a fantastic combo, but it's never occurred to me! I can't wait to try this…quick breads may be my favorite thing to make.
Lindsey @ Gingerbread Bagels says
I just adore quick breads and yours is just gorgeous! Love that you added dried cherries to the quick. The pairing of cherries with the lemon sounds incredible. 🙂