Bob Evans Cherry Bread Recipe (2024)

By Wendy Sondov · Published: Mar 1, 2022 · Modified: Oct 8, 2023 · This post may contain affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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This easy Cherry Bread recipe makes a beautiful pink quick bread full of glistening maraschino cherries. It's a delicious, moist, fruity loaf for any occasion.

Why you'll love this recipe

This a copycat of a wildly popular recipe for cherry bread sold seasonally at the bakeries at Bob Evans restaurant. Now you don't have to wait until this fruity sweet bread is in season. You can easily make it yourself any time of the year!

If you like maraschino cherries, you will love this loaf even if you've never tried the restaurant version. It's soft, moist, and packed with rosy red cherries.

The optional glaze adds a little extra cherry flavor and a pretty pink glow.

Ingredients

Instructions

This is an overview of the instructions.The full instructions are in the recipe card below.

Drain cherries, reserving the liquid. Pat the cherries dry with a paper towel, then chop into quarters or smaller. Pat dry again.
Place the maraschino cherry pieces in a small bowl and toss to coat with ¼ cup flour. Set aside.

In a medium mixing bowl, combine flour, white sugar and baking powder.
In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, buttermilk, vegetable oil, cherry extracts, vanilla extract, and cherry liquid.
Add the wet ingredients to the flour mixture and fold just until combined. Fold in the chopped cherries.
Pour the bread batter into the prepared loaf pan or divide evenly into the mini loaf pans. Bake the loaf pan for 60-70 minutes or mini loaf pan for 35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean or with only a few crumbs.

When the loaf is completely cool, combine the glaze ingredients in a small bowl and stir until smooth.
Place the cherry bread loaf on a wire rack over a sheet of wax paper. Pour the glaze on top of the bread. Allow to the glaze to firm before eating.

Storage

Store Cherry Bread unglazed at room temperature, wrapped in plastic wrap for up to 5 days. Once glazed, store leftover cherry bread wrapped in wax paper then plastic wrap. The glaze becomes liquidy after one day, but still tastes good.

Tips and variations

This recipe can be used with to make one 9-inch bread pan, two 8-inch pans, or four 3" x 5" mini loaf pans.
Bob Evans cherry bread has a strong cherry flavor that requires cherry extract in the original recipe. If cherry flavoring is not available, other flavoring can be added. The loaf will taste slightly different, but equally delicious.
Substitutions for cherry flavoring include almond extract (½ teaspoon) or additional vanilla extract.
For almond cherry bread, substitute ½ teaspoon of almond flavor for the cherry flavoring. Sprinkle the top of the loaf with sliced almonds.
Vary this recipe by adding ½ cup of chopped nuts for cherry nut bread or dark chocolate chips for chocolate cherry bread.
For a dairy free version, replace the buttermilk with non-dairy milk or orange juice.
The loaf should be glazed on the same day it is eaten.
The pretty pink color makes this loaf a great choice for Valentine's Day or a Mother's Day brunch.
If mailing this quick bread, wrap and send it unglazed. The ingredients for a glaze can be included in the package.
To mail glaze ingredients, measure powdered sugar into a ziplock bag and include a small box or plastic bottle of cherry juice. Provide directions for combining 3-4 tablespoons of the juice with the powdered sugar to create a glaze.

Frequently asked questions

What are maraschino cherries?

Maraschino cherries originated in Italy, where fresh cherries were preserved in Maraschino liquor for co*cktails. In the United States, they are a candied cherry made by preserving cherries in sugar syrup and coloring (either natural or artificial).

What are maraschino cherries used for?

Maraschino cherries and their syrup are used in co*cktails and baking for color and sweetness.

How do you store maraschino cherries?

Open jars should be kept tightly shut and refrigerated for up to one year.

More quick bread recipes

If you enjoyed this maraschino cherry bread, next time try another easy recipe.

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