Cherry Almond Bread

Ingredients

1 package Namaste Foods Muffin and Scone Mix
½ tsp. baking soda
1/3 to 1/2 cup sugar or honey (to taste)
2 eggs
½ cup dried or fresh chopped cherries
1 cup water or apple juice
1/3 cup oil
1 tsp. almond extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Spray a loaf pan with non-stick vegetable spray.
2. Mix baking soda, muffin mix and sugar in mixing bowl. (If you are using honey instead, you’ll add that in the next step.) Combine eggs, oil, apple juice or water, almond extract (and honey) in another small bowl. Add wet ingredients to dry until just blended. Stir in the cherries then transfer to loaf pan.
3. Bake for 50-60 minutes. Run knife around edge of pan when finished baking. Cool in pan 10-15 minutes then take out and cool completely on cooking rack.

Variations

• Cook’s Notes just for kids: This is a wonderful holiday bread because of the bright red cherries. You can also add ½ cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips and watch the kids smile! You can also add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of slivered or sliced almonds to the batter for a little extra crunch.