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Gift of the Magi Bread Recipe

Gift of the Magi Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home

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"I make this extra-special banana bread only once a year to celebrate Christmas," says Sandra Bonow of Lewiston, Minnesota. "It's loaded with scrumptious ingredients such as coconut, mandarin oranges, dates, cherries, chocolate chips and almonds."

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Gift of the Magi Bread Recipe

Prep: 15 min. Bake: 50 min. + cooling

Yield: 32 Servings

15 50 65

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 medium)
1 can (11 ounces) mandarin oranges, drained
1 cup flaked coconut
1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
2/3 cup sliced almonds, divided
1/2 cup chopped maraschino cherries
1/2 cup chopped dates

Directions

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with bananas. Stir in the oranges, coconut, chocolate chips, 1/2 cup almonds, cherries and dates.
Pour into two greased 8-in. x 4-in. loaf pans. Sprinkle with remaining almonds. Bake at 350° for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Yield: 2 loaves.

Nutritional Facts 1 serving (1 slice) equals 159 calories, 7 g fat (4 g saturated fat), 21 mg cholesterol, 120 mg sodium, 24 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 2 g protein.

Originally published as Gift of the Magi Bread in Taste of Home December/January 2002, p63

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Gift of the Magi Bread

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Reviewed on Oct. 30, 2012 by Mocorbin

I make this in memory of my mom who made it at Christmas time. I believe she got the recipe from the a nun at the Catholic church we went to. She never put in the almonds or dates because her 9 children were very finicky. She would sometimes make 4 mini loaf breads so she could share with our wonderful neighbors in Detroit. My husband likes it without the chocolate chips but I think that's the best part. Enjoy!

Reviewed on Dec. 20, 2011 by haljtmom

I made this for my mom as an early Christmas present, she loved it. We could stop eating it. I'm going to make another one this year.

Reviewed on Dec. 27, 2010 by BubbasMama

I too make this yummy bread every Christmas - it is a family tradition. It is easy to make and has an excellent flavor. I do leave out the nuts as my husband doesn't like them and I have used regular milk chocolate chips which doesn't seem to change the good flavor :)

Reviewed on Dec. 05, 2009 by libract@msn.com

Have been making this for years and am always asked for it from friends at Christmas time. It has become the big favorite from all our friends.