Gift of the Magi Bread Recipe

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
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• 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.

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