Dried Cherry Cardamom Bread
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 cup dried cherries, chopped
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a 8 x 4-inch loaf pan with cooking spray by spraying the bottom only. (I opted to use three - 5 x 2-inch mini loaf pans.)
In a large bowl, combine sugar and butter; beat until light and fluffy. Add vanilla, buttermilk, and eggs; blend well. (Mixture will appear curdled.)
In a small bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cardamom; whisk to combine. Add lemon zest and cherries; mix. Add flour mixture to buttermilk mixture; stir just until dry ingredients are moistened.
Pour batter into prepared pan, bake for 55 - 75 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. (For 5 x 2-inch loaf pans, baking time will be shortened to 25 - 30 minutes.)
Remove bread from oven, loosen edges of bread; cool in pan on wire rack for 15 minutes. Remove bread from pan, continue cooling on rack. Wrap cooled bread tightly and store in refrigerator.
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