Twelve Days of Baking - Day 8

Today's recipe is called Gift of the Magi Bread. I haven't decided if the name comes from the fact that the bread is so full of little goodies or because you're supposed to give it away as a gift. Either way, it's quite yummy - a mash up of banana bread and fruitcake. I think I will make it a tradition to bake this bread every year on Epiphany.

 

 

Gift of the Magi Bread

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/8 tsp salt

1 cup mashed bananas

11 oz can mandarin oranges, drained

1 cup chocolate chips

1 cup shredded coconut

1/2 cup chopped nuts

1/2 cup chopped maraschino cherries

1/2 cup chopped dates

 

Combine butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla; beat until fluffy. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Add flour mixture and bananas alternately to the sugar mixture. Stir in range segments, chocolate chips, coconut, nuts, cherries, and dates. Pour into 2 greased loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Makes 2 loaves.