Chocolate Cherry Easter Bread
A rich, spiced chocolate bread with a sweet cherry filling, symbolizing resurrection and renewal. This french-inspired quick meals ready in about 80 minutes pairs all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking powder for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 240 calories and feeds 8, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup unsweetened milk
- 2, beaten eggs
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup, prepared cherry filling
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan. In a bowl, mix flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Step 2: Add milk, eggs, and oil. Stir until smooth. Fold in cherry filling and chocolate chips.
- Step 3: Pour batter into pan. Bake for 45-50 minutes until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely before slicing.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Chocolate Cherry Easter Bread take to make?
Total time is about 80 minutes (30 min prep + 50 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Chocolate Cherry Easter Bread?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep all-purpose flour from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Chocolate Cherry Easter Bread?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Chocolate Cherry Easter Bread for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 8 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 8). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Chocolate Cherry Easter Bread?
French quick meals like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
The aroma while cooking this was absolutely heavenly.
- ★★★★☆
Solid recipe. Not groundbreaking but definitely making it again.
- ★★★★☆
Solid recipe. Not groundbreaking but definitely making it again.