Chocolate-Cherry Loaf

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cups flour
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

• 2 (10 ounce) bags frozen pitted cherries, thawed, 1 bag drained and coarsely chopped
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 3 large eggs
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 350°F Grease a 5-by-9-inch loaf pan. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, salt and baking soda.

2. 2

   In a medium saucepan, combine the whole cherries and the sugar. Using a potato masher, crush the cherries. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and let cool. Whisk in the sour cream and eggs. Stir in the flour mixture.

3. 3

   Fold the chopped cherries into the batter. Gradually stir in the butter. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, then bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 55 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool completely.