Cherry Chocolate Chunk Bread is so deliciously decadent, no one will ever guess just how simple and easy it is to make! Dark chocolate and cherries just naturally work well together in this bread, a.k.a. cherry dessert!

The cherries bring a little juicy sweetness while the dark chocolate balances it all out. I opted for using chocolate chunks in this recipe, but you could substitute dark chocolate chips as well.

Sweet breakfast breads are one of my weaknesses. On any given Saturday, give me a scone or cinnamon roll — or a slice quick bread like this Cherry Chocolate Chunk Bread — with my coffee and a good book, and I’m perfectly satisfied.

A plate of food with a slice of cherry chocolate loaf cake

Cherry Chocolate Chunk Bread

When I was first learning to cook, my grandmother shared a great baking trick with me for ensuring cakes or quick breads were easy to remove from the pan.

Back then, she would show me how to cut wax paper circles to fit the bottom of her greased cake pans. Once they were the right size, we’d snug them into the pan and then flip them over so that the greased side was facing up.

I still use this same trick, only now I normally use a piece of parchment paper and always leave the sides just a little taller than the pan.

After my Cherry Chocolate Chunk Bread was finished baking and had cooled for a few minutes on a wire rack, I ran a butter knife along the edge of the pan and the loaf and then used the paper to lift the bread right out—with no sticking!

A baking loaf pan with cherry chocolate quick bread

What makes this Cherry Chocolate Chunk Bread extra good?

Fresh cherries. Bing cherries are easily found in most grocery stores through the end of August and are deliciously sweet this time of year. Besides in today’s quick bread recipe, I like using cherries in these Cherry Potpies and this super easy Rustic Cherry Tart.
Buttermilk. The buttermilk in the batter helps keep this bread moist without becoming soggy, even with the fresh cherries.
A simple glaze. The final step is to drizzle a powdered sugar glaze on top of the cooled loaf. In my opinion, a powdered sugar glaze is an essential topping for just about any type of quick bread!

A close up of a loaf of cherry chocolate quick bread

To make this recipe, you may need…

If you make any recipe using fresh cherries, you need a cherry pitter. I have this cherry pitter by OXO and love how easy it is to use, clean, and store.

Several different images of chocolate cranberry bread on a table

Let’s bake!

Before adding the cherries to the batter, it’s always a good idea to make sure to drain any collected juices. That keeps them from sinking to the bottom and from making the batter turn pink when folding them in.

Don’t you agree that Cherry Chocolate Chunk Bread would make a beautiful addition to any brunch menu?

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Yield: 10 servings

Cherry Chocolate Chunk Bread

Name: Cherry Chocolate Chunk Bread
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 55 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Yield: 10
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup Bing cherries, pitted and halved; 3/4 cup semi-sweet dark chocolate chunks; 2 cups all-purpose flour; 3/4 cup sugar; 1-1/2 teaspoon baking powder; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1 cup buttermilk; 1 large egg; 2 tablespoons canola oil; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 cup powdered sugar; 2-3 tablespoons milk

Cherry Chocolate Chunk Bread, a sweet quick bread with a powdered sugar glaze, is perfect for brunch or dessert!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 55 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients

1 cup Bing cherries, pitted and halved
3/4 cup semi-sweet dark chocolate chunks
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
1-1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup buttermilk
1 large egg
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Glaze

1 cup powdered sugar
2-3 tablespoons milk

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x5 loaf pan with a light coating of cooking spray. Cut a piece of parchment paper or wax paper to fit the bottom and up two sides of the pan. Place the paper in the pan and press to coat with the spray. Turn the paper over and return to the pan with the sprayed side up; set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
In a smaller bowl, combine the buttermilk with the baking soda. Add the egg, canola oil, and vanilla and stir until combined.
Pour the wet mixture into the bowl with the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Fold in the cherries and chocolate chunks, being careful not to over mix.
Spoon the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove the loaf from the pan by lifting up on the sides of the parchment paper. Cool completely before glazing.
In a small bowl, combine 1 cup powdered sugar with 2-3 tablespoons of milk (depending on desired consistency) and stir until smooth. Drizzle glaze over bread.