Chocolate Chip Cherry Fruitcake Loaf Recipe

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 F and have ready a greased 9x5 loaf pan.
2. Beat eggs and sugar in a large bowl until well combined.
3. In another large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt.
4. Add flour mixture to egg mixture and mix well.
5. Add nuts, dates or raisins, 1 cup cherry halves,& the chocolate chips and stir gently to combine.
6. Pour into a greased 9x5 loaf pan(mixture will be very thick).
7. Garnish top with a row of cherry halves down the center of the batter- press gently so they stick.
8. Bake in a preheated 325 F oven for 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours or until golden and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out mostly clean (there will be streaks of melted chocolate but not gobs of beige batter) - DO NOT OVERBAKE or it will be as hard as a rock.
9. Let cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then remove from pan and let cool completely.
10. Usually I slice the loaf after it has cooled and seal it in a plastic zip-top bag, which helps keep it from hardening up.