By Nourishing Amy

Chocolate Cherry Loaf Cake

timerPrep Time: 20 minutes

groupsServes: 10 People

A fruity, chocolatey and deliciously simple loaf cake packed with juicy cherries and chunks of Dark Pink Himalayan Salt Chocolate. Top this easy-to-make loaf with a healthy yoghurt cherry frosting and homemade chocolate covered cherries for a summery showstopper loaf for all the family.

Ingredients

For the Loaf

150g cherries, pitted weight

120g thick dairy-free yoghurt

120ml plant-based milk

30ml (2 tbsp) olive oil

120g caster sugar

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 tsp vanilla essence

180g + 1 tsp plain/GF plain flour

1 ½ tsp baking powder

½ tsp bicarbonate of soda

100g almond flour (or ground almonds)

A pinch of salt

60g Dark Pink Himalayan Salt Chocolate, roughly chopped

For the Frosting

15 whole cherries (from the fridge)

30g Dark Pink Himalayan Salt Chocolate, chopped small

150g thick dairy-free yoghurt e.g. coconut

2 tbsp cherry jam

Extra chocolate, if desired

Method

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 160Fan/180*C and line a 9x5-inch loaf pan with baking paper.

Step 2

Chop the cherries in half and toss them in 1 tsp of flour. Leave to one side.

Step 3

Into a large mixing bowl, add the yoghurt, milk, oil, sugar, lemon juice and vanilla essence. Whisk till smooth.

Step 4

Sift in the flour, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda and add the almond flour and salt. Whisk to a thick batter.

Step 5

Fold in the cherries and most of the chocolate and spoon into the tin. Smooth over the top and garnish with the remaining chopped chocolate.

Step 6

Bake for 44-46 minutes, until an inserted skewer comes out mostly clean. Cover the loaf with foil after 30 minutes, if it is browning too much. Allow to cool for 10 minutes then lift out the tin to cool fully on a wire rack.

Step 7

Melt the 30g of chocolate and then dip in the cherries, one by one. Allow the excess to drip off and place on a parchment lined plate. Allow to set for a few minutes (transfer to the fridge if needed).

Step 8

Stir together the yoghurt and cherry jam and spread over the cooled cherry loaf. Decorate with the chocolate covered cherries and extra chocolate.

Step 9