Copycat Bob Evans Cherry Bread Recipe for Sweet Mornings
The copycat Bob Evans cherry bread recipe brings the beloved restaurant favorite right into home kitchens everywhere.
Sweet and tender, this bakery-style loaf has won hearts across the country for good reason.
Morning coffee tastes better when paired with a thick slice of something so wonderfully fruity and moist.
Weekend brunches become more special, and breakfast tables feel a bit more abundant when one of these beautiful loaves appears.
The appeal crosses generations because comfort food like this never goes out of style.
Baking at home means enjoying that signature flavor whenever the craving strikes, without waiting for a restaurant visit.
Start mixing up a batch today and fill the house with an aroma that makes everyone smile.
A Moist, Fruity Escape in Every Slice of Bob Evans Cherry Bread
What Goes Into Moist Bob Evans Cherry Bread Batter
Dry Ingredients:Wet Ingredients:Garnish and Glaze Ingredients:Standard Loaf Pan And Mixing Tools For Cherry Bread
How to Master a Moist Crumb for Cherry Bread
Prepare Baking Setup
Preheat your oven to exactly 350°F (175°C). Grab a standard 9×5 inch loaf pan and get it ready by spraying with cooking spray or lining with parchment paper so your bread slides out easily.
Mix Dry Ingredients
Grab a large mixing bowl and combine your dry ingredients precisely:
Whisk these ingredients together until they’re completely blended and no lumps remain.
Combine Wet Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together your liquid components smoothly:
Mix until everything is completely incorporated and looks uniform.
Create Batter
Pour your wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir gently with a wooden spoon, making sure to mix just until the batter comes together.
Stop stirring the moment no dry flour remains – overmixing will make your bread tough.
Add Cherries
Chop 1 cup of maraschino cherries into small pieces. Fold these gently into your batter, which will now have a soft pink color.
Bake Bread
Transfer your batter into the prepared loaf pan. Spread it evenly and place in the preheated oven.
Bake for exactly 50-60 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should come out clean.
Cool and Rest
After removing from the oven, let the bread rest in the pan for 10-15 minutes. Then carefully transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Create Glaze
For the optional glaze, whisk together:
Drizzle this glaze over the completely cooled bread, allowing it to set for about 10 minutes before slicing.
Pro Tips for a Perfectly Moist and Sweet Cherry Bread Crumb
Sweet Adaptations for Bob Evans Cherry Bread with Glaze or Butter
The Final Flourish: Serving Moist Cherry Bread
Optimal Keeping Methods For Moist Cherry Bread
Common Cherry Bread Q&A and Baking Solutions
Can I use frozen cherries instead of fresh?
Frozen cherries work great! Thaw and drain them completely before chopping to prevent excess moisture in the batter.
How do carrots make this bread moist?
There are no carrots in this cherry bread recipe. The moisture comes from cherry juice, oil, and eggs.
What if I don’t have almond extract?
Substitute with more vanilla extract or skip it entirely. The almond extract adds depth but isn’t crucial to the recipe’s success.
How ripe should the cherries be?
Select fresh, firm cherries without bruises. Slightly soft cherries are fine, but avoid overripe or mushy fruit.
Can this bread be made gluten-free?
Replace the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free baking blend. Add 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum for better texture.
How do I know when the bread is fully baked?
Insert a toothpick in the center. When it comes out clean with no wet batter, the bread is done.
Copycat Bob Evans Cherry Bread Recipe
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
Description
Bob Evans Cherry Bread comes straight from my grandma’s kitchen, packed with sweet cherries that make weekend mornings feel special. Warm slices drizzled with butter create the perfect companion to your morning coffee or afternoon tea.
Ingredients
Primary Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup maraschino cherries, chopped
Liquid Ingredients:
- ¾ cup maraschino cherry juice
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
Baking and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ½ tablespoons maraschino cherry juice
- ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
Instructions
- Warm up your oven to exactly 350°F (175°C). Coat a standard 9×5-inch loaf pan with butter or cooking spray, ensuring complete coverage.
- Grab a large mixing bowl and combine 2 cups flour, 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon baking powder, and ½ teaspoon salt. Whisk thoroughly until ingredients are evenly distributed.
- In a separate bowl, blend ¾ cup maraschino cherry juice, 2 large eggs, ⅓ cup vegetable oil, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and ½ teaspoon almond extract. Whisk until the mixture looks smooth and consistent.
- Create a small well in the center of your dry ingredients. Gently pour the liquid mixture into the flour blend, stirring with a wooden spoon until just incorporated. Your batter should look slightly lumpy.
- Carefully chop 1 cup of maraschino cherries into small, bite-sized pieces. Softly fold these into the batter, distributing them evenly without overmixing.
- Transfer the batter into your prepared loaf pan, using a spatula to spread it evenly. Smooth the top with gentle, even strokes.
- Slide the pan into the preheated oven and bake for precisely 50-60 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a clean toothpick – it should emerge without wet batter clinging to it.
- Remove the bread from the oven and let it rest inside the pan for 12-15 minutes. This helps the bread settle and prevents crumbling.
- Carefully remove the bread from the pan and place on a wire cooling rack. Allow it to cool completely for about 1 hour.
- For the glaze, whisk 1 cup powdered sugar with 1-2 tablespoons cherry juice until silky. Drizzle decoratively over the cooled bread, letting it set for 15 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Cherries can be drained from a jar or fresh – each will slightly change the bread’s moisture and flavor profile.
- Always chop cherries into smaller pieces so they distribute evenly throughout the batter and won’t sink.
- Check the bread at 45 minutes to prevent over-browning, as oven temperatures can vary between kitchen appliances.
- For a gluten-free version, swap standard flour with a cup-for-cup gluten-free baking blend and add an extra egg for binding.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50-60 minutes
- Category: Breads
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 289 kcal
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 212 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 39 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 37 mg



Madison Wyman
Recipe Developer & Food Storyteller
Expertise
Recipe Research and Adaptation, Food Writing and Cultural Storytelling, Sustainable and Ethical Sourcing, Dietary Adaptations (e.g., gluten-free, plant-based)
Education
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland Community College
Madison’s passion for flavor and culture ignited amidst the rich Southern cooking traditions of her upbringing, where cherished family recipes told delicious tales.
Armed with a Master’s in Food Systems and Society from Oregon Health & Science University and a Culinary Arts Certificate from Portland Community College, Madison truly excels at transforming rich, intricate flavors into dishes that are both approachable and heartfelt.
For her, cooking is a vibrant blend of science, art, and heritage – a powerful way to connect us to our roots and each other. Her recipes invite you to delve deeper, uncovering the fascinating stories woven into every ingredient.