Christmas Eggnog Cherry Bread with Eggnog Glaze

Very moist and fragrant, this is a wonderful bread to serve during the Christmas holidays. Decorate the top with 1 or 2 glaceed cherries and then drizzle with glaze, if you are planning these for gift-giving.

1 1/3 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups prepared eggnog

3 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup chopped glaceed cherries

Beat together first 4 ingredients until blended. Combine and add the next 6 ingredients and stir until dry ingredients are just moistened. Do not overmix.

Divide batter between 5 greased and lightly floured mini-loaf pans (6x3x2 inches) and bake in a 325 F. oven for 45 to 50 minutes or until a cake tester, inserted in center, comes out clean.

Allow to cool for 15 minutes and then remove from pans and continue cooling on a rack. when cool, drizzle tops with Eggnog glaze and allow a little to drip down the sides. Yields 5 mini-loaves

EGGNOG GLAZE:

1/3 cup sifted powdered sugar
pinch of cinnamon
pinch of nutmeg
1 tablespoon prepared eggnog

Stir together all the ingredients until blended.

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