Cherry Nut Bread

This came from my favorite magazine, Taste of Home, it is truly delicious! Great for gifts at Christmas!

• Ready In: 1 hr 20 mins
• Yields: 4 loaves

Ingredients

• 2  cups butter or 2  cups margarine, softened
• 3  cups sugar
• 5  eggs, separated
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract
• 5  cups all-purpose flour
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1  cup buttermilk
• 2 (10 ounce) jars maraschino cherries, drained and chopped
• 1  cup  chopped pecans

Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar.
2. Add egg yolks and vanilla; mix well.
3. Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk just until blended (batter will be thick).
4. In a small mixing bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.
5. Fold into batter.
6. Fold in cherries and pecans.
7. Transfer to four greased and floured 8-in.
8. x 4-in.
9. x 2-in.
10. loaf pans.
11. Bake at 350° for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean and loaves are golden brown.
12. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.