Chocolate Walnut Bread

I've made this delicious bread in small loaf pans to give as gifts and received rave reviews. The recipe is from the cookbook "The Family Baker".

• Ready In: 1 hr 15 mins
• Yields: 1 loaf

Ingredients

• 1⁄4 cup  unsweetened cocoa
• 2  cups flour
• 2  teaspoons baking powder
• 1⁄4 teaspoon baking soda
• 3⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 3⁄4 cup dark brown sugar, packed
• 1  large egg
• 1  cup milk
• 1⁄3 cup canola oil
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 1  cup walnuts, chopped
• 3⁄4 cup  semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1⁄2 cup  chopped pitted dates or 1⁄2 cup  dried apricot (optional)

• Topping

• 2  tablespoons  chopped walnuts
• 2  tablespoons  semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350º.
2. Lightly grease and cocoa pans; tap out excess cocoa.
3. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together cocoa, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
4. In a large bowl, using a whisk or an electric mixer, blend together sugar, egg, milk, oil and vanilla.
5. Slowly add in the dry ingredients, beating just until combined.
6. Stir in walnuts, chocolate chips, and dates.
7. Turn batter into the baking pans, sprinkle with nuts and chocolate chips.
8. Bake 55 to 60 minutes for a large loaf, about 25 minutes for mini loaves or until tester inserted in bread comes out clean.
9. Cool in pan on wire rack 10 minutes, take out of pan and cool completely on the rack.