Gift of the Magi Bread

Originally from Taste of Home. I make this during the Christmas Season - It's loaded with scrumptious ingredients such as coconut, mandarin oranges, dates, cherries, chocolate chips and almonds.

• Ready In: 1 hr 10 mins
• Yields: 2 loaves

Ingredients

• 1⁄2 cup butter, softened
• 1  cup sugar
• 2  eggs
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2  cups all-purpose flour
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1  cup  mashed banana (about 2 medium)
• 1 (11 ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained
• 1  cup flaked coconut
• 1  cup  semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2⁄3 cup  sliced almonds, divided
• 1⁄2 cup maraschino cherry, chopped
• 1⁄2 cup dates, chopped

Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Beat in eggs and vanilla.
3. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with bananas.
4. Stir in the oranges, coconut, chocolate chips, 1/2 cup almonds, cherries and dates.
5. Pour into two greased 8-in. x 4-in. x 2-in. loaf pans.
6. Sprinkle with remaining almonds.
7. Bake at 350 for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
8. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Yield: 2 loaves.