Cake Mix... Fruit Loaves

  One of the great things about cake mixes is the variety of things you can make with them besides cake. This recipe from the  Duncan Hines Holiday Spectacular for Delightful Fruit Loaves is a good example of that.

  It calls for ingredients I usually have on hand and can be made up quickly. Great for when your kid comes home and says “I need something for the bake sale tomorrow.”

They all do it at some point. Just whip out that cake mix and make this bread. No one will know it started with a cake mix.

Delightful Fruit Loaves

1 can (8 ounces) crushed pineapple, drained and juice reserved

1 package yellow cake mix

1 package (4-serving size) vanilla instant pudding mix

4 eggs

½ cup salad oil

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ cup diced banana (not mashed)

½ cup finely chopped nuts

¼ cup finely chopped maraschino cherries well drained

Confectioners sugar for dusting if desired

  Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 8 ½ x4 ½ x 2 ½ inch loaf pans. Add water to the reserved pineapple juice to equal one cup.

  Combine cake mix, pudding mix, pineapple and the 1 cup pineapple liquid, eggs, oil, and cinnamon in large bowl. (Stir the dry ingredients together before adding the rest so you don’t get clumps of cinnamon or pudding in spots and not in others)

Beat at medium speed with electric mixer for 2 minutes. Stir in banana, nuts and cherries. Divide between greased pans. Bake at 350° for 60 to 65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Always check at the shorter time. 

Cool in pans for 15 minutes. Turn out and cool on wire rack till cold. Dust with confectioners sugar if desired. (I think it makes them too sweet)

  All quick breads are better the next day. Wrap well in plastic wrap and slice and enjoy tomorrow, or send to that bake sale you need to have something for.