Almond Joy Bread

Almond Joy Bread

4 eggs
2 cups sugar
¾ cup canola oil
¼ cup melted butter
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp coconut extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup sweetened coconut
½ cup almonds, chopped
1 cup chocolate chips

Combine the first 6 ingredients into the bowl of an electric mixer. Using the paddle attachment, beat ingredients on medium speed for 2 minutes.
In a separate bowl, sift and combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
Starting with the flour mixture alternate flour, buttermilk, flour, buttermilk and flour…in that order. Mix until just combined, like you would if you were making muffins.
Fold in coconut, chocolate chips and almonds.
Pour into two loaf pans or 8 mini loaf pans that have been sprayed with nonstick spray. Bake at 350F for 1 hours(minis take only about 10 minutes less). I made one regular loaf and four mini loaves from the recipe.

Remove from oven and place on rack to dry. While breads are still warm, poke several holes in the top with a wooden skewer. Drizzle Coconut Glaze(recipe follows) into the holes. Finish glazing bread by taking a pastry brush and brushing on remaining glaze(as much or as little as you would like). When bread is completely cool, drizzle chocolate ganache over bread(I used a ziploc sandwich bag with corner snipped off).

Coconut Glaze

1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1 TBSP unsalted butter
1/2 tsp coconut extract

Place ingredients into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil. Allow to boil for about a minute. Turn heat off but leave saucepan on burner. Glaze breads as instructed above. I halved this recipe for you. I think it's plenty.

Chocolate Ganache
8 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped *I used chocolate chips
¾ cup heavy cream*I went with a bit less

Place chocolate into a bowl.
Place cream in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
Once cream has boiled pour over chocolate. Let sit for 3 minutes.
Stir with whisk until smooth and glossy.

I am loving the mini loaf pans that come with covers. Great for gifts or to take to a friend for coffee or put in a care package. Add a ribbon and a tag for a sweet gift.