Someone asked me how I knew it was Christmas each year, what song or food or special decoration sealed the deal for me and I knew right away, Holiday Friendship Bread. I don’t think I’ve ever celebrated a Christmas without this bread and being reminded of the story behind it. In the early 70’s my mom was a young stay at home mom and wanted to give all of her neighbors and friends a small gift but had a small, almost nonexistent budget. She came up with the idea of baking small loaves of bread, using empty soup cans as pans, for everyone on her list. She removed the bread from the cans, wrapped the little cylinders in shiny silver foil and added simple ribbon. Fast forward 40 years and you’ll find hundreds of people who have been beneficiaries of my mother’s kindness, that wait each year for my mom to drop off her famous bread. She still bakes dozens and dozens of loaves every year, even though she’s ditched the soup cans for small or large disposable loaf pans.
- ½c butter
- 1c sugar
- 2 lg. bananas, mashed
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 2c flour
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1c semi sweet chocolate chips
- ½c maraschino cherries, quartered
- ½c walnuts, chopped
- Cream butter & sugar, then blend in bananas, eggs, & vanilla
- Sift together flour & baking soda, blend into wet mixture
- Fold in chips, cherries, & nuts
- Add to 1 large loaf pan or 5 small loaf pans, grease all pans well
- Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes(large loaf) or about 20 minutes(small pans)
- Toothpick will come out clean when bread is ready
I usually bake several loaves at once, cool them, wrap in foil, and stick them in the freezer. Then, when I’m ready to give a loaf, I add a ribbon.
For some reason, people assume it’s fruitcake when you hand it to them the 1st time…it’s not. My mom just always called it Holiday Bread but I added the Friendship, in honor of her & her generous spirit.
Carol Derbis says
Just found you last night…and this is perfect! I usually give little packages of cookies to neighbors…think I might try this one for this year!
Thank you!
This sounds YUMMY! (and making it for them gives me an excuse to try it for us, too!).Will have to try to make this with gluten-free flour for hubby….
Thanks again…
and wishing you and your family a Beautiful and Blessed Christmas!
Carol Kintigh says
I, too, have been making this bread since 1977, also in cans. It’s from Better Homes and Garden Entertainment cookbook. Our family calls it holiday fruit bread. We traditionally make it then eat it while we decorate the Christmas tree, We have shared this bread and recipe with so many people.
Michelle Myers says
Oh wow! My mom said she started in ’73, such fun memories! 🙂
Debbie Dion Hayes says
Now I wish our oven worked!
Tove Maren - Mama in the Now says
what an awesome gesture – and SO timely. I was just thinking of baking something for my neighbors – I will definitely give this a shot!!!! What a sweet idea!!!
Jessica says
What a great idea! Such a beautiful story behind it too! Great way to celebrate the holiday season!
Jane says
What a wonderful tradition! Thank you for sharing :). The bread sounds delicious too!
Pinning to make some over the holidays.
Danielle K says
Looks delicious! I need to do this for my friends 🙂
Jenn Corter says
That looks like a really yummy bread! What a wonderful way to spread holiday cheer!
Kim says
Such a great way to honor your mom during the Holiday season. In Trinidad, where I grew up, we called this sweet bread.
Ilona @ Ilona's Passion says
Yummy breads! I love the addition of cherries!
Sarah @ GlamGranolaGeek says
What a sweet story! And the bread looks amazing, I’m a huge fan of quickbreads.
Valerie@Occasionally Crafty says
Will you be my friend and make me some? Lol. Seriously it looks and sounds delicious!
Stacy says
It looks delicious! Thanks for the family recipe and lovely story.