Chocolate Chip Cherry Fruitcake Loaf - cooking recipe

Ingredients

3 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup finely chopped pecans (measure after chopping)
1 1 cup raisins or 1 cup sultana
1 cup candied red cherries, halves (also known as glazed fruitcake cherries)
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
5 -6 extra candied red cherries, halves,to taste,for garnishing the top of the loaf

Preparation

Preheat oven to 325 F and have ready a greased 9x5\" loaf pan.
Beat eggs and sugar in a large bowl until well combined.
In another large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt.
Add flour mixture to egg mixture and mix well.
Add nuts, dates or raisins, 1 cup cherry halves,& the chocolate chips and stir gently to combine.
Pour into a greased 9x5\" loaf pan(mixture will be very thick).
Garnish top with a row of cherry halves down the center of the batter- press gently so they stick.
Bake in a preheated 325 F oven for 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours or until golden and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out mostly clean (there will be streaks of melted chocolate but not gobs of beige batter) - DO NOT OVERBAKE or it will be as hard as a rock.
Let cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then remove from pan and let cool completely.
Usually I slice the loaf after it has cooled and seal it in a plastic zip-top bag, which helps keep it from hardening up.