Dark Sweet Cherry Loaf (Vegan)

I turned my go to dark sweet cherry loaf recipe into veganized version and I am happy to say I found a sweet success and have been making a lot of variation from the following recipe :)

It is originally a Hungarian sweet bread/loaf (Cseresznye Kalacs) which of course would be with dairy, but the veganized version is as best, even better maybe, since my husband keeps asking me to prepare it ;-)

Give it a try and see if you like it too :D

• Heat 1 c unsweetened almond milk for 50 seconds in microwave (lukewarm), then stir in 1 tbsp coconut oil to dissolve.
• Add in 1 tbsp sugar and 2 tsp active dry yeast, stir. Let stand to bloom, 5 minutes
• In a separate bowl, place scant 3 c flour, mix with 2 tbsp sugar, 1 envelope of vanilla sugar, and 2 tbsp icing sugar, plus a pinch or two of salt.
• Make a well in center
• Pour in yeast mixture, knead to a lump of dough
• Rub and knead dough with 2 tbsp coconut oil
• Cover with cling wrap and let rest in warm area for 30 mins
• Once dough is doubled in size, roll flat

• Into a pan, place 2 c pitted fresh dark cherries with 3-5 tbsp sugar, and 1/4 c sour cherry nectar.
• Bring to boil for 2 mins then take out cherries from pan, leaving juice.
• Simmer juice for mins, stir often.
• Add in cherries again and cook for another 5 mins til cherries soften and juice a bit thicken. Take off from heat.

• Halve more fresh cherries and make up to 1 C
• Spread cooked cherries and it's juice on the rolled flat dough, followed with the halved fresh cherries
• Roll to loaf and place on prepared sheet. Rest in warm area for 45 mins

Egg Wash and Baking

• Preheat oven to 350 F
• Mix 1 tbsp coconut palm sugar with 1 tbsp red kidney beans aquafaba (homemade is best, because I made mine)
• Brush this "egg-wash" on the loaf and bake for 25-30 minutes
• Cool on rack, slice, and enjoy.