Jeweled Banana Bread With Honey Butter

Jeweled Banana Bread With Honey Butter Yield: 3 small or 2 large loaves For banana bread: 3/4 cup butter, softened 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 3 eggs 3 large ripe bananas, mashed 1/4 cup cherry juice from a jar of maraschino cherries 3 cups all purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 10-ounce jar maraschino cherries, drained 1 cup dark chocolate chips 1/2 cup toasted walnuts, chopped For honey butter: 1/2 cup softened butter 2 tablespoons honey Preheat oven to 350F. Butter and flour three small or two large loaf pans. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, mashed bananas, and maraschino cherry juice. Combine flour and baking soda and add to banana mixture, avoiding over-mixing. Stir in maraschino cherries, chocolate chips, and toasted walnuts. Pour evenly into prepared loaf pans and bake for 45 to 60 minutes. To make honey butter, mix together softened butter with honey. Serve with warm banana bread.