Sweet Coconut Bread

• 3 1/2 cups brown sugar
• 2 (8 ounce) packages grated coconut
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup seedless raisins
• 4 ounces candied mixed fruit peel
• 4 ounces fresh cherries, pitted and cut into small pieces
• 1/4 cup baking powder
• 1 tablespoon mixed essence
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 cup margarine
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon water, or more if needed
• 5 teaspoons white sugar, or more to taste

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Grease five 8x4-inch baking pans.
2. Combine brown sugar, coconut, flour, raisins, fruit peel, cherries, baking powder, mixed essence, and nutmeg in a large bowl using a large wooden spoon.
3. Combine margarine and shortening in a microwave-safe bowl; heat in microwave until melted, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Pour melted mixture into flour mixture, alternating with milk, until batter is just mixed. Add water, a teaspoon at a time, if more moisture is needed.
4. Pour batter into the prepared baking pans, smoothing the tops with the back of a wet spoon. Sprinkle white sugar over each loaf.
5. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick or skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean, about 1 hour. Cool in the pans for 5 minutes. Invert onto cooking racks.

brown sugar, grated coconut, flour, raisins, fresh cherries, baking powder, mixed essence, ground nutmeg, margarine, shortening, milk, salt, water, white sugar

Taken from www.allrecipes.com/recipe/257463/sweet-coconut-bread/ (may not work)