Cinnamon Roll Tea Ring With Cherry Frosting

Heavenly!! You can taste the warm, buttery sweetness of the cinnamon layer and delicious cherry frosting all in one great dessert! And, the best part is, there is NO KNEADING involved plus you can make this the night before and have it ready to bake in the morning! This is from my Great Aunt Linda; she is a fabulous in-law AND cook!! :)

• Ready In: 3 hrs 15 mins
• Serves: 17
• Yields: 17 slices

Ingredients

• DOUGH

• 1  cup warm water
• 1 (1/4ounce) package active dry yeast
• 1⁄4 cup sugar
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 3 -4  cups flour
• 1  small eggs or 1⁄2 medium egg
• 1⁄8 cup shortening, melted

• FILLING

• 1⁄4-1⁄2 cup butter (approximately, I always just measure by looking to see if there is a good layer, not skimpy)
• 1  cup sugar
• 1  teaspoon ground cinnamon (more or less to suit your taste)
• 1⁄4-1⁄2 cup  chopped  nuts (walnuts or pecans) (optional)

• FROSTING

• 2  cups powdered sugar
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 1 -2  tablespoon milk (approximately, enough to make thick glaze)
• 1  tablespoon maraschino cherry juice (from maraschino cherry jar)
• 10 -15  maraschino cherries, halved

Directions

1. Dough:
2. Mix warm water and yeast, add sugar and salt.
3. Add 1 1/2 cups of flour, mix, then add melted shortening and egg; mix. Add the rest of the flour, 1 1/2 cups; if dough is really thin, add more flour.
4. Grease a bowl, put dough in, turn to coat, and refrigerate at least a couple hours or overnight. (The dough will rise in the fridge.).
5. Roll the dough our on a floured surface into a rectangle, not too thin and not to thick, maybe 1/4-1/2 inch thick. Spread 1/4 cup melted butter over dough, add more if necessary/desired.
6. Mix cinnamon and sugar and sprinkle evenly over the butter. Sprinkle chopped nuts over that. Roll up tightly into a log.
7. Place onto a greased cookie sheet and shape into a ring (bring ends together) and seal ends together with some melted butter.
8. Using a pair of scissors, cut a small slit (not all the way through) every one inch. Bake at 350°F until top is slightly brown. (About 25-30 minutes).
9. Meanwhile make the icing: Mix the powdered sugar, vanilla, and enough milk for a glaze thin enough to spoon over the ring and fall down the sides. Add one tablespoon maraschino cherry juice for color and flavor. Spoon onto cooled tea ring and decorate the top with halved maraschino cherries.
10. *To serve, guests can simply pull off/ cut the wedges created by cutting the slits. Great for an impress your guest brunch!