Cherry Tea Ring

DIRECTIONS

• For Bread:
• In small saucepan, heat and stir milk and butter until warm and butter almost melts.
• Cool to lukewarm (105-115 degrees F).
• In large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast into 1/2 cup warm water.
• Stir in milk mixture, 3 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 cup sugar, eggs, and salt.
• Use wooden spoon to stir in as much of remaining flour as possible.
• Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface.
• Knead in enough of remaining flour to make a moderately stiff dough that is smooth and elastic (about 6-8 minutes total).
• Shape into ball and place into greased bowl, turning once in order to grease entire surface of dough.
• Cover and let rise in warm place until doubles in size about 1-1 1/2 hours.
• Punch dough down.
• Turn out onto lightly floured surface.
• Divide dough in half, cover and let rest for 10 minutes.
• In medium saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to boiling, remove from heat.
• Add cherries and let stand for 5 minutes.
• Drain, squeezing out excess water of cherries. Set aside.
• In medium mixing bowl, mix 2/3 cup granulated sugar, 2/3 cup brown sugar, 1/3 cup flour, and cinnamon.
• Cut 1/2 cup butter into mixture until crumbly and set aside.
• Roll half of dough into 15 x 9 rectangle.
• Sprinkle half of the cinnamon filling evenly over dough.
• Sprinkle with half of cherries.
• Roll up, jelly roll style, starting from long side.
• Seal seam.
• Grease two baking pans (cookie sheets).
• Place dough roll on one of prepared baking pans.
• Attach ends of dough to form a circle.
• Pinch to seal ends.
• Use sharp knife to cut slits at 1 inch intervals around ring.
• Cover, let dough rise again until double in size, about 30 minutes.
• Repeat with remaining dough, cinnamon mix, and cherries.
• Bake both rings in 350 degree F oven for about 25 minutes or until tea rings sound hollow when you tap tops. (if necessary cover tops with foil for last 5-10 minutes of baking to prevent overbrowning.).
• Transfer to wire racks and cool completely.
• Drizzle with icing. . .
• For icing:
• In small bowl, mix powdered sugar, corn syrup, vanilla, and almond extract.
• Stir in enough cream to make drizzling consistency.
• If desired, add red food color to icing.