Recipe: Cherry Almond Cinnamon Rolls with Cherry Glaze (using almond paste)

CHERRY ALMOND CINNAMON ROLLS
"These rolls go great with a cup of coffee!"

FOR THE DOUGH:
1 cup milk
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar, divided use
1 envelope Fleischmann's Active Dry Yeast
4 to 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided use
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter OR margarine, softened
1 egg

FOR THE FILLING:
1/2 cup almond paste
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons butter OR margarine, softened
2 teaspoons Spice Islands Ground Saigon Cinnamon
3/4 cup dried cherries
Cherry Glaze (recipe follows)

TO PREPARE THE DOUGH:
Heat milk and 1/4 cup water until warm (100 to 110 degrees F) in a small bowl. Add yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar. Allow to rest 5 minutes.

Combine 2 cups flour, remaining 1/4 cup sugar and salt in a large mixer bowl. Add egg, 1/4 cup butter and yeast mixture and beat for 2 minutes. Gradually stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.

Knead dough on lightly floured surface for 6 to 8 minutes, until dough is smooth and elastic. Shape dough into ball and place in greased bowl, turning once to coat. Cover and let rise in a warm, draft-free place until dough is doubled in size, about 1 hour.

TO MAKE THE FILLING:
Combine almond paste, sugar, brown sugar, 3 tablespoons butter and cinnamon in a large mixer bowl. Mix on medium speed for 2 minutes.

TO SHAPE AND BAKE THE ROLLS:
Punch dough down. Roll into an 18x12-inch rectangle. Spread filling evenly onto dough. Sprinkle with cherries. Roll up dough, starting with the short end. Pinch seam to seal. Cut dough into 12 equal sized rolls. Place rolls in a greased 13x9-inch baking pan. Cover and let rise until doubled in size, about 40 minutes.

Bake rolls for 25 to 30 minutes in a preheated 350 degree F oven. Allow to cool on wire rack.

Drizzle cooled rolls with cherry glaze

CHERRY GLAZE

1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons cherry jam
1/4 teaspoon Spice Islands Pure Almond Extract

Combine powdered sugar, heavy cream, cherry jam and almond extract in a large bowl. Beat on medium speed until thoroughly combined.

Makes 12 rolls
Source: Fleishmann's Yeast, ACH Food Companies, Inc.