Cherry-Almond Bread with Amaretto Glaze

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, softened, plus more for buttering pan
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2 teaspoons almond extract
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups halved dried cherries
• 1 cup chopped almonds
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 6 to 7 tbsp. Amaretto

Preparation

1. 1. Preheat oven to 330°. Butter two 6-cup-capacity loaf pans (or, if making the mini loaves, butter six 2-cup-capacity pans).
2. 2. With an electric or standing mixer on medium speed, cream butter and sugar together in a large bowl until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. Add milk, sour cream, and vanilla; mix until blended.
3. 3. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Add flour mixture, cherries, and almonds to wet ingredients and mix just until dry ingredients are absorbed; do not overmix.
4. 4. Pour batter into prepared loaf pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in centers of breads comes out clean, 70 to 75 minutes for large loaves and 60 minutes for mini loaves.
5. 5. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar and 6 tbsp. Amaretto. Glaze should have consistency of thick maple syrup or corn syrup. If it is too thick, thin with an additional tbsp. of Amaretto.
6. 6. Let loaves cool in pans for 10 minutes, then remove and transfer to a cooling rack set over a large baking sheet. With a thin skewer or long toothpick, poke deep holes in tops of loaves. Drizzle with Amaretto glaze so that it coats the top, runs down the sides, and seeps through the holes.
7. 7. Let loaves cool completely, then slice and serve, or wrap and freeze (see Notes).
8. Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.