Cherry-filled Bread Ring

Ingredients

 * 3 cups unbleached white flour
 * ½ cup sugar
 * 2½ tsp baking powder
 * ½ tsp salt
 * 4 tbsp butter, cut into small pieces
 * 2 large eggs
 * ¼ cup milk
 * ¼ cup vegetable oil
 * ¼ tsp almond extract

Filling

 * ½ cup blanched almonds, toasted
 * 2 cups dried cherries
 * ⅓ cup honey
 * ¼ cup orange juice
 * 1 tsp grated orange zest
 * 1 tsp ground cinnamon
 * ⅛ tsp ground cloves
 * 1 large egg white, lightly beaten

Directions

 * 1) In large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
 * 2) With an electric mixer at low speed, blend in butter.
 * 3) In small bowl, mix eggs, milk, oil and vanilla.
 * 4) Add to flour mixture and beat just until blended.
 * 5) Gather dough into a ball, dust with flour, flatten into disk and wrap well.
 * 6) Refrigerate overnight.

Filling

 * 1) In food processor, combine all ingredients, except egg white, and process until coarsely chopped and blended.
 * 2) Cover and let sit overnight at room temperature.

Assembly

 * 1) Preheat oven to 375°F.
 * 2) Grease baking sheet.
 * 3) Roll dough out between two sheets of plastic wrap or waxed paper into an 18 x 9-inch rectangle.
 * 4) Remove top sheet.
 * 5) Trim 1-inch piece off each long edge and set aside
 * 6) Spoon filling in a 2-inch wide strip lengthwise down center of dough.
 * 7) Lift plastic wrap at one long edge and fold dough over half of filling.
 * 8) Fold the other side over filling and press edges together to seal.
 * 9) Invert seam-side down onto prepared baking sheet; remove plastic.
 * 10) Pinch the two ends together to form a ring.
 * 11) With sharp knife or small cookie cutter, cut out reserved trimmings in leaf shapes.
 * 12) Brush bread ring with egg white and decorate with cut out dough.
 * 13) Brush with egg white again.
 * 14) Bake until lightly golden, 30 to 40 minutes.
 * 15) Let cool 10 minutes on baking sheet.
 * 16) Transfer to wire rack and let cool completely.