Dried Cherry Almond Bread - cooking recipe

Ingredients

FOR THE BREAD
1 1/2 cups boiling water
2 (5 1/2 ounce) bags dried cherries
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups slivered almonds
FOR THE GLAZE
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon milk (or more)

Preparation

FOR THE BREAD ~ In a medium bowl, pour boiling water over dried cherries & let stand 20 minutes, then pat dry with paper towels.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F, then spray a 9\"x5\" loaf pan with with a baking-spray-with-flour.
In a large mixing bowl, beat brown sugar & softened butter with electric mixer on medium speed until well mixed.
Beat in eggs & the 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract, then carefully stir in the flour, baking powder & salt just until dry ingredients are moistened.
Stir in almonds & cherries, then pour into prepared loaf pan.
Bake 70 to 80 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean & top is dark golden brown.
Cool 10 minutes in the pan on a wire rack, then loosen the sides of the loaf from the pan & remove the bread, placing it top side up on a wire rack. Let it cool completely, about 1 hour.
FOR THE GLAZE ~ In a small bowl, mix glaze ingredients until smooth, then drizzle over cooled bread.
Wrap tightly & store at room temperature.
When ready to serve, cut loaf into 12 slices & then cut each of those slices in half.