Festive Butter Almond Loaf

Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 55 mins

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter or 1 cup margarine, softened
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/4 cups milk
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds
• 3 red maraschino cherries or 3 green maraschino cherries, for garnish
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 3 teaspoons water
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350°f grease two medium loaf pans.
• 2 in large bowl, mix first six ingredients, and beat on high speed for 5 minutes.
• 3 fold in flour, baking powder and salt, alternately with the milk.
• 4 pour into pans, and sprinkle almonds on top of each loaf.
• 5 bake for 50-55 minutes, or until lightly browned and done.
• 6 when loaves have cooled slightly, loosen edges, and turn out onto wire rack.
• 7 drizzle glaze over loaves.
• 8 to make glaze, beat powdered sugar, water and extract together in a small bowl until smooth.
• 9 if glaze is too thick, add an extra 1/2 teaspoon of water.
• 10 decorate with cherries.