CANDY CANE COFFEE CAKES

Steps:

• In large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add buttermilk, eggs, 2 1/2 cups of the flour, the butter, granulated sugar, baking powder and salt. Beat with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl frequently. Stir in enough remaining flour to make dough easy to handle. (Dough should remain soft and sticky.)
• Grease 3 cookie sheets with shortening or cooking spray. On lightly floured surface, knead dough about 5 minutes or until smooth and springy. Divide dough into 3 equal parts. Roll one part into 15x9-inch rectangle. Place rectangle on cookie sheet.
• Mix cranberries and cherries. Spread one-third of the cranberry mixture in a strip about 2 1/2 inches wide lengthwise down center of rectangle. Make cuts in dough at 1/2-inch intervals on both 15-inch sides almost to filling. Fold strips over filling, overlapping and crossing in center. Carefully stretch dough until 22 inches long; curve one end to form top of cane. Repeat with remaining 2 parts of dough. Cover; let rise in warm place about 1 hour or until double in size. (Dough is ready if indentation remains when touched.)
• Heat oven to 375°F. Bake 1 coffee cake at time (refrigerate remaining coffee cakes while others bake). Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Meanwhile, in small bowl, mix all glaze ingredients until smooth and thin enough to drizzle. Drizzle glaze over warm coffee cakes. Decorate with almonds.