Cherry Coffee Cake

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2/3 cup shortening
• 3/4 cup milk

Topping

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup butter or margarine

Filling

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 2 (16 ounce) cans pitted red tart cherries (drain and reserve juice)
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Directions

1. 1

   Sift together flour, baking powder, salt and sugar.

2. 2

   Place in a large mixing bowl; work in shortening.

3. 3

   Add milk.

4. 4

   Spread into a greased 13 x 9-inch pan; set aside.

5. 5

   For filling, combine sugar, cornstarch and salt in saucepan.

6. 6

   Drain cherries, reserving the juice.

7. 7

   Set aside cherries and add juice to pan.

8. 8

   Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly; cook and stir 2 minutes more.

9. 9

   Remove from heat; stir in the extract.

10. 10

    Stir in cherries; cool slightly.

11. 11

    Spread on dough.

12. 12

    For topping, combine sugar, flour and cinnamon in small bowl.

13. 13

    Cut in butter until crumbly; sprinkle over filling.

14. 14

    Bake at 350 degrees for 50-55 minutes, or until bubbly and cake tests done.