Christmas Stollen

Ingredients

• 1/2 c. dark or golden raisins
• 1/4 c. chopped dried apricots
• 1/4 c. unsweetened apple juice or rum
• 1 pkg. or 1 Tbsp. active dry yeast
• 1/3 c. milk, heated to lukewarm (105~ to 110~)
• 1/2 c. flour
• 1/2 c. margarine
• 2 Tbsp. sugar
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. almond extract
• 1 tsp. grated lemon rind
• 1 to 1 1/2 c. flour
• 1/2 c. sliced blanched almonds
• 1/2 c. low sugar apricot preserves