Holiday Lebkuchen (German Spice Cookies)

Ingredients

• 2 cups whole almonds
• boiling water to cover
• 2/3 cup chopped dried apricots
• 8 Medjool dates, pitted and chopped
• 4 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup honey
• 1/4 cup blackstrap molasses
• 1 tablespoon water
• 2 teaspoons almond extract
• 2 teaspoons grated orange zest
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
• 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
• 2 tablespoons whole milk
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest