Christmas Sweet Bread from Kaffeehaus: Exquisite Desserts from the Classic Cafes of Vienna, Budapest

Ingredients

• ¼ cup golden raisins
• ½ cup hot water, as needed
• ¼ cup dried currants
• ½ cup coarsely chopped dried apricots
• 2 tablespoons unbleached flour
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, for brushing
• ¾ cup dried tart cherries
• 1 ounce (½ cube) fresh compressed yeast or 3¾ teaspoons (about 1½ envelopes) active dry yeast
• ½ cup milk
• ¾ cup unbleached flour
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar mixed with ½ teaspoon grated nutmeg, for sprinkling
• ¾ cup confectioners’ sugar, for dredging
• 2½ cups unbleached flour, divided
• 1 cup sliced natural almonds
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1 large egg
• ⅓ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• ½ teaspoon almond extract Grated zest of 1 lemon
• 2 ounces almond paste, cut into ½-inch cubes (about ⅓ cup)
• 3 tablespoons golden rum
• 1 teaspoon salt