Austrian Gugelhupf

This is posted for the ZWT 2006. I have not tried this recipe and it is compliments of www.astray.com by Léon Brocard.

• Ready In: 3 hrs 40 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 1⁄2 cup milk, warm (110 F to 115F)
• 2 (1/4ounce) packages active dry yeast
• 4  cups all-purpose flour
• 1  cup butter or 1  cup margarine
• 1⁄2 cup sugar
• 4  eggs
• 1  cup light raisins
• 1⁄4 cup currants
• 2  teaspoons  orange rind, finely shredded
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 cup  blanched almond, whole

Directions

1. Place warm milk in a medium mixing bowl. Sprinkle yeast over milk.
2. Add 1/2 cup flour.
3. Beat with a large spoon about 1 minute.
4. Cover and let rise in a warm place until almost double (40 minutes).
5. In a large mixing bowl beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
6. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after adding each.
7. Stir in yeast mixture, raisins, currants, orange peel and salt.
8. Gradually stir in the remaining 3-1/2 cups flour.
9. Lightly grease and flour a 9-cup gugelhupf mold or 12-cup fluted tube pan.
10. Arange whole almonds in a design in the bottom of the pan.
11. Carefully spoon batter over almonds.
12. Cover and let rise in a warm place until almost double (about 1 hour).
13. Bake in a 350 degree oven about 40 minutes.
14. If necessary cover top with foil the last 15 minutes of baking time to prevent over browning.
15. Remove from pan.
16. Cool on wire rack.
17. Before serving, sift powdered sugar over cake.