Stollen
Delicious spicy cake with almonds and brandy.

• 2 ½ cups flour
• 2 teaspoon baking powder
• ¾ cup sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon mace
• Seeds of 5 to 6 cardamom pods, crushed
• ¾ cup ground, blanched almonds
• ½ cup butter
• 1 cup softened cream cheese
• 1 egg
• ½ teaspoon vanilla
• 1/3 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 tablespoons brandy
• ½ cup currents
• ½ cup golden raisins
• ¼ cup chopped candied lemon peel
• Melted butter
• Confectioners’ sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Sift together flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, mace and cardamom. Stir in ground almonds. Cut butter in until mixture resembles coarse sand.
3. In a blender, cream egg, cream cheese, vanilla, almond extract and brandy. Pour in a bowl and stir in dried fruit. Gradually stir in flour mixture until well blended.
4. Work the dough into a ball and turn out on a floured board. Knead until smooth. Shape into an oval about 10 inches long and 8 inches wide.
5. Crease just off center with a blunt edge of a knife, lengthwise. Fold smaller side over larger and place on un-greased baking sheet.
6. Brush lightly with melted butter before baking. Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes.
7. Allow to cool slightly before dusting with confectioners’ sugar.