Christmas Stollen - cooking recipe

Ingredients

3/4 cup seedless raisin
1/2 cup chopped mixed candied fruits and peels (candied fruit cake mix)
1/4 cup orange juice
5 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup slivered almonds, chopped
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons grated orange rind
1 tablespoon grated lemon, rind of
1 teaspoon salt
1 (1/4 ounce) envelope fast rising yeast
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine
1/4 cup water
2 eggs, at room temperature
confectioners' sugar (for dusting loaves)

Preparation

In small bowl, soak raisins and candied fruits in orange juice.
Set aside 1 cup flour.
In large bowl, mix remaining flour, almonds, sugar, orange peel, lemon peel, salt and yeast.
In small sauce pan, heat milk, butter and water till hot to the touch (about 125\u00b0-130\u00b0F).
Stir hot liquids into dry mixture.
Stir in fruit/orange juice mixture and eggs.
Mix in only enough reserved flour to make a soft dough.
Knead dough on lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic (about 8-10 minutes).
Cover dough and let it rest for 10 minutes.
Divide dough into 2 pieces, roll each piece into a 10 x 7 inch oval.
Fold long side of oval over to within 1/2 inch of the opposite side, seal seam.
Place loaves on a greased baking sheets.
Cover and let rise in a warm draft free place until doubled in size (about 50-60 minutes).
Bake at 375\u00b0F for 25-30 minutes or until done.
Remove loaves from baking sheets and cool on wire racks.
When cool, dust with confectioner's sugar.