Stir together yeast and water in a small bowl and let stand until foamy, 5-10 minutes.

Heat milk with 6 tablespoons butter and sugar over low heat, stirring, until mixture is warm (105 to 115°F) and dissolved.

Sift together flour and salt into bowl of standing mixer. Make a well in flour and add yeast mixture. Add warm milk in a slow stream, mixing at low speed with paddle attachment. Increase speed to medium and beat in eggs 1 at a time, then beat in raisins and zest. Continue to beat until dough is smooth and elastic, about 5-7 minutes. (Dough will be very sticky.)

Butter Bundt tin with remaining butter. Put 1 almond in each depression in bottom of mold, then scrape spoonful?s of dough evenly into mold. Cover top of mold with oiled plastic wrap and a kitchen towel and let dough rise in a warm place until it fills pan, about 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 205?C.

Remove towel and gently peel off plastic wrap. Bake in middle of oven 15 minutes, then loosely cover mold with foil and continue to bake until golden and a tester inserted in center comes out clean, 20 - 25 minutes.

Cool in pan 2 minutes, then invert cake onto a cooling rack, about 1 hour. Dust with icing sugar.