Apricot Chocolate Coffeecake

1/2 C Blanched Almonds -- chopped

2 Sticks Butter Or Margarine -- softened

1 Pkg Cream Cheese, (8 Oz) -- softened

2 1/4 C Sugar

1/2 C Unsweetened Cocoa Powder, Prefer

5 eggs

2 1/2 cups cake flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

6 ounces apricots, dried -- chopped

6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Genereously grease a 12-cup bundt pan. Scatter 1/4 cup almonds over inside of pan. In a large bowl, beat together butter, cream cheese, and 1 3/4 cups sugar with an electric mixer on medium until light and fluffy, about 2 mins. Add cocoa and beat well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. 2. Sift together cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add to chocolate mixture. Beat with mixer on low until blended. 3. In a small bowl, mix together remaining 1/4 cup almonds, remaining 1/2 cup sugar, apricots, and chocolate chips. Spoon half of cake batter into prepared pan. Sprinkle 2/3 of apricot mixture over center of batter (mixture will burn if it touches the sides or middle tube of pan). Spoon on remaining batter and sprinkle remaining apricot mixture on top. 4. Bake 50 to 55 mins, or until a cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. Let cake cool in pan 15 to 20 mins, then invert onto a rack to let cool completely before serving.