Melt butter; let cool.

Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour 2 9" round cake pans; set aside. Beat egg yolks in large bowl. Blend in apple juice concentrate, butter, and extract. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add to egg yolk mixture, beating until well-blended. Stir in chopped almonds.

Beat egg whites with cream or tartar at high speed in small bowl of electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Gently fold into batter; spread evenly into prepared pans. Bake 18-20 minutes, until cake is golden brown around edges.

Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Turn cakes onto racks; cool completely.

Beat cream at high speed in small bowl of electric mixer until soft Z?bs form. Add fruit spread, 1 tb at a time, beating until thick and well-blended. Brush liqueur evenly over cake layers; stack layers. Frost top and sides with whipped cream mixture; press slivered almonds around edge. Garnish with fresh raspberries, if desired.

Nutrition information per slice: 595 calories, 10 gm protein, 59 gm carbohydrate, 36 gm fat, 167 mg cholesterol, 402 mg sodium, 2 diabetic starch/bread exchange, 7 diabetic fat exchange, 1-3/4 diabetic fruit exchange.

sylvia. Steiger@lunatic. Com, moderator of Gt Cookbook and PlanoNet Lowfat & Luscious echoes