Melt the fat in a saucepan, remove from heat and add milk. Put flour, salt, yeast and sugar into a mixing bowl and mix. Add 1 egg and lukewarm milk-fat mixture. Mix to a smooth dough with the dough hooks of the hand mixer. Cover the bowl with a cloth and leave to rise in a warm place for approx. 45 minutes
Cut the apricots into small cubes. Mix poppy seed filling, 1 egg and apricot cubes. Roll out the dough on a floured work surface to a rectangle (approx. 40 x 55 cm). Divide the dough into thirds lengthwise. Divide the filling into thirds and spread on one long side of each strip. Mix cream and egg yolk. Spread the edges of the dough with some cream mix. Roll up the strips tightly from the long side. Loosely weave the dough rolls and place them diagonally on a baking tray lined with baking paper. Cover the plait and leave to rise for approx. 30 minutes
Spread the braid with cream mix. Bake in the preheated oven (electric cooker: 200 °C/ convection oven: 175 °C/ gas: level 3) for approx. 25 minutes. Cover if necessary after about 15 minutes. Remove and let cool slightly on a kitchen grid
Mix icing sugar and lemon juice to a thin glaze and brush the plait with it. Let the icing dry a little. Dust the plait with icing sugar and serve lukewarm
waiting time approx. 1 1/4 hours