This rich, traditional German Stollen is a festive holiday staple featuring a tender, enriched dough packed with golden raisins, candied citron, and angelica. The warm spices of mace and cardamom blend perfectly with the sweet, chewy fruits, creating a complex flavor profile that is both comforting and celebratory. With its distinctive long, oval shape and dusting of confectioners’ sugar, it looks as beautiful as it tastes. While often enjoyed fresh from the oven, Stollen improves with age, allowing the flavors to meld further. It pairs wonderfully with coffee or tea, making it the perfect centerpiece for your Christmas table or a thoughtful gift for loved ones during the holiday season.
Stollen
Description
This rich, traditional German Stollen is a festive holiday staple featuring a tender, enriched dough packed with golden raisins, candied citron, and angelica. The warm spices of mace and cardamom blend perfectly with the sweet, chewy fruits, creating a complex flavor profile that is both comforting and celebratory. With its distinctive long, oval shape and dusting of confectioners' sugar, it looks as beautiful as it tastes. While often enjoyed fresh from the oven, Stollen improves with age, allowing the flavors to meld further. It pairs wonderfully with coffee or tea, making it the perfect centerpiece for your Christmas table or a thoughtful gift for loved ones during the holiday season.Directions
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Combine the candied citron, angelica, and golden raisins in a small bowl. Pour boiling water over them to cover, stir, and let stand for 15-20 minutes to plump the fruits.
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Melt the butter in a saucepan and let it cool until lukewarm.
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In a large bowl, sprinkle the dry yeast over the warmed milk. Stir gently and let stand for 5-10 minutes until the yeast dissolves and becomes foamy.
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Add the salt, beaten eggs, melted butter, granulated sugar, mace, and cardamom to the yeast mixture. Mix well to combine.
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Add 2 cups of the all-purpose flour to the wet ingredients and beat vigorously until the mixture is smooth.
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Gradually add the remaining 3.5 cups of flour, one cup at a time, beating well after each addition. After adding the last cup, beat until the dough holds together in a shaggy ball.
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Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 1-2 minutes. Sprinkle with more flour if necessary to keep the dough from sticking. Let the dough rest for 10 minutes.
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Drain the fruits and raisins in a strainer and press firmly to remove excess water.
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Sprinkle the drained fruit and chopped almonds over the dough. Resume kneading until the dough is smooth, elastic, and the ingredients are evenly distributed. Add a little more flour if necessary to prevent stickiness.
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Place the dough in a greased bowl and turn to coat all surfaces with grease. Cover with a damp cloth or plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, which may take up to 3 hours.
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Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
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Punch the dough down to release air bubbles and divide it in half.
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Shape and pat each piece into an oval about 10 inches long and 4.5 inches wide at the center. Fold the top edge almost halfway over the bottom edge, leaving the bottom edge exposed.
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Place the loaves on a greased baking sheet, leaving several inches between them. Cover lightly and let rise for 45 minutes.
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Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until the loaves are nicely browned and sound hollow when tapped.
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Remove from the oven and immediately dust with confectioners' sugar sprinkled through a sieve. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
Nutrition Facts
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 179.4kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 0.3g1%
- Saturated Fat 0.1g1%
- Cholesterol 0.0mg0%
- Sodium 7.8mg1%
- Total Carbohydrate 47.4g16%
- Dietary Fiber 2.2g9%
- Sugars 44.4g
- Protein 1.9g4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
