Christmas Stollen Recipe
Stollen is a traditional German fruitcake enjoyed during the Christmas season. This rich, yeasted bread is filled with dried fruits and nuts, offering a delightful blend of flavors and textures.
Ingredients:
250ml 1 cup warm milk
1 tbsp caster sugar
2 tsp 7g/1 sachet dried yeast
4 cups 600g plain flour
1 tsp mixed spice
1/2 cup 110g caster sugar, extra
125g unsalted butter, melted
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla essence
1 cup 160g mixed dried fruit
1/2 cup 75g slivered almonds
Icing sugar, to dust
Method:
Activate Yeast: In a jug, combine warm milk, 1 tablespoon of caster sugar, and dried yeast. Let it stand for 10 minutes until frothy.
Prepare Dry Ingredients: Sift plain flour and mixed spice into a large mixing bowl. Stir in the extra 1/2 cup of caster sugar.
Combine Ingredients: Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Add the milk mixture, melted butter, egg, and vanilla essence. Use a wooden spoon to combine.
Knead Dough: Gather the dough together with your hands and turn it onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead for 10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
First Rise: Place the dough into a lightly oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and leave in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 180C 160C fan-forced. Line a large baking tray with baking paper.
Incorporate Fruits and Nuts: Turn the dough onto the workbench and press it out to about 2cm thick. Sprinkle mixed dried fruit and slivered almonds over the dough and knead briefly to combine.
Shape Loaves: Divide the dough in half. Use a rolling pin to roll each portion into an oval shape, about 28cm x 18cm. Starting at one long side, roll each into a log shape and place onto the prepared tray, leaving space between the loaves.
Bake: Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown and hollow sounding when tapped underneath.
Cool and Dust: Transfer the loaves to a wire rack to cool. Once cooled, dust generously with icing sugar.
This recipe yields two loaves, perfect for sharing during the festive season. Enjoy slices of this aromatic and flavorful stollen with a warm beverage for a delightful holiday treat.