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Perfect Christmas Stollen Recipe 2024 Easy Homemade Festive Treat

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A nostalgic and easy-to-make festive bread featuring soaked dried fruits, warm spices, and a buttery powdered sugar coating, perfect for holiday celebrations and gifting.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup mixed dried fruits (raisins, currants, chopped dried apricots)
  • ½ cup candied citrus peel (orange and lemon)
  • ¼ cup dark rum or fresh orange juice (for soaking)
  • 3 ½ cups (440g) all-purpose flour
  • ⅓ cup (65g) granulated sugar
  • 1 packet (2 ¼ tsp) active dry yeast
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp ground cardamom
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ cup (120ml) whole milk, warmed
  • ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ cup (60g) sliced almonds, toasted
  • ¼ cup (55g) unsalted butter, melted (for finishing)
  • ½ cup (60g) powdered sugar, for dusting

Instructions

  1. Soak the mixed dried fruits and candied citrus peel in rum or orange juice overnight or at least 4 hours.
  2. Warm the milk to about 110°F (43°C), sprinkle yeast over it, and let sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
  3. In a large bowl or stand mixer, combine flour, sugar, salt, cardamom, and cinnamon.
  4. Add softened butter, eggs, vanilla extract, and yeast mixture to the dry ingredients and mix until a sticky dough forms.
  5. Drain soaked fruits, reserving liquid. Fold fruits and toasted almonds into the dough, adding reserved liquid if dough is too dry.
  6. Shape dough into a ball, place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in size (1-1.5 hours).
  7. Punch down dough, shape into an oval loaf about 12 inches long, fold one side over to create the traditional stollen hump, and place on parchment-lined baking sheet.
  8. Cover shaped loaf and let rest for 45-60 minutes until puffy.
  9. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake loaf for 35-40 minutes until golden brown and a skewer comes out clean. Tent with foil if browning too fast.
  10. While warm, brush loaf generously with melted butter and dust with powdered sugar. Repeat butter and sugar coating once cooled.
  11. Cool completely on a wire rack before slicing. Best after resting 1-2 days wrapped tightly.

Notes

Soaking the dried fruits overnight is essential for moist, flavorful fruit pockets. Use a thermometer to warm milk to 110°F to activate yeast properly. Knead dough until soft and elastic, adding reserved soaking liquid if dry. Tent with foil if crust browns too fast. Repeat butter and powdered sugar coating after cooling for classic finish. Variations include gluten-free, vegan, nut-free, and chocolate versions.

Nutrition

Keywords: Christmas Stollen, holiday bread, festive bread, dried fruit bread, traditional stollen, holiday baking, easy stollen recipe

Find it online: https://hungermind.com/perfect-christmas-stollen-recipe-2024-easy-homemade-festive-treat/