Effortless and inexpensive Christmas stollen for busy home cooks

Preparation time: 3 hours
Cooking time: 30-40 minutes

Christmas stollen recipe

Ingredients (Serves 4)

• 1/2 cup (115g) of unsalted butter
• 2 cups (250g) of all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup (100g) of granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon (2g) of salt
• 1/4 cup (60ml) of milk
• 2 1/4 teaspoons (7g) of active dry yeast
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 teaspoon (1g) of vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon (1g) of almond extract
• 1/2 cup (75g) of raisins
• 1/4 cup (50g) of candied citrus peel
• 1/4 cup (30g) of sliced almonds
• 1/4 cup (30g) of powdered sugar for dusting

Method

1. First, melt the butter in a small pot over low heat and set it aside to cool.
2. Combine the flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl, making a well in the center.
3. Warm the milk in a small pot to approximately 110°F (43°C) and add the yeast. Let it sit for 5 minutes to activate.
4. Add the cooled, melted butter, egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract to the well in the flour mixture.
5. Pour in the yeast and milk mixture. Combine all the ingredients together until a dough forms.
6. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes or until it becomes smooth and elastic.
7. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a clean cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours or until it doubles in size.
8. Knead in the raisins, candied citrus peel, and sliced almonds into the risen dough.
9. Shape the dough into a loaf and place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
10. Let the dough rise for an additional 30 minutes. In the meantime, preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
11. Bake the stollen in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes or until it’s golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
12. Finally, allow the stollen to cool on a wire rack before dusting it with powdered sugar and serve!

I hope you enjoy this delightful and easy to prepare Christmas stollen recipe. Happy cooking!

Making a healthier Christmas stollen

Christmas stollen is a delicious holiday treat. To make a healthier version, consider using whole grain flour instead of white flour to increase the fiber and nutrient content.

Also, you can reduce the sugar amount by substituting it with natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup.

Adding more dry fruits and nuts increases the nutrition value while maintaining the holiday spirit of the stollen.

Storing your Christmas stollen

After baking and cooling your Christmas stollen, it can be kept for up to 2-3 weeks. It’s important to store the stollen in a cool, dry place, preferably in a bread box or an airtight container.

It’s better to slice the stollen only when you are ready to eat it, to keep it from drying out.

Serving suggestions for Christmas stollen

Christmas stollen is a versatile dessert that can be served in various ways. It’s a popular breakfast item served with coffee or a hot cup of cocoa on a cold Christmas morning.

It can also be accompanied by a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream as a dessert.

A glass of mulled wine or a cup of spiced tea can be a perfect drink to complement the rich flavors of stollen.