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Classic Christmas Stollen (German Fruit Bread)

A beautifully arranged classic Christmas stollen, featuring a golden-brown crust dusted with powdered sugar, showcasing its rich texture filled with colorful dried fruits, nuts, and spices. In the foreground, a sliced piece of stollen reveals its moist, fruity interior. Surrounding the bread, delicate sprigs of evergreen and some star anise pods create a festive touch. The background features a softly lit kitchen setting with warm, inviting lighting, enhancing the cozy holiday atmosphere. A wooden cutting board rests beneath the stollen, while a festive cloth napkin drapes artfully beside it. The composition is shot from a slightly elevated angle, capturing both the delicious details of the stollen and the warm ambiance of a Christmas kitchen.

Classic Christmas Stollen is a traditional German holiday bread that’s rich, buttery, and packed with festive flavor. Loaded with rum-soaked dried fruit, candied citrus peel, warm spices, and crunchy almonds, this iconic Christmas bread is finished with a thick dusting of powdered sugar for a snowy, bakery-style look. Perfect for holiday baking, gifting, and cozy winter breakfasts, this authentic stollen recipe is a make-ahead favorite that tastes even better as the flavors develop—making it a must-save Christmas bread for your Pinterest holiday baking board.

Equipment List

  • Measuring cups
  • Measuring spoons
  • Stand mixer or hand mixer with dough hook
  • Wooden spoon
  • Zester or grater
  • Kitchen scale (optional)
  • Clean kitchen towel
  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper
  • Cooling rack
  • Small saucepan
  • Pastry brush
  • Shopping List
  • All-purpose flour
  • Active dry yeast
  • Granulated sugar
  • Whole milk
  • Unsalted butter
  • Eggs
  • Salt
  • Raisins
  • Currants
  • Candied citrus peel
  • Almonds
  • Orange zest
  • Lemon zest
  • Vanilla extract
  • Ground cinnamon
  • Ground nutmeg
  • Ground cardamom
  • Dark rum (or orange juice)
  • Powdered sugar
  • Butter (for brushing after baking)
Prep Time 30 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Rest Time 30 mins
Total Time 1 hr 30 mins
Cooking Method:
Courses:
Difficulty: Intermediate
Cooking Temp: 350  F
Servings: 12
Estimated Cost: 15
Calories: 240 kcal
Best Season: Winter
Description

A traditional Christmas delight, this stollen is a sweet bread filled with a medley of flavors and textures, perfect for gifting or enjoying with a cup of tea.

Ingredients
    Dough Ingredients
  • 1 cup Raisins (You can also use mixed dried fruits.)
  • 1/2 cup Candied citrus peel (Chop into small pieces.)
  • 1/4 cup Rum (For soaking the fruits.)
  • 1/2 cup Milk (Warm to activate the yeast.)
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons Active dry yeast (For leavening the dough.)
  • 1/3 cup Granulated sugar (Sweetens the dough.)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt (Enhances the flavors.)
  • 1/2 cup Unsalted butter (Softened at room temperature.)
  • 2 large Eggs (Help bind the dough together.)
  • 3 1/2 cups All-purpose flour (For the dough.)
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract (Adds flavor to the dough.)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Almond extract (Gives a nutty flavor to the stollen.)
  • 1/2 cup Slivered almonds (For texture and crunch.)
  • 1/2 cup Powdered sugar (For dusting the stollen.)
Instructions
    Dough Preparation
  1. 1
    Prepare the Yeast MixtureIn a small bowl, combine warm milk, a pinch of sugar, and active dry yeast. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
  2. 2
    Mix the DoughIn a large mixing bowl, combine the yeast mixture, flour, sugar, salt, softened butter, eggs, lemon zest, and rum-soaked fruits. Knead until smooth.
  3. 3
    First RiseCover the bowl with a damp towel and let the dough rise in a warm place for about 1-2 hours or until doubled in size.
    4. Assembly & Baking
  4. 4
    Shape the StollenPunch down the dough and shape it into a log. Fold one side over the other, leaving a slight edge. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  5. 5
    Second RiseCover the stollen with a towel and let it rise for another 30-45 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
  6. 6
    BakeBake the stollen for 25-30 minutes until golden brown. While still warm, brush generously with melted butter and dust with powdered sugar.
    7. Finishing Touches
  7. 7
    DecorateOnce cooled, sprinkle more powdered sugar on top. Optionally, add sliced almonds or marzipan for extra flavor and decoration.
  8. 8
    ServeSlice and serve the stollen with a hot cup of coffee or tea. Enjoy the rich, fruity, and festive flavors of this classic Christmas treat!
Note
  • For a traditional touch, soak the dried fruits in rum or orange liqueur overnight before using them in the recipe.
  • If you want a richer stollen, you can add a layer of marzipan down the center of the dough before shaping it.
  • To enhance the flavors, brush the warm stollen with melted butter and generously dust with powdered sugar after baking.
  • Stollen tastes best after sitting for a day or two, allowing the flavors to meld and mature. Wrap it tightly in foil or plastic wrap to keep it fresh.
  • Stollen makes a wonderful edible gift during the holiday season. Wrap it in parchment paper and tie it with a festive ribbon for a charming presentation.
Keywords: Christmas, Stollen, German, Fruit Bread, Holiday
Read it online: https://bestrecipesblog.com/recipe/classic-christmas-stollen-german-fruit-bread-2/