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Classic Christmas Stollen

A traditional German holiday stollen filled with dried fruit, almonds, citrus zest, and finished with a thick snowy layer of powdered sugar.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 40 minutes
Servings: 12 slices
Course: Dessert, Holiday
Cuisine: Christmas, German
Calories: 320
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Fruit Mixture
  • 1 cup mixed dried fruit
  • 0.5 cup dried apricots or cherries chopped
  • 0.25 cup rum or orange juice for soaking
  • 1 lemon zest
  • 1 orange zest
Dough
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2.25 tsp active dry yeast
  • 0.75 cup warm milk
  • 0.5 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 0.5 tsp cinnamon
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 1 egg
  • 10 tbsp unsalted butter softened
  • 1 cup almonds chopped
Finishing
  • 4 tbsp melted butter
  • 1 cup powdered sugar

Equipment

  • Mixing bowls
  • Stand mixer (optional)
  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper

Method
 

  1. Soak dried fruits with citrus zests in rum or orange juice.
  2. Mix warm milk, yeast, and sugar; let bloom.
  3. Combine flour, sugar, salt, spices, egg, vanilla, and butter with yeast mixture.
  4. Knead dough until smooth; add fruit and almonds.
  5. Let rise until doubled.
  6. Shape into stollen loaf and rise again.
  7. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 35–45 minutes.
  8. Brush warm loaf with melted butter and dust with powdered sugar.

Notes

Stollen tastes best the next day as flavors meld together.