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Christmas Stollen Bread

Christmas Stollen

This fruity Christmas Stollen recipe gets its start in the bread machine for ease and finishes with a traditional rise and bake in the oven.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 40 minutes
Servings: 1 extra large loaf
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: Christmas, Winter

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup warm water 110 degrees F.
  • 3/4 cup scalded milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
  • 3/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 large eggs slightly beaten
  • 4 3/4 cups all purpose flour plus extra if needed
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup granulated white sugar
  • 1 cube butter softened
  • 4 teaspoons instant yeast
  • 1 cup golden raisins
  • 1 cup dried cranberries
  • 1 cup toasted sliced almonds
  • 2 Tablespoons lemon peel grated
  • 5 Tablespoons buter melted
  • vegetable cooking spray

Method
 

  1. In the pan of your bread machine place the water, milk, vanilla and almond extracts, eggs, flour, salt, butter and yeast in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select the Dough setting and press start. Do not select Dough plus Rise. Check that the dough is forming an elastic ball. If it seems too wet, add flour a Tablespoon at a time. If too dry, add warm water, also a Tablespoon at a time.
  2. While the dough is kneading place the fruits, nuts and lemon peel in a bowl and toss together. Set aside.
  3. When the dough cycle has finished (approximately 30 minutes, check your machine's instruction book) turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead the fruit and nut mixture into the dough until well distributed throughout.
    Kneading the fruit into the dough
  4. Lightly oil an extra large bowl and place the dough within, turning once to coat with oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled, approximately 1-2 hours.
    Christmas Stollen dough doubled in size
  5. When the dough has doubled in size, punch down and turn out onto a floured surface. Divide the dough into three equal pieces. Roll each piece into a rope and braid together. Transfer the braided stollen onto a large parchment covered baking sheet.
    Dough braided and ready for the second rise
  6. Cover with plastic wrap that has been coated with vegetable spray and allow to rise until double in size approximately 1-2 hours.
    Stollen dough raised double
  7. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Bake the stollen 25-30 minutes. The loaf should sound hollow when tapped. Transfer to a cooling rack.
    Stollen fresh out of the oven
  8. Allow loaf to cool 10 minutes then brush with melted butter and sift powdered sugar liberally over the top. Decorate with additional fruit and nuts if desired.
    Brush with butter and sprinkle with powdered sugar

Notes

Scald milk by heating until bubbles appear on the edge but not until a full boil. Other dried fruits may be used or substituted including pineapple, apricots, cherries, blueberries or even regular candied fruit. Cut larger pieces into smaller ones approximately the size of raisins. Next time I make this recipe I plan to up the quantities of fruit and nuts by another half cup each. Stollen bread makes great French Toast!