Stollen: A Beautiful German Holiday Bread

There’s a chill in the air – that perfect, fall air!

As I walked out of work yesterday, I breathed in the fresh, crisp breeze, and caught the smell of something baking – Doughnuts? Bread?

And as I drove home, even on the trafficked expressway, I still had that lingering smell of baked dough following me.

While cars inched forward, my windows just a little down and my radio playing, I started dreaming about something warm and comforting from the oven.

And by the time I pulled into my driveway, I knew I wanted fresh bread.

If you haven’t made fresh bread before, I bet I can guess why: it takes time. And kneading. And more time. And more kneading.

All this work can seem pretty pointless when you can just get an acceptable, albeit flavorless, loaf of pre-sliced bread at your closest supermarket.

But can I suggest something?

Just as there are times when one should grab that grocery bread, there are times when one should spend an evening in the kitchen baking something beautiful.

You just can’t beat the feel of elastic dough in your hands, its texture changing beneath your fingers as you fold and push, fold and push again.

I don’t get the urge to bake bread often, believe me! But when I do, it’s insatiable.

Last night, I wanted a sweet bread. Badly.

I chose stollen, a traditional German Christmas bread. It’s a sweet and yeasty creation filled with a festive and colorful array of assorted dried fruits, nuts, and candies.

This recipe makes two loaves, and the slices will only be as sweet as you want them to be.

The add-ins are really up to you. I used golden raisins, dried apricots, dried cranberries, and sliced almonds, but you may want crushed fruit gummy candies or extra raisins, or you may want to forgo on nuts altogether if you have an allergy.

Traditionally, a thin roll of marzipan, which is a thick and sweet almond paste, is placed in the center of the dough. It adds an extra layer of sweetness and keeps the bread moist. You have the option in this recipe to add this tasty ingredient.

It’s a delightful breakfast bread, a yummy snack, and the perfect celebration of the fall (and then the soon-to-be winter holiday!) season.

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Cooking by the Numbers…

Step 1 – Gather and Prep

Measure out and combine 2 cups of the all-purpose flour, instant yeast, and ground cardamom in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment. Set aside the other 2 1/2 cups of flour.

Measure out and combine the milk, granulated sugar, butter, and salt in a small saucepan.

Measure out the dried fruits and nuts. Place in a separate bowl.

Crack one egg into a small bowl, and zest one lemon.

Step 2 – Heat the Liquid Ingredients

Heat the saucepan with the unsalted butter and milk mixture over low heat. Stir occasionally until the butter is completely melted.

To melt the butter more quickly, chop it into small cubes.

Step 3 – Combine Ingredients Together

Add the liquid mixture to the flour mixture, along with the cracked egg. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds. Scrape the bowl, and then beat on high speed for 3 minutes.

Slowly add in 2 more cups of the flour. Mix until a thick and slightly sticky dough forms.

Stir in the dried fruit and mixture, as well as the lemon zest.

Step 4 – Knead

After mixing, place the dough on a lightly floured surface using some of the remaining 1/2 cup of flour. Knead for a few minutes, adding any additional flour if the dough is still sticky.

The dough should be thick and soft. You are developing the gluten in this step, so it should also feel elastic and pliable after kneading for a few minutes.

Step 5 – Rise

Shape into a ball and place in a lightly greased bowl, turning once to lightly coat the dough. The bowl should be at least 2 times the size of the dough to support the size as it rises.

Cover with a towel or cellophane wrap, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

Step 6 – Divide

Punch the dough down once, and place on a lightly floured surface. Using a knife or bench scraper, divide the dough equally in half.

Cover, and let rest for 10 minutes as you line 2 baking sheet pans with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

Step 7 – Shape

Using a rolling pin lightly dusted with flour, roll one dough portion into a large oval shape, about 10×6-inches. Fold a long side over to within one inch of the opposite side, and press the edges lightly to seal.

Place on one of the prepared baking sheets. Repeat with the other dough portion.

You have the option to add a roll of marzipan before folding the dough over. Give it a try for even more sweet, nutty flavor!

Step 8 – Proof

Cover and let rise slightly until about doubled in size, about another hour.

While the bread is proofing, preheat your oven to 375°F.

Step 9 – Bake

Bake the two loaves for 18 to 20 minutes, until lightly golden in color.

Remove from the oven, and let cool slightly on the baking sheet before removing and placing them on a cooling rack to cool completely.

Step 10 – Garnish and Serve

After they have cooled, generously dust each loaf with a hefty amount of powdered sugar, just like the first snowfall of winter.

Cut each loaf into 8 slices with a bread knife and large, sturdy cutting board. Serve and enjoy!

A Wintry Bread for the Holidays

This yeasty creation, filled with assorted dried fruits and nuts and beautifully dusted with powdered sugar, commemorates the winter season in the sweetest of ways.

Make it now and share amongst family and friends, just in time for the holidays!

If you want to learn how to be a bread-baking expert this season, read all about enriched dough. From breads like this stolen to brioche to Kulich, you’ll have so much fun baking warm, fluffy loaves throughout the chillier months.

You might as well read our article on gluten, bread’s essential backbone.

Have you ever made stollen? What assortment of dried fruits and nuts will you be using? Let me know in the comments below, and don’t forget to rate this tasty recipe!

And for some more tasty sweet baked goods you’re sure to love, check out these tasty recipes:

• Gooey Brioche Cinnamon Rolls
• Cranberry Quick Bread
• Chocolate Swirl Spiced Pumpkin Bread
• Whole Wheat Pecan Bread with Dried Blueberries

Photos by Nikki Cervone, © Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details. Originally published on September 5, 2008. Last updated: December 29, 2019 at 9:55 am. With additional writing and editing by Nikki Cervone.

Nutritional information derived from a database of known generic and branded foods and ingredients and was not compiled by a registered dietitian or submitted for lab testing. It should be viewed as an approximation.