Christmas Curd Stollen is a delightful festive bread that originated in Germany in the 14th century. You'll love the rich flavors from butter, soaked raisins in dark rum, and candied peels. It's shaped like the baby Jesus and tastes even better after resting a couple of days. Enjoy it with coffee or tea at holiday gatherings. If you stick around, you'll discover how to make this scrumptious treat and more tips for an unforgettable festive experience.
History
Stollen has a rich history that dates back to the 14th century in Germany, where it first emerged in Dresden, a city renowned for its stollen tradition.
Originally, stollen was made without butter due to dietary restrictions imposed by the Catholic Church, which only allowed oil. This meant the early versions were quite different from today's rich, buttery breads.
Stollen's early recipes excluded butter, adhering to the Catholic Church's restrictions, resulting in a stark contrast to the buttery delights we enjoy today.
The oval shape symbolizes the baby Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes, highlighting its importance during Christmas.
As stollen gained popularity, various regional variations popped up, introducing ingredients like marzipan, raisins, and spices.
Over time, the traditional recipe evolved, and in 2010, the European Union designated it as a protected geographical indication, ensuring only authentic creations can be labeled as "Dresdner Stollen."
Recipe
To elevate the flavors, this recipe includes soaking raisins in dark rum, which infuses them with a deep, rich taste. By incorporating candied orange and lemon peel along with sliced almonds, the stollen gains a unique texture and a burst of citrusy flavor, making it a truly festive treat.
Once baked, the stollen is best if allowed to rest for a couple of days, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully for an indulgent holiday experience.
Ingredients:
- 3.5 oz. (100g) raisins
- 23 tbsp. dark rum
- 3.5 oz. (100g) butter
- 1/4 cup (50g) sugar
- 5.3 oz. (150g) curd cheese (quark)
- Lemon zest (from one lemon)
- Flour (amount as needed)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1.8 oz. (50g) candied orange peel
- 1.8 oz. (50g) candied lemon peel
- 1.8 oz. (50g) sliced almonds
- Melted butter (for coating)
- Confectioners sugar (for dusting)
To prepare the Christmas curd stollen, start by soaking the raisins in dark rum for 1-2 days to enhance their flavor.
In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Then, add the curd cheese and lemon zest, mixing well.
In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, mixing until a dough forms.
Fold in the soaked raisins, candied orange and lemon peel, and sliced almonds. Shape the dough into an oval and place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for about 13-15 minutes, or until golden brown.
Once baked, brush the stollen with melted butter and dust with confectioners sugar. Allow the stollen to cool before wrapping it tightly and letting it rest for 2 days.
For the best results, ensure that all ingredients are at room temperature before starting.
When storing the stollen, keep it in a tin box separate from other cookies to maintain its freshness and avoid flavor mingling.
The longer you allow it to rest, the richer the flavor will be, so resist the temptation to cut into it immediately!
Enjoy your Christmas curd stollen with a cup of tea or coffee for a delightful holiday treat.
Cooking Steps
Now that you have your ingredients ready, it's time to prepare the dough mixture.
You'll knead it until it's smooth and elastic, then add the dried fruits and nuts for that festive flavor.
Once combined, shape the dough into loaves and let them rise for an hour to achieve the perfect texture.
Step 1. Prepare the Dough Mixture
Begin by creaming together 3.5 oz. (100g) of softened butter and 1/4 cup (50g) of sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy.
Next, incorporate 5.3 oz. (150g) of curd cheese and the zest of 1/2 an organic lemon into the butter-sugar mixture for added moisture and flavor.
In a separate bowl, combine 2.25 cups (300g) of all-purpose flour with baking powder, ground cinnamon, and nutmeg to create a balanced dry mix.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, folding gently to maintain the dough's lightness.
Finally, fold in 1.8 oz. (50g) of candied orange peel and 1.8 oz. (50g) of sliced almonds to enhance the stollen's festive flavor and texture.
Step 2. Knead Until Smooth and Elastic
As you knead the stollen dough, apply firm yet gentle pressure to develop its gluten structure, which is essential for achieving a smooth and elastic texture.
Knead the dough for about 8-10 minutes, and test its readiness by stretching a small piece; it should hold its shape without tearing.
Work on a lightly floured surface to prevent sticking, but be cautious not to add too much flour, as this can lead to a dense stollen.
If you're using a stand mixer, set it on low and knead for 5-7 minutes, watching for a smooth consistency.
Properly kneaded dough feels slightly tacky yet bounces back when poked, indicating it's ready for the first rise.
Enjoy the warm process!
Step 3. Add Dried Fruits and Nuts
Once your dough has reached the perfect smooth and elastic texture, it's time to enhance its flavor with dried fruits and nuts.
First, soak your dried fruits, like raisins, in dark rum for 1-2 days to boost moisture and richness. Once soaked, drain the raisins and prepare to mix them into the dough.
Add 1.8 oz. of candied orange or lemon peel and 1.8 oz. of sliced almonds to your dough. Gently fold these ingredients in, ensuring you don't break the fruit. Knead just enough to distribute everything evenly.
This delightful combination of dried fruits and nuts will elevate the stollen's flavor and festive appeal, making it a treat everyone will love.
Step 4. Shape the Dough Into Loaves
With the dried fruits and nuts folded into your dough, it's time to shape it into loaves.
Start by dividing the dough into equal portions, typically yielding 2-4 small loaves. Roll each portion into an oval shape, ensuring uniformity for even baking. Flatten the dough slightly and fold it over itself to create a seam down the center, which helps retain moisture during baking.
Next, place the shaped loaves on a parchment-lined baking sheet, making sure to leave enough space between them for expansion. Now, let them rise in a warm place for about 30-60 minutes.
Finally, preheat the oven and, once they're ready, bake until golden. Let cool, then dust with a thick layer of powdered sugar before serving.
Step 5. Let It Rise for an Hour
To achieve the perfect texture and flavor in your Christmas Curd Stollen, allow the dough to rise for about an hour in a warm, draft-free spot.
During this rising time, the yeast dough will double in size, so keep an eye on how the dough looks. Cover it with a clean kitchen towel to prevent drying out.
If you've mixed the flour with lukewarm milk properly, the yeast should activate effectively. Remember, rising time may vary based on your room temperature; warmer places can shorten it.
Once the hour's up, gently knead everything to redistribute the yeast before shaping it into your traditional oval form.
Soon, you'll have a still warm stollen ready for baking!
Final Thoughts
As you savor the Christmas Curd Stollen, you'll appreciate how its moist texture and unique flavor elevate your holiday celebrations.
This festive treat, infused with Christmas stollen spice and enriched with rum-soaked raisins, offers a delightful twist on classic stollen.
The addition of vegan melted butter ensures everyone can enjoy it, while the blend of ground almonds, dried fruit, and orange zest creates a harmonious balance of flavors.
After baking on a baking tray at 180°C (350°F), let it rest for a couple of days to allow the flavors to meld beautifully.
Store your stollen in an airtight container for up to two weeks, and indulge in this seasonal delight that perfectly complements your festive gatherings with friends and family.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Is Christmas Stollen so Expensive?
Christmas stollen's high price comes from its premium ingredients and labor-intensive production.
You'll find high-quality butter, luxury dried fruits, and unique spices elevating the cost. The meticulous process of soaking fruits, preparing dough, and shaping each loaf requires skilled craftsmanship, resulting in smaller batches.
Seasonal demand also drives up prices, as bakers create limited offerings during the holiday season.
All these factors contribute to why you'll pay more for this festive treat.
Why Do Germans Eat Stollen at Christmas?
Imagine a cozy winter evening, where the warmth of tradition envelops you like a favorite blanket.
Germans eat stollen at Christmas because it symbolizes their rich heritage and the joy of sharing. This festive bread, with its delightful mix of fruits and nuts, represents goodwill and community spirit.
You savor each bite, connecting with centuries of celebration, as families gather, sharing stollen and stories, weaving together memories that last a lifetime.
What Is the Difference Between Christmas Cake and Stollen?
The difference between Christmas cake and stollen lies in their texture and preparation.
While Christmas cake's dense, rich batter is packed with fruits and often topped with icing, stollen's yeast-based dough creates a lighter, bread-like consistency.
Stollen's unique oval shape and powdered sugar dusting symbolize deeper meanings, while Christmas cake usually boasts elaborate decorations.
You'll find stollen's flavors improve after a few days, while Christmas cake is often ready to enjoy right away.
What Is a Christmas Stollen?
Imagine a bread so festive, it could make Santa dance! A Christmas stollen is a deliciously rich German sweet bread, bursting with dried fruits, nuts, and spices.
Its buttery dough, often enhanced with curd cheese, forms an oval shape that symbolizes baby Jesus. When dusted with powdered sugar, it looks like a snowy wonderland.
Best of all, letting it rest allows its flavors to mingle, creating a treat that's simply irresistible!
