Best Christmas Fruit Bread Recipe | Easy Christmas Stollen Recipe | Christstollen | Stollen Bread

In a bowl, add 1 cup of milk, 1/2 cup of sugar, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 egg, and 2 teaspoons of yeast. Mix them together.

Add 1/2 cup of melted butter into the mixture, followed by 4 cups of flour. Combine all ingredients together until a dough forms.

Knead the dough for less than 4 minutes until it is smooth and soft. Lightly oil your hands to prevent sticking.

Cover the dough with cling film and let it rise in a warm environment for 1 hour.

Prepare the fruits and spices: In a bowl, add 1 cup of raisins, 1/2 cup of candied citrus peel, 1/2 cup of glazed cherries, and 1/2 cup of roasted almonds. Also, add the zest of 1 lemon and a spice mix of 1/4 teaspoon each of cardamom, nutmeg, and cinnamon.

After 1 hour, deflate the dough and mix in the prepared fruits and spices without overworking the dough.

Divide the dough into two equal parts and flatten each portion to form a cylinder shape. Flatten one portion into a rectangle about 1 inch thick.

Press in the middle of the rectangle to create a trench about 1.5 inches towards one side and fold it over the other side.

Press on top of the shaped dough to create a characteristic hump and place it on a baking sheet.

Cover with plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm environment for 70 to 80 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). After the final rising, bake the bread for 40 minutes.

Let the bread sit for 2 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring it to a cooling rack.

Brush the warm bread with melted butter and sprinkle granulated sugar on top.

Dust the cooled bread generously with powdered sugar.

Store the bread wrapped in parchment paper, plastic film, and aluminum foil in a dry, cool place for up to two weeks.

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary