Christmas Stollen
AI-generated image
Vegetarian German

Christmas Stollen

A rich German Christmas stollen filled with rum-soaked raisins, candied citrus, toasted almonds, and a ribbon of marzipan. Baked until golden, brushed with butter, and buried under powdered sugar, it improves after a short rest and makes an elegant holiday gift.

80 min 10 servings Medium
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How to prepare

1
Combine the raisins, dark rum, and candied orange peel in a small bowl. Cover and leave for at least 30 minutes, until the fruit is plump; drain thoroughly before using.
2
Warm the milk until just lukewarm, about 38°C. Stir in the yeast and a pinch of the sugar, then rest for 5 to 8 minutes, until lightly foamy.
3
Mix the flour, remaining sugar, cinnamon, cardamom, and salt in a large bowl. Add the yeast mixture, egg, and 75 g of the softened butter, then mix until a shaggy dough forms.
4
Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for 8 to 10 minutes, until smooth, elastic, and slightly tacky. Knead in the drained fruit and almonds, cover, and rest in a warm place for about 60 minutes, until visibly puffy.
5
Press the dough into an oval about 2 cm thick. Lay the marzipan log slightly off-center, fold one long side over it to create the characteristic ridge, and press the edges together. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet, cover, and rest for 30 minutes.
Stollen dough folded over a log of marzipan before baking AI-generated image
6
Heat the oven to 180°C. Bake the stollen for 40 to 45 minutes, rotating the sheet once, until deeply golden and the center reaches about 93°C. If the top darkens quickly, tent it loosely with foil.
7
Melt the remaining 40 g butter and brush it generously over the hot loaf. Cool completely on a rack, then sift the powdered sugar over every surface.
Christmas stollen brushed with butter and covered with powdered sugar AI-generated image
8
Wrap the cooled stollen tightly and rest it overnight before slicing. Cut into thin pieces and serve at room temperature.

Why this recipe works

A lightly enriched yeast dough gives the loaf structure without making it cakey, while soaked fruit, citrus, almonds, and marzipan provide contrasting chew, fragrance, and sweetness. A generous butter coating keeps the crumb tender and helps the powdered sugar adhere.

Storage and reheating

How to store it

Cool completely, wrap tightly in parchment and foil, and store at cool room temperature for up to 5 days. For longer storage, freeze well wrapped for up to 2 months.

How to reheat it

Thaw frozen stollen overnight at room temperature. Warm individual slices in a 160°C oven for 5 minutes, or serve at room temperature.

Nutrition / serving

505kcal
8.93 gprotein
75.43 gcarbs
17.94 gfat
P
Pantryvale editorial kitchen
Recipe prepared for publication with complete ingredients and ordered cooking steps.
Published 13 Aug 2026 · updated 13 Aug 2026