Whole Grain Christmas Stollen
Christmas Stollen is a wonderful German baking tradition this time of year. A sweet loaf that is studded with dried fruit, spiced with cardamom and a special treat of almond paste runs through it. Once it comes out of the oven it is traditional to slather the warm loaf in butter then roll it in sugar, but we skip the extra butter and dust it with a thick layer of confectioners’ sugar to look like the snow outside. This loaf actually holds up very well for a couple of days and that makes it a great gift for the holidays.
About gifts for the bakers on your holiday list, here are our favorite tools for baking bread, they are great for those who love to bake and folks who want to learn how.
100% whole wheat Christmas Stollen from The New Healthy Bread in Five Minutes
Makes enough for three 1 1/2 pound loaves
6 cups White Whole Wheat Flour
1 tablespoon granulated Red Star Platinum Yeast
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1/2 tablespoon ground cardamom
1/4 cup Vital Wheat Gluten
2 cups lukewarm water
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly (see the book for other alternatives)
1/2 cup honey
4 large eggs
1/4 cup brandy (OJ or black tea can be substituted)
1 1/2 cups finely chopped dried and/or candied fruit (you choose your favorites. I used cherries, raisins, craisins, and apricots.)
1/2 cup Almond Paste, per loaf
Egg wash (1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water)
Confectioners’ sugar for the top
Mixing the dough: Dump the flour, Platinum yeast, salt, cardamom, and vital wheat gluten in a Round Food-Storage Container with Lid
For a version that is a little more decadent, you can use the Brioche Dough (page 189, ABin5) and add the cardamom, the dried fruit fruit and replace 1/4 of the water for the brandy.
On baking day take a 1 1/2 pound (small cantaloupe-size) piece of dough from the bucket.
Using plenty of flour roll out the dough into a 1/4-inch-thick oval. Form the 1/2 cup almond paste into a rope and lay it onto the dough about a 1/3 of the way from the end.
Fold the dough over the almond paste in thirds, so that it forms an S-shape, when you look at it from the end.
Place the loaf on a Sheet Pan
Preheat the oven to 350F degree, with rack in the middle of the oven.
Once it has rested use a pastry brush and cover lightly with egg wash, then bake for 35 to 40 minutes.
Let the loaf cool for about 20 minutes
and then Sprinkle it with confections’ sugar…
Until it is completely covered and looks like snow!
Here’s another idea for a bread baking gift:
Bread Baking Craftsy Class – An in depth video class that will guide you through the mixing, shaping and baking of our Master recipe. We’ll make dozens of breads, including everything from a boule to sticky buns. You’ll see our tips for shaping properly and getting the best results from all your breads, no matter which dough you use. If you buy the class through our site you’ll get $20 off the price of the class. Hope you’ll join us.
The winner of Sarah Kieffer’s book, The Vanilla Bean Baking Book
Happy Holidays!
Just received my copy of The New Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes yesterday! I am very excited to try the recipes and entering in the Giant Giveaway! How fun it would make bread baking for the holidays with those great items!
I’ve been making fresh bread using your recipes for several years now. Love it!
Thank you!
Please enter me in the give away. I have the wonderful Emile Henry stone, but would really like to have the cloche as well!!!
Oh this stollen looks lovely!! We had a local baker who used to make them but she decided there was not enough interest so she will not be baking it this year. It will be nice to be able to make it ourselves.
I have been meaning to try making Stollen for years. This is tempting.
That looks delicious! I’m definitely going to try the stollen recipe!
Always such beautiful images in your post, providing even us novice bakers hope!
I will definitely be making this for Christmas! Can’t wait to get your new book! Thank you for the great giveaway!
I’ve never had stollen, but the pictures and ingredients has me wanting to make it. I love sweet breads.
I love stollen and even have an orangy version in my cookbook! Yours is (obviously, like everything else you two do) is perfect and so festive! I must try this one!
Ohhhhh my goodness. This giveaway made me weak in the knees!! Thank you! I have never had stolen, but I love almond paste (and brandy!) so, yum!!
Worth a try
I have been the happy owner of your books for several years, but I only recently have found your blog. What a delight to think that I can tell you how much we love your bread and that I might be able to win something wonderful. Thanks for hundreds of loaves already eaten and for hundreds yet to come.
I make your Panettone every year for my family. I am tempted to switch it to a Stollen this year. Looks good. I really like the addition of the almond paste.
This looks like a great stollen recipe! I’ll have to give it a try. 🙂
I need a new loaf pan 🙂
I made the stolen last year. It was SUPER, cannot wait to make it again this year. I increased the fruit amount to almost 2 cups and it was fine.
Yum yum!!!
So hoping! I love baking bread, and I love your books! Hoping!
The Christmas stollen looks really nice! Thanks for sharing the recipe.
I am hungry for stollen now! I have enjoyed your blog and IG . Thank you for inspiring so many bakers. I am new to bread making and Artisan Bread in 5 is on my wish list. Thank you for putting together such an amazing and generous giveaway!
I just bought The New Artisan Bread in Five Minutes and now I’m interested in the new book too. This stollen looks delicious – a must try!
Stollen is a holiday favorite and I loved your recipe for a whole grain version! I’ve been making pizza and flatbreads from your recipe for years, especially at this time of year when it warms my entire kitchen during the oven pre-heat!
I got the book, showed my stepson how to make your bread, he’s now making it out on the West Coast — bam! you are famous, and for good reason!
Thanks for making this so easy (and fun)
–Madeleine Nist
this looks amazing
I’ve never made a stollen before 🙂 but this beauty makes me want to try my hand at it! Thanks for running such a great blog – the recipes and pictures are lovely and incredibly easy to follow. I’ve had the original Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day for almost a year now, so I’m still a beginner at best, but you guys keep me inspired all the time! Excited for the giveaway. Merry Christmas!
I love Emile Henry bakeware and Red Star yeast!
This looks delicious! Love that is has almond paste in it. Must try .
This recipe looks great–I just helped my German Exchange Student make her family’s Stollen recipe. I think we will try this one as well for a slightly healthier alternative! I love all the whole grain recipes in your Healthy Cookbook–the instructions are clear and recipes produce awesome bread.
I’ve been making fresh bread using your recipes since the first book was given to me as a gift. Love it! Looking forward to getting the updated version.
Such an amazing giveaway. I love the first Bread in 5 book – it always gives me perfect results! I would love to win a copy of the new book and bread goodies!!
Good luck to all 🙂
Having never baked bread before, your 5 minute recipes have made me a darned good bread baker! My family thanks you! 🙂
I just discovered your book on Amazon today. I love to bake and can’t wait to try some of your recipes. In the mean time, I look forward to exploring your website.
Having baked breads for over fifty years I was elated to adopt the various Five minutes Artisan Bread methods. These changed my baking for the better. I barter bread at our Farmers’ Market each week and give bread as gifts. Sharing the goodness is a joy. Surely this White Whole Wheat Christmas Stollen will be among my gifts for special friends and family.
I have never tried baking bread in anything but a bread pan, these will be interesting to bake with. I love using the platinum yeast, always reliable.
Wow, that looks beyond delicious!!!!!
Sounds perfect, and easy to do. Love your new cookbook!
There’s something so satisfying about making and baking bread. It’s one of my favorite things to do, and your series of books makes it that much more fun!
Thank you for all you do to make baking bread less stressful…many blessings to you and your families!
Live your books and would love a new stone!
I love the 5minute breads.. they are all awesome delicious and easy.
I was never successful in making a nice loaf of bread until someone recommended the new artisan bread in five minutes a day – now I have many nice loaves under my belt (literally!) and am feeling confident enough to give this recipe a try. Happy holidays to you!
I wish ya’ll had some lower carb recipes!
I love using your methods! Would love to check out the new healthier recipes.
Love making stollen!
Would love to win this kit! I don’t own a copy of Healthy Bread in 5, so would be very excited to add that to my library.
I need to improve my bread game. This would definitely help!
I love all your ideas and recipes. Makes my life easier for getting bread to the people I love. Thanks. Please enter me in the giveaway.
Would love a cloche!
Thank you for this wonderful bread to add to my holiday baking!