Cozy Dutch Christmas Stollen Recipe: Festive Holiday Bread Joy

Biting into a soft, pillowy Dutch Christmas stollen that whispers stories of winter traditions.

Fragrant spices dance through each delectable slice, weaving memories of cozy European kitchens.

Almonds and candied fruits nestle within buttery layers, creating a festive masterpiece.

Sweet marzipan adds a luxurious surprise, making this bread more than a simple treat.

Generations have cherished this classic recipe, passing down techniques from one baker to another.

Rich with cultural significance, this holiday bread connects past and present.

Each crumb promises a delightful journey into Dutch culinary heritage that you’ll savor with every magical bite.

Why Dutch Christmas Stollen Feels So Festive

• Unlock Festive Flavor Fusion: Dive into a delightful blend of rum-soaked fruits, warm spices, and rich almond paste that captures the essence of traditional Dutch Christmas celebrations.
• Master Easy Holiday Baking: Create a show-stopping dessert with simple techniques that transform basic ingredients into an impressive bread perfect for sharing with loved ones.
• Indulge in Texture Paradise: Experience a magical combination of soft, pillowy bread, chewy dried fruits, and a delicate crunch from almonds that melts in your mouth with every bite.
• Celebrate Cultural Comfort: Bring the warmth of European holiday traditions to your kitchen with a recipe that connects you to generations of festive baking memories.

Everything You’ll Need For Dutch Christmas Stollen

• Raisins, Dried Cranberries: Classic dried fruits that add sweetness and texture to the traditional Christmas bread.
• Almonds, Candied Orange Peel: Provide a delightful crunch and bright citrus notes.
• Rum or Orange Juice: Helps plump and flavor the dried fruits during soaking.

• Flour: The primary structure and base for the stollen.
• Sugar: Adds subtle sweetness to balance the other flavors.
• Active Dry Yeast: Essential for making the bread rise and creating a soft texture.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor of the bread.
• Cinnamon, Cardamom: Warm spices that give the stollen its distinctive holiday aroma.

• Butter, Milk, Water: Create moisture and richness in the dough.
• Egg: Helps bind the ingredients and adds richness.
• Almond Paste: Provides a sweet, nutty filling in the center of the stollen.
• Powdered Sugar: Traditional finishing touch that gives a festive, snow-like appearance.

How To Prepare Dutch Christmas Stollen Easily

Step 1: Awaken the Dried Fruits

• Raisins
• Dried cranberries
• Chopped almonds
• Candied orange peel

Pour rum or orange juice over the fruits, ensuring they’re completely coated. Let the mixture sit and get friendly for about 15 minutes.

Step 2: Create the Magical Dough

• Flour
• Sugar
• Active dry yeast
• Salt
• Ground cinnamon
• Ground cardamom

Introduce warm milk, melted butter, warm water, and a beaten egg. Mix everything until a soft, supple dough emerges. Knead on a flour-dusted surface, working the dough until it becomes smooth and elastic. If you have a stand mixer, let the dough hook do the heavy lifting for 5-6 minutes.

Step 3: Marry the Fruits with Dough

Drain any excess liquid from the soaked fruits. Gently fold and massage the fruits into the dough, ensuring an even distribution of deliciousness.

Step 4: Allow the Dough to Dream

Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let it rest in a cozy, warm spot. Watch it slowly expand and rise for 1-1.5 hours.

Step 5: Shape the Holiday Treasure

Deflate the dough with a gentle punch. Roll it into an oval shape about 10 inches long. Create an almond paste log and nestle it down the center of the dough. Lovingly fold the dough over the paste, pinching the edges to create a sealed loaf.

Step 6: Final Rise

Transfer the shaped stollen to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Drape a light cloth over it and let it rise for 30-40 minutes.

Step 7: Bake to Golden Perfection

Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Slide the stollen inside and bake for 30-35 minutes. Look for a beautiful golden-brown color and listen for a hollow sound when tapped.

Step 8: Dress the Festive Loaf

While still warm, brush the stollen with melted butter. Dust generously with powdered sugar, creating a snowy winter landscape on your delectable treat. Allow to cool completely before slicing.

Helpful Baking Tips For Dutch Christmas Stollen

• Boost Fruit Flavor: Soak dried fruits in rum or orange juice for a richer, more intense taste that infuses every bite with delightful moisture and depth.
• Knead with Confidence: Use a stand mixer with a dough hook to simplify the kneading process, ensuring a perfectly smooth and elastic texture without exhausting your arms.
• Prevent Fruit Sinking: Toss soaked fruits in a bit of flour before adding to the dough to help them distribute evenly and prevent settling at the bottom of the loaf.
• Master the Rise: Place the dough in a warm, draft-free area like a slightly heated oven (turned off) to create the ideal environment for perfect rising and soft texture.
• Sugar Coating Trick: Let the stollen cool completely before dusting with powdered sugar to achieve a beautiful, even coating that won't melt or absorb into the warm bread.

Store Dutch Christmas Stollen Without Drying Out

• Refrigerate: Wrap the cooled stollen tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to maintain moisture and freshness. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days.
• Freeze: Slice the stollen before freezing for easier portioning. Place in a freezer-safe container or ziplock bag, removing as much air as possible. Freeze for up to 2-3 months.
• Thaw: Remove the stollen from the freezer and let it defrost at room temperature for 2-3 hours. For best texture, avoid microwaving.
• Reheat: Warm individual slices in a toaster oven or conventional oven at 300°F for 5-7 minutes to restore the bread's original softness and enhance its buttery flavor.

Best Pairings For Dutch Christmas Stollen

• Pair with Spiced Mulled Wine: Create a festive experience by serving the rich, fruity Dutch Christmas stollen alongside a warming glass of mulled wine. The spices in the wine perfectly complement the sweet, aromatic flavors of the bread.
• Match with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream: Elevate the stollen's texture by pairing it with a scoop of creamy vanilla bean ice cream. The cool, smooth dessert contrasts beautifully with the dense, fruit-filled bread.
• Enjoy with Strong Espresso: Cut through the stollen's sweetness with a bold, rich espresso. The intense coffee flavor balances the rich, buttery notes of the traditional Christmas bread, creating a delightful after-dinner treat.
• Combine with Aged Gouda Cheese: Serve thin slices of stollen alongside a plate of aged Gouda for a Dutch-inspired pairing. The nutty, sharp cheese provides a savory counterpoint to the bread's sweet, fruity profile.

Ways To Change Dutch Christmas Stollen Flavors

• Festive Fruit Fusion: Replace traditional dried fruits with a mix of dried apricots, figs, and dates for a unique flavor profile that adds rich, sweet complexity to the classic stollen.
• Nutty Holiday Charm: Substitute almond paste with a homemade pistachio paste and incorporate chopped pistachios into the dough for a green-tinged, nutty Mediterranean-inspired version.
• Chocolate Winter Magic: Fold dark chocolate chips and cocoa powder into the dough, then sprinkle with chocolate shavings after dusting with powdered sugar for a decadent chocolate lover's stollen.
• Spiced Tropical Escape: Add shredded coconut, dried pineapple, and a touch of ginger to the fruit mix, then finish with a light coconut glaze instead of powdered sugar for a sunny twist on the traditional recipe.

Dutch Christmas Stollen Q&A

• What makes Dutch Christmas Stollen special?

Dutch Christmas Stollen is a traditional holiday bread rich with dried fruits, nuts, and a marzipan-like core that symbolizes German and Dutch Christmas celebrations. Its unique flavor comes from warming spices like cinnamon and cardamom, creating a festive treat loved for generations.

• Can I substitute the rum in the recipe?

Absolutely! If you prefer a non-alcoholic version, use orange juice or apple juice. The liquid helps plump and soften the dried fruits, adding moisture and enhancing the overall flavor of the stollen.

• How do I know if my dough is properly kneaded?

A well-kneaded dough will feel smooth, elastic, and spring back when gently pressed. It should no longer stick to your hands or the work surface. When stretched, it should form a thin, translucent “windowpane” without tearing.

• Why do I need to fold the dough over the almond paste?

Folding the dough over the almond paste creates a traditional stollen shape and ensures the sweet, nutty center is perfectly enclosed. This technique helps distribute the almond paste evenly throughout the bread, giving each slice a delightful surprise.

Dutch Christmas Stollen Recipe

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4.6 from 29 reviews

• Total Time: 3 hours
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Festive German holiday bread, dutch Christmas Stollen, brings winter warmth with rich dried fruit, marzipan, and powdered sugar elegance. Bakers cherish this traditional treat that captures holiday spirit and delights winter celebrations.

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Ingredients

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Main Dry Ingredients:

• 3.5 cups (875 grams) all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom (optional)

Wet Ingredients and Leavening:

• 1 packet (2.25 teaspoons or 7 grams) instant yeast
• ¼ cup (60 milliliters) unsalted butter, melted
• ½ cup (120 milliliters) warm milk (about 110°F or 43°C)
• ¼ cup (60 milliliters) warm water (about 110°F or 43°C)
• 1 large egg, beaten

Filling and Additional Ingredients:

• ½ cup (75 grams) raisins
• ½ cup (75 grams) dried cranberries or chopped dried apricots
• ⅓ cup (40 grams) chopped almonds or pecans
• ¼ cup (40 grams) candied orange peel, finely chopped (optional)
• 1 tablespoon rum or orange juice (to soak the dried fruit)
• 7 ounces (200 grams) almond paste or marzipan
• 12 teaspoons milk (to soften, if needed)
• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) unsalted butter, melted
• Powdered sugar (for dusting)

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Instructions

1. Prepare a luxurious mixture of dried fruits and nuts by combining raisins, cranberries, almonds, and candied orange peel in a mixing vessel. Drench the ingredients with rum or orange juice, ensuring each morsel is thoroughly coated. Allow the mixture to marinate and absorb flavors for a minimum of 15 minutes.
2. Create a foundational dough by blending flour, sugar, yeast, salt, cinnamon, and cardamom in a spacious mixing bowl. Incorporate melted butter, warm milk, warm water, and a beaten egg, stirring until a cohesive dough emerges. Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead vigorously, developing gluten and achieving a smooth, elastic texture. The kneading process should take approximately 8-10 minutes, or utilize a stand mixer with a dough hook for 5-6 minutes.
3. Drain any remaining liquid from the soaked fruits and gently fold them into the prepared dough. Ensure an even distribution of fruit throughout the dough, creating a harmonious blend of textures and flavors.
4. Transfer the dough to a greased bowl, covering it with a damp cloth. Position the bowl in a warm, draft-free environment and allow the dough to undergo a transformative rising process for 1-1.5 hours, or until it doubles in volume.
5. Deflate the risen dough and roll it into an oval shape approximately 10 inches long. Craft a log of almond paste and position it centrally along the dough’s length. Carefully fold the dough over the almond paste, sealing the edges and forming a distinctive loaf shape.
6. Place the shaped stollen on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Drape a light cloth over the loaf and permit a second rising period of 30-40 minutes, allowing the dough to become puffy and light.
7. Preheat the oven to 350F (175C). Bake the stollen until it achieves a rich, golden-brown coloration and produces a hollow sound when gently tapped, typically requiring 30-35 minutes of baking time.
8. Immediately after removing from the oven, brush the warm stollen with melted butter. Generously dust the surface with a snowfall of powdered sugar, creating an elegant, festive appearance. Allow the stollen to cool completely before slicing to preserve its delicate structure.

Notes

• Transform soaking time by using a mix of dried fruits like apricots, golden raisins, and cherries for deeper flavor complexity.
• Control moisture levels by gently patting soaked fruits dry before adding to prevent soggy dough texture.
• Enhance traditional recipe by substituting some wheat flour with almond or spelt flour for gluten-sensitive bakers.
• Elevate flavor profile by adding orange zest or ground nutmeg to the dough for a more aromatic Christmas treat.

• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 35 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Dutch

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 320
• Sugar: 15 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 50 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 25 mg