Christmas Stollen

This recipe comes from London's Dorchester Hotel. It's packed with dried fruit and filled with a marzipan surprise.

Ingredients

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  • 1 tablespoon active dry yeast

  • ⅔ cup warm milk (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)

  • 1 large egg

  • ⅓ cup white sugar 

  • ½ tablespoon salt

  • ⅓ cup butter, softened

  • 2 ½ cups bread flour

  • ⅓ cup currants

  • ⅓ cup sultana raisins

  • ⅓ cup red candied cherries, quartered

  • ⅔ cup diced candied citron

  • 6 ounces marzipan

  • 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar

  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

  • Step 1

    In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm milk. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.

  • Step 2

    In a large bowl, combine the yeast mixture with the egg, white sugar, salt, butter, and 2 cups bread flour; beat well. Add the remaining flour, 1/4 cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. When the dough has begun to pull together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead in the currants, raisins, dried cherries, and citrus peel. Continue kneading until smooth, about 8 minutes.

  • Step 3

    Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl, and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.

  • Step 4

    Lightly grease a cookie sheet. Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll the marzipan into a rope and place it in the center of the dough. Fold the dough over to cover it; pinch the seams together to seal. Place the loaf, seam side down, on the prepared baking sheet. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise until doubled in volume, about 40 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

  • Step 5

    Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C), and bake for a further 30 to 40 minutes, or until golden brown. Allow loaf to cool on a wire rack. Dust the cooled loaf with confectioners' sugar, and sprinkle with the cinnamon.