Dresdener Stollen

By Foodiewife

Ingredients

• Ingredients:
• 2-3/4 cups unbleached flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 scant tablespoon instant yeast
• 1/2 cup milk
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 3/4 cup dark raisins
• 3/4 cup white raisins
• 2 tablespoons candied orange peel, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon candied lemon peel, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup quartered, glaced cherries (mixed red and green)
• 1/2 cup lightly toasted chopped almonds
• 1 tube (6 to 7-ounces) almond paste
• Confectioners' sugar

Preparation

Step 1

Directions:
1) Mix salt with flour in a microwavable bowl. Place in microwave oven and heat on HIGH power for 1 minute. Whisk. Add yeast and whisk again to mix. Set aside.
2) Combine milk, butter and sugar in a microwavable bowl. Cook on HIGH power for 1 minute, or until butter is melted and sugar is dissolved. When mixture is tepid add egg and whisk to combine.
3) Pour milk mixture into flour and mix well until the dough leaves the sides of bowl and forms a ball. Add candied fruits and nuts working into dough with hands.
4) Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes, or until fruits and nuts are evenly distributed. This is a very stiff dough.
5) Place dough into an oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let sit in a warm place until doubled in size, about 2 to 3 hours.
6) Turn onto a lighly floured board. Flatten and roll into a 14 x 8-inch rectangle.
7) Form almond paste into a log about 13-inches long. Place in the middle of dough, then roll dough around it. Pinch and turn edges under. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place dough on parchment paper, cover with damp towel and let rise until double.
8) Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Bake in the center of oven for about 35 minutes, or until an even golden brown. Move loaf in parchment paper sling to cooling rack. Brush top with butter. Let cool for 30 minutes. Dust liberally with confectioners' sugar. Yield: 1 loaf.