Christmas Stollen (Easy, no yeast)

By bdeedman

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 C flour
• 1/2 C sugar
• 11/2 t baking powder
• 1/2 t salt
• 1/2 C cold butter, cut in cubes
• 1/2 C raisins or other dried fruit diced
• 1/3 C slivered almonds, toasted
• 1C ricotta cheese
• 1 lg egg
• 1 t vanilla
• 1/2 t lemon zest
• 6 T butter, melted
• 3/4C powdered sugar

Details

Level of difficulty Average
Cost Average budget

Preparation

Step 1

Heat oven to 325

Step 2

Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Using pastry blender, cut butter into flour mixture to form crumbs. Add fruit and almonds. Set aside

Step 3

In another bowl mix cheese, egg,vanilla,and lemon zest. Combine wet ingredients with dry, mixing until most of flour in moistened

Step 4

Turn dough out on floured surface, knead 2 or 3 times. Divide in 2. Roll each piece into an 8x7 inch oval about 1/2 inch thick. Fold each piece in half lengthwise, leaving a 1/2 inch bottom lip . Press top edge into lower edge. Place on baking sheet

Step 5

Bake about 40 min until lightly browned. Clean toothpick test

Step 6

Remove from oven, place on rack. Brush with 1/2 the butter and sprinkle with 1/2 powdered sugar. Cool. Repeat with the rest of butter and sugar. Wrap in plastic wrap.