Christmas Stollen

By CarolM-2

Ingredients

• 3 pkgs. active dry yeast
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 1 1/2 cups milk, scalded, then cooled to lukewarm
• 8 cups flour
• 1 lb. butter,softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 tsp. salt
• grated rind of one lemon
• 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp. ground cardamom
• 1 1/2 c. raisins
• 1 1/2 c. currants
• 1/4 c. rum
• 1 1/2 c. glaced cherries chopped...I use a combination of red and green
• 1/4 c. sliced almonds
• 1/2 c. butter, melted
• confectioners sugar

Preparation

Step 1

1) In small mixing bow., place warm water an yeast. mix until yeast dissolves. Add warm milk and 1 cup of flour, mixing well. cover and place in a warm area until light and bubbly.
2) In a large mixing bow., cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in salt, lemon and the yeast mixture.
3) Stir in nutmeg, cardamom and flour, one cup at a time stirring well after each addition. Turn dough out onto a floured board and knead until smooth, for about 10-15 minutes adding more flour as necessary to keep it from sticking.
4) Soak the raisins and currents in rum. Add to dough with almonds and cherries and knead until evenly distributed.
5) Place dough in a greased bowl, turn it over so it is greased on all sides. Cover with a towel. Allow to rise in a warm spot until it is doubled in size, about 1- 1/4 hrs.
6) Punch dough down and divide into 3 equal parts. Let rest 10 minutes. Roll each out to a strip about 12 by 8 inches wide. Brush with 2 Tbsp. melted butter. Fold each strip by bringing one long side over to the center, and pressing the edge down lightly. Then fold the other long side across it, overlap about 1". Press edge gently to keep it in place. Taper ends of the loaf and pat sides gently to mound it in center. The finished loaf should be about 4 inches wide and 13 inches long.
7) Place Stollens on lightly greased cookie sheet. Brush with remaining butter, cover lightly and allow to rise 1 hr. or until doubled in size.
8) Bake loaves on middle rack in a 375 degree oven for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Place on racks to cool. Before serving, sprinkle with confectioners sugar.