Stollen Recipe

Spice Mixture: In a small bowl combine all the spices. Cover with plastic wrap. (Can be made ahead and stored at room temperature.)

Sponge: In a medium sized bowl mix the flour with the yeast and water until thoroughly combined. Cover and let sit (ferment) at room temperature overnight (about 12-14 hours).

Fruit Mixture: In a bowl, combine all the ingredients. Cover and let sit at room temperature at least overnight. You can make this mixture ahead and store it in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks.

Stollen: With a rolling pin pound the cold butter between two sheets of parchment paper until it's pliable, but still cold. Cut into pieces and place in the bowl of your electric stand mixer, fitted with the dough hook. Then add the rest of the ingredients, including the Spice Mixture and Sponge. But don't add the Fruit Mixture. Knead the dough on 1st speed for about four minutes (so everything is mixed together). Increase your mixer speed to 2nd speed, and continue to knead the dough for about 15 to 20 minutes or until the dough cleans the bowl and is smooth and elastic (you want a strong dough). To check to see if the dough is fully kneaded, use the 'windowpane' test. (See video for demonstration.) To do this, start with a small fistful of dough. Gently stretch it. For a fully kneaded dough you should be able to stretch the dough quite thin so it's almost translucent.

Next, add the Fruit Mixture and beat, on 1st speed, until all the fruit and nuts are fully incorporated (this will take a minute or two).

Place your dough in a large lightly oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let sit (proof) at room temperature (73 - 76 degree F) (23 - 24 degree C) for about 1 hour.

When your dough has proofed, remove from bowl and place onto a lightly floured surface. You want the top of the dough to now be on the bottom. Lightly flour the top of your dough and divide in half (about 430 grams each). When you divide the dough use a pastry scraper or knife and cut, don't pull or stretch, the dough.

Then, working with one piece of dough at a time, pre-shape your dough into a round. Do this by first taking the edges of the dough and folding them into the center. Gently seal. Then flip your dough over so the smooth side is facing up. With the palms of your hands rotate the ball of dough on your surface to create surface tension and to seal the edges of the dough completely. Place the rounds on a lightly floured baking sheet or board and cover with plastic wrap. Let the rounds of dough sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes. (This is to relax the dough and you will notice that the dough will rise a little.)

Next, place the rounds of dough, upside down, onto a lightly floured surface. Lightly flour the top of the dough. (See video on how to form the Stollen.) Form each round of dough into an long oval shape (about 8 inches (20 cm) long). Take the long edges of the top 2/3 of the dough and fold into the center (have a bell shape). Then, starting at the top of the dough, roll the dough five times, sealing the dough after each roll, until you have a cylinder shape. With the palms of your hands gently roll the dough back and forth (to create tension) until it's about 9 inches (23 cm) in length (a batard shape). Have one long edge of the dough closest to you. Next, about 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the long edge of the dough, using a thin rolling pin (or the handle of a wooden spoon), create a 2 inch (5 cm) wide trench (the trench should be almost to the bottom of the dough) down the entire length of dough. Then take the edge of the dough and fold it up and over the trench sealing in the center of the dough. Place the dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let ferment (proof) at room temperature for about one hour.

Meanwhile preheat your oven to 375 degree F (190 degree C).

When ready to bake, remove the plastic wrap, and place in the preheated oven. Bake for about 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown (do not over bake or the Stollen will be dry). While the Stollen is still warm brush with melted or clarified butter and dredge in granulated white sugar. Brush off excess sugar. When completely cooled, dust with powdered sugar. Let sit at room temperature until the powdered sugar dries. Wrap in foil and then in plastic. The Stollen can be stored at room temperature for about a week or it can be frozen for about two months.

Makes 2 Stollen.