How to make stollen recipe

Learn how to make stollen with our simple recipe. Our recipe includes a step by step guide so that you can make your own this year, instead of having to buy one.

Here's how to make stollen - the scrumptious marzipan-infused Christmas cake that's impossible to resist. Homemade stollen always looks really impressive, yet it's actually very simple to do. The classic ingredients of mixed dried fruit and fragrant marzipan combine to create one of our favourite Christmas time treats.

It tastes divine sliced into generous portions and served alongside a good cup of tea over the festive period. Store your stollen loaf in an airtight containe to keep it tasting fresher for a little bit longer.

Love cooking for the festive season? We've got loads more scrumptious Christmas recipes right here!

Ingredients

• 175g (6oz) dried mixed fruit
• Finely grated rind of 1 lemon
• 2tbsp rum
• 350g (12oz) strong plain flour
• Pinch salt
• 7g sachet fast action dried yeast
• 90g (3oz) butter, melted
• 150ml (¼ pint) warm milk
• 1 medium egg
• 175g (6oz) white marzipan

For the topping

• 15g (½ oz) butter, melted
• Icing sugar to dredge
• Baking sheet, buttered

Method

1. Tip the dried fruit into a small bowl and add the lemon rind and rum. Stir the fruit, then cover the bowl. Leave the fruit for at least 2 hrs, or overnight.
2. To make the dough, tip the flour into a bowl and stir in the salt and yeast. Lightly beat together the butter, milk and egg and add to the flour mixture. Mix together to form a soft dough. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead it for 8-10 mins, until the dough is smooth and elastic.
3. Make a dip in the centre of the dough and pour in the fruit and any remaining juices in the bowl. Knead the fruit into the dough.
4. Roll the dough out to about 25 x 20cm (10 x 8in). Knead the marzipan to soften it and then roll it out into a long sausage shape, just slightly shorter than the dough. Place the marzipan on the dough, and then fold the dough over it. Bring the other side of the dough over into the centre, to give a slightly oval shape.
5. Place the stollen on a buttered baking sheet, and cover it with a lightly oiled piece of cling film. Leave in a warm place until the stollen has doubled in size.
6. Set the oven to a fairly hot gas mark 6 or 200°C. Bake the stollen, towards the top of the oven, for 20-30 mins, or until it sounds hollow when lifted off the baking sheet and tapped underneath.
7. Remove the stollen from the oven and slide it onto a wire rack. Immediately brush over the melted butter and heavily dredge it with icing sugar. Leave it to cool. The stollen will keep for up to 5-7 weeks if wrapped tightly in foil and stored in a cool place. Re-dust with icing sugar before serving.

From the ingredients you may actually be wondering what is the difference between stollen and fruit cake. They both have chopped, candied and dried fruit like cherries, dates and pineapple.

However, stollen is much more a bread than a cake really, it doesn't need to have the alcoholic rum soaking like a fruit cake which allows it to become a little less dense.

Stollen is also traditionally dusted with powdered sugar for a finishing touch.