Christmas Dresden Stollen Recipe:

Step 1

In a large bowl, prepared the Candied Fruit and Nut Mixture; set aside.

Step 2

Place all ingredients except the Candied Fruit and Nut Mixture in the bread pan of your bread machine.  Select Quick Dough setting and press start.  Check the dough (don't be afraid to open the lid).  It should form a nice elastic ball.  If you think the dough is too moist, add additional flour (a tablespoon at a time).  The same is true if the dough is looking dry and gnarly.  Add warm water (a tablespoon at a time).

Step 3

When dough cycle has finished, remove dough from pan and turn out onto a lightly-floured surface.  Knead the prepared Candied Fruit and Nuts Mixture into the dough until well distributed.  NOTE: I have found that it works better to knead in the Fruit and Nut Mixture than add the mixture to the bread machine.  The bread machine tend to tear up the fruit.

Step 4

Lightly oil a large bowl.  Add the kneaded dough, turning to coat the entire surface of the dough.  Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled, approximately 1 to 2 hours (depending on how warm your room is).

Step 5

Oven Rising:  Sometimes I use my oven for the rising.  Turn the oven on for a minute or so, then turn it off again. This will warm the oven and make it a great environment for rising bread.  If you can't comfortably press your hand against the inside of the oven door, the oven is too hot.  Let it stand open to cool a bit.

Step 6

Cool or Refrigerator Rise:  If I don't have the time to wait for the rise to finish or I know that I will be interrupted before the completed rise, I do a cool rise.  A cool rise is when the dough is place in the refrigerator and left to rise slowly over night approximately 8 to 12 hours.  This is my favorite way of rising bread.

Step 7

After the dough has risen, punch down the dough and place it on a lightly-floured surface.  Divide the dough into either 3 or 4 parts.  Braid the dough to form the stollen.

Step 9

Variations Ideas:

Step 10

Small Loaves:  Divide the dough into 2 or 3 parts depending on how large you want your stollens, and form into loaves.

Step 11

Fold Over Method:  Press down center lengthwise with rolling pin.  Fold over lengthwise 2/3 of the way.

Step 12

Place formed stollen loaf/loaves on a baking sheet that has been coated with cooking spray or on a Silcone Baking Mat.  Cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm spot to rise for approximately 1 to 2 hours or until doubled (time can vary depending on room temperature).

Step 13

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Step 14

Bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until loaf sounds hollow when tapped.  A good check is to use an instant digital thermometer to test your bread.  The temperature should be between 200 and 210 degrees.  Remove from oven and cool on a bread rack.  Let baked loaf cool for 30 minutes before cutting (this is because the bread is still cooking while it is cooling).

Step 15

While the baked bread is cooling, make the Powdered Sugar Glaze.  Either drip or brush the Sugar Glaze over the slightly warm bread.  Decorate with candied cherries and or nuts (if desired).  Let bread completely cool before slicing.

Step 16

Makes one large stollen loaf.

Step 17

In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients; set aside.  NOTE: To keep dried fruit and nuts from sticking together, add approximately 2 to 3 teaspoons flour (depends on how sticky your mixture is); stir to thoroughly combine.

Step 18

In a small bowl, combine the powdered sugar, hot water, and vanilla extract until well combined and smooth (you may need to add additional hot water or milk).