Recipe of Christmas Stollen by Klopotenko: How to Bake a Traditional German Cake.

According to ТСН: One of the most beloved Christmas traditions is the preparation of German stollen. This delicious cake has gained popularity not only in Germany but also in other countries, becoming a symbol of the festive season. Stollen is usually baked a few weeks before Christmas so that it has time to infuse and acquire its distinctive aroma.

Stollen recipe by famous chef Yevhen Klopotenko is presented below.

Ingredients

• 150 g candied fruits
• 150 g raisins
• 70 g almonds
• 100 ml rum
• 200 ml milk
• 30 g fresh yeast
• 100 g sugar
• 700 g flour
• 2 tsp vanilla sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 egg
• 2 yolks
• 200 g softened butter
• zest of 1 lemon
• zest of 1 orange
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 30 g butter
• 30 g powdered sugar

Preparation

1. Soak candied fruits, raisins, and almonds in rum overnight to absorb the flavors.
2. For the dough starter, heat the milk in a large bowl to about 36 degrees. Add the yeast and 50 g of sugar, mix thoroughly. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit for 15 minutes.
3. Add the sifted flour, salt, remaining sugar, and vanilla sugar to the mixture. Beat in the egg and yolks, add butter and knead the dough so that it doesn't stick to your hands.
4. Cover the prepared dough with plastic wrap and let it rest in a warm place for 50 minutes.
5. Zest the lemon and orange. Drain the liquid from the candied fruits, add the zest and cinnamon, and mix.
6. Roll out the dough to a thickness of 1 cm, lay out the filling and spread it evenly. Roll up the dough and incorporate the filling.
7. Divide the dough into two parts, slightly roll them out and twist them into a roll. Place the stollens on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Leave them for 20 minutes to rise.
8. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. Bake the stollens for 35-40 minutes until browned.
9. When the stollens are ready, immediately brush them with melted butter and dust with powdered sugar through a sieve.
10. Wrap each stollen in foil, tightly wrap it and place it in the refrigerator.

Don't forget that in the year of the Fire Horse, it is not recommended to place stollen on the New Year's table, as this may lead to a lack of prosperity.

Stollen is not only a tasty treat but also an important tradition that brings families closer together during the holidays. Making this sweet treat will be a wonderful way to create a festive atmosphere and give your loved ones a piece of German culinary heritage. It is especially pleasant when the stollen is baked with love and among family, as this is what makes the holiday unforgettable.