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Stollen

Reggie Dwork <reggie@jeff-and-reggie.com>
Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:04:57 -0800
v109.n044.7
* Exported from MasterCook *

                                   Stollen

Recipe By     :Crescent Dragonwagon
Serving Size  : 30    Preparation Time :0:00
Categories    : Bread-Bakers Mailing List       Breads
                  Ethnic                          Fruits
                  Holidays                        Nuts

    Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
    8                     cardamom pod
    1                cup  lowfat 2% milk -- scalded
       1/2           cup  yellow raisins
    1                cup  dried cherries
    3        tablespoons  dark rum -- or orange juice
    2           packages  active dry yeast -- (.25-ounce)
       1/4           cup  warm water
       1/3           cup  sugar -- divided
    3 1/2           cups  all-purpose flour -- divided
       1/2           cup  cold butter -- (1 stick), cut into 8 pieces
       1/2      teaspoon  salt
    1         tablespoon  finely grated lemon rind
    1                     egg
    2                     egg yolks
       1/2           cup  slivered almonds -- toasted
    10            ounces  almond paste
                          Topping::
       1/2           cup  salted butter
    1                cup  powdered sugar

1. Place cardamom pods in a small bowl. Add hot milk. Let stand 10 minutes.

2. Combine raisins and cherries with rum. Let stand.

3. Combine yeast, warm water and 1 teaspoon sugar. Set aside until 
mixture foams, about 10 minutes.

4. Remove cardamom pods from milk. Squeeze pods open. Scrape small 
black seeds into milk. Discard pods. Stir milk into yeast mixture. 
Add 1 cup flour; beat well. Cover this mixture (called the "sponge") 
with plastic wrap; let rise 30 minutes.

5. As the sponge rises, place 2 cups flour and butter in the bowl of 
a food processor. Add salt and remaining sugar. Pulse 6 or 8 times.

6. Drain fruits, reserving soaking liquid. When the sponge is ready, 
add it to the processor; add lemon rind, egg and egg yolks, and 
soaking liquid from dried fruits. Process 20 or 30 seconds, until 
dough is thoroughly mixed. Then, with a few quick pulses, mix in 
fruits, almonds, and remaining 1/2 cup flour. Scrape dough, which 
will be quite tender, into a large oiled bowl, and refrigerate overnight.

7. In the morning, punch dough down, and divide into thirds. On a 
heavily floured board, gently pull and pat each portion of dough into 
a 10 x 14" oval. Divide almond paste into thirds. Cover half of each 
oval, the long way, with bits of almond paste, patting with your 
hands (don't worry about getting it neat). Fold the other half of the 
dough over it, enclosing almond paste and making a pastry that is a 
plump half oval.

8. Gently transfer to parchment-lined baking sheets, shaping if 
necessary. Let rise until dough is puffy, though not quite doubled in 
bulk, about 1 hour.

9. Preheat oven to 350F.

10. Bake 20 to 30 minutes, until golden brown. Using 2 spatulas, 
transfer to a wire rack; cool about 10 minutes.

11. Towards then end of baking time, place 1/2 cup butter in a small 
saucepan over medium heat. When butter melts, lower heat and let 
butter cook until browned and fragrant, about 8 minutes. Don't stir 
the butter as it browns, but you can shake the pan a little.

12. Spoon browned butter over the tops. Sift powdered sugar 
generously over tops. Let cool at least 20 minutes, until sugar sets 
slightly. Serve, in thin slices, slightly warm or at room temperature.

Makes 3 stollens (10 servings each).

Note: Make stollens ahead, wrap well and freeze up to one month.


Source:
    ""Holiday Breads," December 2009"
                                      - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 232 Calories; 11g Fat (42.2% 
calories from fat); 4g Protein; 30g Carbohydrate; 2g Dietary Fiber; 
38mg Cholesterol; 108mg Sodium.  Exchanges: 1 Grain(Starch); 0 Lean 
Meat; 1/2 Fruit; 0 Non-Fat Milk; 2 Fat; 1/2 Other Carbohydrates.

NOTES : Arguably Europe's most well-known Christmas bread, a stollen 
is a folded-over, filled yeast pastry (the fold is set to represent 
the Christ child in his swaddling clothes). Created in Dresden, 
Germany, stollen started as an ordinary bread. Because medieval 
Catholicism forbade the use of butter during Christmas, bakers had to 
do without the precious fat until Dresden's prince appealed to Pope 
Nikolaus V for an exception. The pope gave in: The famous 
"butter-letter" of 1491 decreed that Dresden bakers could use richer 
ingredients if they paid a fine. Thus, butter built the Saxon 
cathedral of Freiberg, and stollen became synonymous with Dresden 
(there's an annual stollen festival to this day). The browned butter 
on top is divine.

Per serving: 220 calories, 10g fat, 36mg chol., 4g prot., 27g carbs., 
1.5g fiber, 92mg sodium.