Christmas Stollen bread

Christmas calls for something special, so why not try a German fruit bread loaded with all the goodness of macerated fruits with a kick of spices. Stollen is a rich fruit bread which is normally baked during Christmas time. Traditionally stollen bread has a marzipan(optional) filling.


Ingredients

• 4 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 60 gm. butter (50 gm for bread and 10 gm for brushing on top of bread)
• 1 egg
• 1 cup milk
• 2 cups dry fruits soaked in rum or fruit juice
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoon yeast
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar or icing sugar
• 2 cloves
• 3 pods cardamom 
• A small piece nutmeg
• A small stick cinnamon

In a small bowl add 2 teaspoon yeast with 1 teaspoon sugar and 1/4 cup lukewarm water. Let this rest for 10 min until it becomes frothy and creamy. This is known as "proofing of yeast". Dry roast the whole spices and make a fine powder. Mix flour, sugar (powdered sugar can be used ), salt and spices. To this add yeast, milk, butter and egg. Knead well for about 10 to 15 min until the dough is soft. Let this rest and rise  in a warm place for 1 hour till it doubles up. Knead the dried fruits into the dough and roll it into two loaves and place it in a prepared baking sheet. Let it rest and rise for another 45 mins. Brush the loaves with beaten egg. Preheat oven to 180 deg Celsius. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes till a golden brown crust is formed. Generously smear the loaves with 1 tbsp melted butter and dust icing sugar on top. Serve warm, with lots of love.