Almond Stollen Food

ALMOND STOLLEN

Steps:

• On the day before baking sift the flour into a bowl and keep warm.
• On baking day make a depression in the middle of the flour. Whisk the yeast with 1 Tbsp sugar in the warm milk, and pour into the depression and stir with a little of the flour mix forming a thick paste. Cover with flour and let rise.
• Stir the softened butter, and spread on the dough; do the same with the sugar and all the spices. Work all the ingredients through the risen dough very carefully and let rise 30-60 minutes, not letting it get too warm.
• Stollen can be made in different shapes, for example 'cut' and 'open.' For a cut Stollen make a long loaf and, with a sharp knife, cut lengthwise down the middle 1/2 inch deep. For an open stollen, also form a loaf, but then press a long, wide groove into the loaf using either a rolling pin or the edge of the hand pushing slightly to the side as you go along. Push the narrow side up.
• Allow the shaped stollen to rise once more for only a short time (about 15 minutes) and bake at medium heat for at least 60 minutes.
• When the stollen comes out of the oven, brush it immediately with melted butter and sprinkle with sugar. To create a thick sugar crust, do this repeatedly.
• Wrap the cooled stollen in white paper or cloth, and refrigerate. It should rest for at least 1 week before being cut.

ALMOND-FILLED STOLLEN

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in warm water in bowl; stir in 1/2 teaspoon sugar. Add 2 cups flour, 1/4 cup sugar, 3/4 cup butter, sour cream, egg yolks, salt, almond flavoring and vanilla. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until smooth.
• Stir in enough remaining flour to make dough easy to handle. Turn dough onto well-floured surface; knead 8-10 minutes or until smooth and elastic. Place into greased bowl; turn, greased-side up. Cover; let rise in warm place about 1 1/2 hours or until double in size. (Dough is ready if indentation remains when touched.)
• Combine currants and candied fruit mix in bowl. Pour brandy over fruit; let stand 15 minutes.
• Punch down dough. Place dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead fruit and brandy mixture into dough just until fruit is thoroughly distributed. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 14x10-inch oval, approximately 1/2-inch thick.
• Stir together almond paste and 3 tablespoons butter in bowl. Spread mixture lengthwise on dough.Fold oval lengthwise so top edge is within 1 inch from bottom edge. Pinch edges gently to seal. Place onto greased baking sheet. Cover; let rise 45 minutes. (Stollen will not double in size.)
• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Combine 1 egg and milk in bowl; beat with fork. Brush onto stollen. Bake 35-45 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely.
• Sift powdered sugar over top of stollen.

STOLLEN

Steps:

• Prepare Fruit: Combine the mixed fruit, raisins, and rum. Cover and set aside. Shake or stir the mixture every so often to coat the fruit with the rum.
• Prepare Sponge: In a large bowl, sprinkle the yeast in the water to soften. Heat the milk to 110 degrees F and add it to the yeast along with the honey and 1 cup flour. Cover the sponge with plastic wrap and let rise until light and full of bubbles, about 30 minutes.
• By Hand: Add the fruit mixture, honey, egg, butter, zest, salt, mace, almonds, and 2 cups of the flour to the sponge. Beat vigorously for 2 minutes. Gradually add the remaining flour 1/4 cup at a time until the dough begins to pull away from the side of the bowl. Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface. Knead, adding flour a little at a time, until the dough is smooth and elastic.
• By Mixer: In the mixer bowl, add the fruit mixture, honey, egg, butter, zest, salt, mace, almonds, and 2 cups of the flour to the sponge. Using the paddle, beat the mixture on medium low speed for 2 minutes. Gradually add the remaining flour 1/4 cup at a time until the dough begins to pull away from the side of the bowl. Change to the dough hook. Continue to add flour 1 tablespoon at a time until the dough just begins to clean the bowl. Knead 4 to 5 minutes on medium-low.
• First rise: Put the dough in an oiled bowl and turn to coat the entire ball of dough with oil. Cover with a tightly woven towel and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Shape and Fill: Turn the dough out onto a lightly oiled work surface. For 1 large loaf, roll the dough into a 9 by 13-inch oval. For 2 loaves, divided the dough in half and roll each half into a 7 by 9-inch oval. Brush the melted butter over the top of the oval(s). Combine the cinnamon and granulated sugar and sprinkle over one lengthwise half of the oval(s). Fold the dough in half lengthwise and carefully lift the bread(s) onto a parchment-lined or well-greased baking sheet. Press lightly on the folded side to help the loaf keep its shape during rising and baking.
• Second rise: Cover with a tightly woven towel and let rise for 45 minutes.
• Preheat oven: About 10 minutes before baking, preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Bake and cool: Bake for 25 minutes until the internal temperature of the bread reaches 190 degrees F. Immediately remove from the baking sheet and place on a rack to cool.
• To serve: Sprinkle heavily with confectioners' sugar just before serving.
• Variation: Between 2 pieces of waxed paper or plastic wrap, roll 3 ounces almond paste or marzipan into the lengthwise shape of half the oval. Omit the butter and cinnamon-sugar filling. Place the marzipan on half of the oval and fold the dough in half. Let rise and bake as directed.
• Notes: One cup coarsely chopped mixed dried fruits may be substituted for the candied fruit. Cover the dried fruit with boiling water and let sit at room temperature for 8 to 12 hours. Drain and use as you would candied fruit. You can also make your own candied fruit and peel. This bread freezes nicely for up to 6 months. If freezing it, do not sprinkle with confectioners' sugar. To serve, first thaw the bread, then bake on a baking sheet in a preheated 375 degree F oven for 7 to 10 minutes. Just before serving, sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.

OLD-FASHIONED STOLLEN WITH ALMONDS

Steps:

• For sponge:
• Stir 1 1/2 teaspoons lukewarm milk, 1 1/2 teaspoons lukewarm water and 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar in large bowl. Add yeast cake and stir until smooth. Let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes. Add flour and remaining 1 1/3 cups lukewarm milk and mix well. Cover and let sponge rise in warm draft-free area until doubled in volume, about 1 hour 15 minutes.
• For dough:
• Mix 3 tablespoons flour with raisins, slivered almonds and candied fruit in medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat unsalted butter and sugar in large bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, cardamom, vanilla and salt. Beat in sponge. Stir in fruit and nuts. Mix in enough remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time to form slightly sticky dough. Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, adding more flour if very sticky, about 10 minutes.
• Lightly oil large bowl. Add dough, turning to coat entire surface. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rise in warm draft-free area until doubled in volume, about 2 1/2 hours.
• Grease heavy large cookie sheet. Punch dough down. Divide dough in half. Pat each half into 10 x 16-inch oval. Fold in half lengthwise; pat gently. Place on prepared sheet. Cover and let rise in warm draft-free area until almost double in volume, about 2 hours.
• Position rack in lowest third of oven and preheat to 350°F. Bake until loaves are golden and sound hollow when tapped on bottom, about 1 hour. Transfer to rack and cool slightly. Serve warm or at room temperature. (Stollen can be prepared up to 1 day ahead. Cool completely. Wrap stollen in plastic and store at room temperature.)