Stollen Coffee Cake Food

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.

STOLLEN COFFEE CAKE

Steps:

• Beat margarine or butter and granulated sugar in a medium mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium high speed until light and fluffy.
• Add eggs, sour cream, and vanilla; beat until well combined.
• Stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
• Add to butter sugar mixture; beat until combined.
• Stir in raisins and 2/3 cup of fruit cake mix.
• Spread batter evenly into a greased and floured 13x9x2-inch baking pan.
• Stir together brown sugar, cinnamon, pecans, and 1/3 cup of fruit cake mix.
• Sprinkle evenly over batter and pat down.
• Bake in a 350°F oven for 40 to 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.
• Serve warm or cooled.

STOLLEN

Steps:

• Add yeast to lukewarm water. If using yeast cakes, allow them to soak in the water, then stir well before adding to the other wet ingredients. If using dry yeast, stir well when adding to the water and again before adding to the other wet ingredients.
• Combine milk, sugar, and salt.
• Add yeast.
• Stir in eggs and shortening.
• Add flour in stages and mix well.
• When dough leaves side of bowl, place on board and knead.
• Place in greased bowl to rise and turn once.
• When dough has doubled in size, punch down and allow to rise again.
• After second rise turn onto board and flatten out.
• Spread fruit onto dough and knead to distribute. The amount of fruit you use depends on how much you like it.
• Pat dough out into oval and spread with soft butter. Fold.
• Let rise again.
• Bake for 30 minutes at 350°F.
• Ice as soon as out of oven.
• Note: I use butter as the shortening so I skip the step of spreading the dough with soft butter.
• Note: I check the bread after 20 minutes in the oven; if it is brown, I cover it with foil for the final 10 minutes.
• Note: To check for doneness, insert a thermometer in the bottom of the bread; the bread is done if the temperature reaches 180°F.
• Note: My life got a whole lot easier after I got a Kitchenaid mixer. I use it to handle the mixing, then dump the dough onto the counter to knead it.

TRADITIONAL STOLLEN

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the milk, butter, sugar, eggs, lemon zest, salt and 3 cups flour. Add the raisins, candied fruit and almonds. Add enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. , Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1-1/2 hours. , Punch dough down and divide in half; cover and let rest for 10 minutes. Roll or press each half into a 12x7-in. oval. Fold a long side over to within 1 in. of opposite side; press edge lightly to seal. Place on greased baking sheets; curve ends slightly. Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, about 1 hour. , Bake at 375° for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire racks. Combine confectioners' sugar and enough milk to achieve desired consistency; spread over stollen.

STOLLEN

Steps:

• Whisk together flour, granulated sugar, salt, mace, and nutmeg in a large bowl. Stir in milk and melted butter. Add dissolved yeast and the eggs. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead until smooth.
• Drain raisins and currants. Add raisins, currants, almonds, citron, orange peel, apricots, and lemon zest to dough, and continue kneading until incorporated, about 10 minutes. If dough is sticky, knead in more flour.
• Transfer dough to a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with plastic, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, 1 to 2 hours. Punch down dough, divide into 6 even pieces, and roll each piece into a 15-inch-long log. Braid 3 logs together, and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with remaining 3 logs. Cover with plastic, and let rise until doubled in volume, about 2 hours more.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake stollen until golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack. Beat together confectioners' sugar and milk. Drizzle stollen with icing just before serving.

QUICKER STOLLEN

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the contents of the roll mix and yeast packets with the sugar. Stir in the water, butter, egg, lemon zest and extract to form a soft dough. Turn onto a floured surface. Knead in raisins, candied fruit and almonds, about 5 minutes. Cover and let rest for 5 minutes. , Roll or press dough into a 12x7-in. oval. Fold a long side over to within 1-in. of opposite side; press edge lightly to seal. Place on greased baking sheet; curve ends slightly. Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, about 20-30 minutes. , Bake at 375° for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack. Combine confectioners' sugar and milk; spread over stollen. Decorate with cherries and almonds if desired.