麻豆社

This is a German Christmas bread, richly laden with dried fruit, spices and a moist filling of marzipan. The finished bread is heavily dredged in icing sugar and听 said to represent baby Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes.

听

350g strong white flour听

2 cardamom pods听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听

5ml sea salt听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听

zest of one lemon

25g fresh yeast听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听

150g raisins/sultanas/citrus peel

100ml warm milk听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听

40g flaked almonds

25g caster sugar听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听

2 eggs听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听

50 g butter听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听

175g almond paste

5ml mixed spice听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听

icing sugar to dust

听

Mix the flour and salt in a large bowl.听 Rub in the butter, crumble in the yeast and stir in the warm milk, egg, sugar, spices and finely grated lemon rind.听 Fold over a little flour from the edges of the bowl and leave to 鈥渟ponge鈥� for 20-30 mins.

听

Draw all the ingredients together to form a soft dough.听 Knead for 5mins.听 Then add the almonds and dried fruit to the dough before covering and leaving to rise for 1-2 hours. (Or transfer to a lidded plastic box and leave to rise overnight in the fridge).

听

Turn the dough out onto a work surface and press flat, brush with water and place a strip of almond paste down the centre length.听 Fold over the edges.

听

Place the shaped Stollen onto a greased baking tray. Leave to rise for 40mins before baking at 190潞C for 35mins.