Christmas Stollen - freshly baked bread

Christmas Stollen

French & European-Style Bread

Traditional German Christmas bread with dried fruits, marzipan, and a heavy dusting of powdered sugar. A festive masterpiece.

Prep Time

30 min

Proof Time

2h

Bake Time

40 min

Servings

10

Calories

290

Ingredients

  • 3 cups bread flour
  • 2¼ tsp active dry yeast
  • 1 cup warm water
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 1½ tsp salt
  • 2 large eggs

Instructions

  1. 1

    Activate Yeast

    Dissolve sugar in warm water. Add yeast and wait 5 minutes.

  2. 2

    Mix Dough

    Add butter, eggs, salt, and flour. Knead 10 minutes until smooth.

  3. 3

    Rise

    Cover and rise 60–90 minutes until doubled.

  4. 4

    Shape

    Shape as directed — braid, round, or loaf.

  5. 5

    Second Rise

    Cover and rise 30 minutes.

  6. 6

    Bake

    Brush with egg wash. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 25–30 minutes until golden.

Baker's Notes

European breads often benefit from a long, slow fermentation. Even an extra hour of rise time develops noticeably more flavour.

Baker Thomas Moreau

Nutrition Facts

290

cal

8g

Protein

15g

Fat

26g

Carbs

3g

Fiber

388mg

Sodium

Tips & Tricks

  • Egg wash (1 egg + 1 tbsp water) gives European breads their golden sheen.
  • Many European breads improve in flavour after a day of resting.
  • Use bread flour for the best gluten development and structure.

Reviews (4)

André G.★★★★★

Just like from the bakery! The crust is crispy and the crumb is soft. Bravo for this extraordinary recipe.

Chantal D.★★★★★

Easy to prepare and so delicious! Even my picky kids went for seconds. This bread has become a staple in our home.

Pierre T.★★★★★

Excellent recipe. I followed the instructions to the letter and the result was perfect. My wife loved it. The best homemade bread I've made.

Marie L.★★★★★

Made this last weekend and my family loved it! The bread came out perfectly golden with a beautiful crust. Will definitely be making this again.