Easy Christmas Stollen
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1/2 cup mixed candied fruit, chopped
- 2 T brandy
- 3-3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup almonds, ground
- 2 t baking powder
- 1/4 t baking soda
- 1/2 t salt
- 1/2 t cardamon, ground
- 1/4 t nutmeg, ground
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 2 eggs, slightly beaten
- 1/2 t vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
- 2 T butter, melted
- 1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 2 T milk
- Candied cherries
- Whole almonds
Instructions
Combine first three ingredients; let stand at room temperature for 1 hour. Combine next 8 ingredients. Cut in butter with pastry blender or food processor until mixture resembles coarse meal. Process cottage cheese in food processor or blender until smooth. Add cottage cheese, eggs, vanilla, raisin mixture, and walnuts to dry ingredients, stirring until moistened. Shape dough into ball. Turn dough out on floured surface, and knead until smooth (1 to 2 minutes), adding more flour if necessary. Roll dough to form oval about 12 x 8-1/2-inches. Brush dough with 1 tablespoon melted butter. Fold long side of dough over to within about 1-1/2 inches of the opposite side. Place on parchment paper -lined baking sheet. Bake at 350 degees F. fo 40 to 45 minutes or until lightly browned. Brush with remaining melted butter. Transfer stollen to wire rack to cool. Combine powdered sugar and milk, stirring until smooth. Drizzle over cooled bread. Garnish with candied cherries and almonds. Yield: 1 loaf