Christmas Stollen Recipe

This easy Christmas Stollen Recipe is a hearty bread studded with dried fruit, chopped walnuts, and orange zest. The best holiday breakfast treat or even dessert!

This recipe was originally published in 2017, but has seen been updated.

I'm pretty new to the world of German-inspired Christmas recipes, but this one has stollen my heart. There, I did it. Not regrets.

If you like subtly sweet treats that are perfectly enjoyed with your favorite hot beverage, you have arrived. This IS the good place.

What makes this stollen delicious & healthy(ish)

• white whole wheat flour
• sugar
• baking powder
• salt
• coconut oil (or butter)
• unsweetened applesauce
• low-fat cottage cheese
• chopped dried plums
• chopped walnuts
• orange zest
• almond extract
• egg
• powdered sugar (optional)

How to make this Christmas Stollen Recipe

Start by preheating your oven to 325°F, and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper, or coating with cooking spray and setting aside. In a large bowl, whisk together 2 ⅓ cups of white whole wheat flour (you can also use all-purpose flour), ¼ cup sugar, 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Cut ¼ cup of solid coconut oil (or butter) into the flour mixture until crumbly.

Stir in ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce, 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese, ½ cup chopped dried plums (about 8 dried plums worth), ⅓ cup chopped walnuts, 1 teaspoon orange zest, 1 teaspoon almond extract, and 1 egg until just combined. Turn dough out onto a floured work surface, and knead 2-3 times. Use a rolling pin to roll out dough into an 8 by 12 inch oval.

Fold dough over lengthwise, and transfer to prepared baking sheet. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cool completely on a wire cooling rack. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving if desired.

I drew inspiration for this recipe from the Good Housekeeping Cookbook, and made my own twists on it, such as swapping the ricotta for cottage cheese (since I eat it by the gallon), and using white whole wheat flour for more fiber.

Pro Tips

• Only mix and knead until dough is just formed and held together. Mixing it too much can make it tough.
• Swap out the plums and walnuts for whatever dried fruit and nuts you have on hand. Some ideas are dried cranberries or raisins, and chopped pecans or sliced almonds.

FAQS

How long does this keep for?

I find that it actually keeps best for 4 days before it starts to get stale. You can wrap and store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months if you have leftovers or want to extend the shelf life. You don't need to refrigerate it, but can keep in an airtight container at room temperature.

Can I make it vegan?

I have not tried making a vegan version of this recipe, but do have some recommendations if you want to give it a shot. Use the coconut oil instead of butter, swap out the egg for a flax egg, and swap out the cottage cheese for a plant-based yogurt.

Money Saving Tips for this Christmas Stollen Recipe:

• Buy store brand. Basic items such as flour, sugar, and baking powder are often less expensive when you use store brand instead of name brand with no flavor or quality differences.
• Use individual cups. I normally tell you to buy in bulk, but this is an exception. Unless you go through a lot of applesauce, I find the cups to be a great way to avoid throwing a big container out if I don't use it all.

more Christmas recipes:

Christmas Morning Breakfast Sandwiches

Healthy Cowboy Cookies

Savory Bread Pudding with Ham & Swiss

Did you make this recipe? Leave me a comment & rating to let me know how it came out!

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