| Prep: 30 mins | Cook: 45 mins | Difficulty: Intermediate | Serves: 6 |
| kcal | fat | saturates | carbs |
| 548 | 32g | 15g | 53g |
| sugars | fibre | protein | salt |
| 23g | 6g | 11g | 0.08g |
About Gluten-Free Stollen
Welcome to your introduction to Gluten-Free Stollen. This traditional and delightful German holiday bread has been adapted for anyone and everyone with gluten sensitivities or allergies to enjoy as part of their festive feast. With a few tweaks to the original recipe, our gluten-free stollen will not only satisfy your cravings but also keep your health in check.
Deciphering Gluten-Free Stollen
At its core, the Gluten-Free Stollen is sweet, rather dense loaf that borrows its indulgence from a diverse range of ingredients. The bread is characterized by a dough generously speckled with chunks of marzipan, golden raisins, and bits of candied citrus peel, which lend this bread its signature sweetness. A light dusting of powdered sugar gives the loaf its snowy holiday cloak. However, our stollen’s true standout feature is its distinctive texture and richness, thanks to gluten-free all-purpose flour and the addition of xanthan gum, which gives this gluten-less variant an authentic, bread-like feel. The use of warm milk enables yeast activation, while granulated sugar feeds the yeast, promoting the dough’s rise and infusing it with a gentle sweetness.
Comparative Culinary Notes
If you’ve navigated the world of fruit bread before, you’re likely to draw parallels to Italy’s panettone and British hot cross buns. Similar to these beloved confections, our gluten-free stollen is chock full of candied fruit and spices. The use of almonds also brings it close in spirit to the French brioche, although our stollen is more moist and dense in comparison.
As for pairings, think of this bread as the perfect accompaniment to your cup of afternoon tea or coffee. Or, if you’re feeling a little adventurous, why not serve it as an unconventional side with your holiday ham? Trust us, the sweet and savory combination works marvelously!
The Truly Accessible Luxury
With that said, you don’t need to have gluten intolerance to reap the benefits of Gluten-Free Stollen. Even if you’re someone who can safely consume gluten, this bread is worth a try for its nutritional benefits and delightful taste. Truly, our stollen provides an accessible slice of luxury for everyone during the holiday season.
Harness the magic of the holidays and treat yourself and your loved ones with a loaf (or two) of Gluten-Free Stollen. We promise, enjoying this festive delicacy will quickly become one of your most cherished holiday traditions. Bone appétit!
What You’ll Need
- 1 cup Warm Milk (Dairy free if needed)
- 2 1/4 teaspoons Active Dry Yeast
- 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar
- 2 1/2 cups Gluten-Free All Purpose Flour
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Xanthan Gum (leave out if your flour blend contains it)
- 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter, melted and cooled
- 2 Large Eggs, beaten
- 1 tablespoon Pure Vanilla Extract
- Zest of 1 Lemon
- 1/4 teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
- 1/2 cup Diced Candied Citrus Peel
- 1/2 cup Golden Raisins
- 1/4 cup sliced Almonds
- 1 cup Marzipan
- 1/4 cup Powdered Sugar for dusting
Method
Step One
In a small bowl, combine the warm milk and yeast. Stir it until the yeast is dissolved and allow it to rest for 5 minutes to activate.
Step Two
In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugar, gluten-free flour, salt, and xanthan gum. If your blend already contains xanthan gum, you can leave this out. Mix well to combine.
Step Three
Once the yeast has activated, pour it into the dry mixture along with the melted and cooled butter, beaten eggs, vanilla extract, and lemon zest. Stir well to combine, making sure there are no dry spots in the dough.
Step Four
Stir in the ground nutmeg, diced candied citrus peel, golden raisins, and sliced almonds. Mix well to ensure the ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
Step Five
Turn out the dough onto a well-floured surface. Knead it a few times to bring the dough together. Then, roll it out into a large rectangle.
Step Six
Spread the marzipan over the rectangle of dough, leaving a border around the edges. Starting from one of the shorter ends, tightly roll up the dough into a log.
Step Seven
Place the log onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover it with a clean kitchen towel and leave it to rise in a warm spot for about 2 hours, or until it has doubled in size.
Step Eight
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Once the dough has risen, bake the stollen in the oven for 35-40 minutes, or until it is golden brown and cooked through.
Step Nine
After baking, allow the stollen to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes. Then, dust it generously with powdered sugar. Cut into slices and serve. Enjoy your gluten-free stollen!
