Title: Easy Christmas Stollen
Categories: Bread Holiday
Yield: 1 Loaf
| 1/2 | c | Raisins |
| 1/2 | c | Mixed candied fruit, chopped |
| 2 | tb | Brandy |
| 3 | c | To 3 1/2 c all-purpose flour |
| 3/4 | c | Sugar |
| 3/4 | c | Almonds, ground |
| 2 | ts | Baking powder |
| 1/4 | ts | Baking soda |
| 1/2 | ts | Salt |
| 1/2 | ts | Cardamom, ground |
| 1/4 | ts | Nutmeg, ground |
| 1/2 | c | Butter |
| 1 | c | Cottage cheese |
| 2 | | Eggs, slightly beaten |
| 1/2 | ts | Vanilla extract |
| 1/2 | c | Walnuts, chopped |
| 2 | tb | Butter, melted |
| 1 1/2 | c | Powdered sugar |
| 2 | tb | Milk |
| | | Candied cherries |
| | | Whole almonds |
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 degrees F.
for 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.