What is Christmas Stollen and where did it come from?

A look at the history of Stollen and exactly what it is!

Have you ever seen Stollen popping up around Christmas time and wondered what it is and where it came from? Or maybe you’ve watched The Great British Bake Off Holiday episodes and remember a round where the bakers had to make a Stollen wreath, but didn’t really pay much attention to what it is. Luckily, we have the answers for you.

When it comes to the holidays, there are quite a few breads and cakes that pop up every year. From fruit and nut studded breads, to those unique candied mix-ins, there are certain items seem to be synonymous with this time of year. And one of those breads happens to be Stollen, a Christmas bread from Germany with a rich history and a dense, richness that is both sweet and satisfying.

At its core, Stollen is simply a sweet bread made with Marzipan (almond paste), that is stuffed with dried fruits, nuts, candied citrus peel, and then coated in powdered sugar. First made in the 1500s in Dresden, Germany, this sweet loaf is all about tradition. And according to the National Post, “in Germany, the recipe and ratio of ingredients is considered an important matter of tradition.”

Christmas Stollen is about tradition, as much as it is about enjoying a sweet treat

If you have ever considered baking Stollen at home, it is actually a relatively easy recipe, but it is all about the waiting time. In fact, a good recipe might require up a three week resting period with this particular holiday bread. Of course, there is nothing wrong with only letting your bread sit overnight as well.

And even if you don’t want to bake it fresh at home (it does require close to 12 hours to make a traditional version of this sweet bread), there are plenty of places that sell this holiday bread. In fact, I have seen Stollen loaves and bites in stores such as World Market, Publix, Kroger, and even Walmart. Basically, if you want to try this bread without baking it yourself, have no fear as it is definitely out there.

When it comes to enjoying Stollen, there is something about slicing a piece and just eating it straight from the loaf. It is also a nice treat when toasted and buttered. However, that’s not the only way to enjoy fresh baked Stollen, as this Christmas bread can even be used in a special breakfast bake at the holidays. (For a breakfast bake, it is all about cubing a sweet bread and then mixing it in a french toast batter before baking it up.)

Whether you are looking for more information on the different holiday breads and treats, or you’re looking for straight holiday foodie news, we have you covered. Check out the rest of our holiday coverage here.