Christmas Cottage Cheese Stollen Recipe – A Festive Delight for Two

Celebrate the holiday season with this traditional Christmas Stollen, enriched with cottage cheese, a variety of dried fruits and nuts, all dipped in rum for a deep and flavorful experience. This classic German bread is a holiday staple, perfect for sharing and gifting.

Why you will love this recipe: This Stollen recipe brings the warmth and joy of Christmas baking into your home. It's packed with fruity, nutty flavors enhanced by citrus zest and a rum infusion, delivering a rich, satisfying taste that pairs wonderfully with a cup of coffee or tea.

Perfect occasion: Ideal for Christmas celebrations, as a special gift during Advent or as a thoughtful homemade gift for friends and family. It's also a delicious addition to any holiday brunch or evening dessert table.

Decorating Tips: For a traditional look, generously sprinkle the Stollen with powdered sugar to imitate a snowy appearance. You can also decorate your serving dish with holly leaves or cinnamon sticks for a festive presentation.

Ingredients:

• 5 oz (135 g) 5-9% fat cottage cheese
• 5 oz (135g) 82% butter, room temperature
• 2 large eggs
• The zest of a lemon
• The zest of an orange
• 1/3 cup (80 g) sugar
• 1 tablespoon (20g) vanilla sugar
• 1.5 teaspoons (7 g) baking powder
• 2 2/3 cups (335 g) all-purpose flour
• 3.5 oz (100 g) dried blueberries, apricots and cranberries
• 1.75 oz (50 g) walnuts, chopped
• 5 ounces (150 ml) rum
• 100g additional butter for brushing
• Powdered sugar for sprinkling

Instructions:

1. Prepare the dried fruits:
   • Rinse the dried fruits, then soak them in boiling water for a few minutes. Drain, rinse with cold water and soak in the rum overnight. Drain the rum before use.

2. Prepare the dough:
   • Cream the softened butter with the lemon and orange zest and both sugars until light and fluffy. Add eggs and cottage cheese.
   • Sift the flour and baking powder. Stir to combine.
   • Add the soaked dried fruits and chopped nuts to the batter.
3. Shape and cook:
   • Divide the dough into two parts. On a floured surface, shape each part into an oblong loaf, imitating the traditional shape of Stollen.
   • Place the loaves on a baking sheet and bake in a preheated 356°F (180°C) oven for about 40 minutes or until golden brown.
4. Complete the steal:
   • Remove from the oven, immediately brush with melted butter and sprinkle generously with powdered sugar while still hot.

5. Portion:
   • Let the Stollen cool completely before slicing. Store in an airtight container to let the flavors blend, ideally for a few days.

Enjoy your homemade Christmas Cottage Cheese Stollen, a deliciously festive bread that captures the spirit of the season!