Christmas Loaf
Instructions:
- Dough:
- 4 1/3 cups flour
- 1 to 1 1/2 cups milk
- 2.5 ozs. yeast
- 1 cup plus 2 tbsp. margarine or butter
- 3/4 cup sugar or honey
- 1 tsp. salt
- Flavoring:
- 1/2 cup candied lemon peel
- 1/2 cup chopped almonds
- 1 lemon, grated for rind
- 1/4 cup rum
- 1 3/4 cups raisins
- Topping:
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- 1/2 cup Confectioner\'s sugar
- Make a soft, pliable yeast dough from ingredients listed in the first section and let stand in bowl for 10 minutes.
- Knead the spices, except the raisins, into the dough.
- When all other ingredients are equally distributed, add the raisins.
- Roll into an oval and place on a greased baking sheet. Let rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Still on baking sheet, wrap dough well in aluminium foil and store in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight.
- Remove from refrigerator and take off foil.
- Sprinkle flour around the loaf to prevent the dough from spreading.
- Place loaf in a pre−heated 350−400° oven and bake 50−60 minutes, till pale gold in color.
- Remove from oven. Brush with melted butter and dust with Confectioner\'s sugar.
- Repeat until butter and sugar are used up.
- Stollen should have a thick, white layer.