James's Xmas Stollen

Ingredients

Fruit

• 1/2 pound raisins
• Spiced rum like Captain Morgan

Dough

• 1 cup whole milk
• 2 tsp instant dry yeast
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 625g all purpose flour (500g)
• 1 large egg
• 2 large egg yokes
• 1 cup melted unsalted butter
• 1.5 tbsp vanilla bean paste
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tsp ground cardamom
• 1 cup sliced almonds
• 2 tsp ground mace
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 8 oz homemade Marzipan
• zest from two oranges
• zest from two lemons

Glaze (optional)

1 stick unsalted butter 1 cup granulated sugar

Instructions

The night before

1. Place the raisins into a bowl or jar and cover with rum, stir to coat. Soak overnight in the refrigerator.

When Ready

1. Drain the raisins
2. Make the marzipan
3. Make sure all ingredients are at room temp or slightly warm
4. Put all the dough ingredients into your stand mixer, liquids first
5. Mix throughly (5-7 min)
6. place mixing bowl on proofing hot pan and cover
7. let rise for 2 to 2.5 hours (should double)
8. divide marzipan into 2 and flaten each piece out into a long rectangle. It help if you oil your hands with a bit of vegetable oil to prevent sticking
9. take it out of the bowl, divide in half, form each into a large rectangle, place the flattened marzipan on one side or the other making sure that its not quite as large as the dough (you dont want any of it exposed to the oven).
10. fold the other side of the dough rectangle over the top of the marzipan covered dough, so the marzipan is completely covered like a sandwich
11. pinch and pat all the edges and seams closed and generally shape into a nice loaf
12. place on your baking sheet and put it back on the hot pad and cover
13. let it rise for another 30-45 minutes, dont forget to preheat the oven 1/2 way through
14. bake at 350 for about 45 min, until golden brown
15. If adding the glaze, pour the melted butter over the cooled stollen and then generously sprinkle with granulated sugar. Let sit until solidified.M