Delicious Festive Cheesecake Stollen

Festive Cheesecake Stollen is a traditional holiday treat that combines the sweet and creamy richness of cheesecake with the delightful flavor of dried fruits and nuts. This stollen uses a wonderfully textured quark cheese, or a similar curd cheese, to provide a tender crumb. Perfect for the holiday season, it’s flavored with vanilla and citrus zest, and made extra special with a mix of dried fruits that have been soaked in rich orange juice or rum. To create this masterpiece, you’ll also need basic pantry ingredients like flour, sugar, butter, and eggs. The process involves creating a dough that is shaped into the classic stollen form, with a distinct folded shape that signifies its unique character. It's baked until golden and then generously smothered in melted butter and dusted with powdered sugar. This delightful bake is perfect to enjoy with a warm drink, shared with family and friends during festive gatherings. Prepare this stollen, and you'll bring a taste of European holiday baking traditions right to your kitchen. Whether as a gift or a centerpiece for your holiday table, it's sure to impress.

Ingredients

Main Ingredients:

250 g dry, pasty quark cheese
250 g all-purpose flour
100 g butter
2 eggs
150 g sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup dried fruits (soaked in orange juice or rum)
1/2 cup chopped almonds with skin
Zest of one orange or lemon
Vanilla extract

For Brushing:

50 g butter, melted
Powdered sugar

Preparation Time

Total time: Approximately 4 hours

Preparation time: 60 minutes
Chilling and baking time: 3 hours

Step-by-Step Instruction

Prepare Ingredients: Take butter and eggs out of the fridge about an hour before baking to bring them to room temperature. Strain the quark cheese through a sieve for a smooth texture.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk eggs with sugar until smooth, then add the quark cheese and vanilla, mixing until combined.
Incorporate Add-Ins: Add the drained soaked dried fruits, chopped almonds, and citrus zest to the flour mixture, gently tossing to coat them with the flour.
Mix Dough: Pour the egg and cheese mixture over the dry ingredients, add the softened butter, and mix everything well using a spoon until a dough forms.
Chill the Dough: Wrap the dough and place it in the refrigerator for about 2 hours to firm up.
Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).
Shape the Stollen: Place the chilled dough onto a piece of baking paper and shape it into a log. Dampen your hands with water if the dough is sticky, which will make shaping easier.
Create Stollen Shape: Roll the dough log in baking paper and flatten one-third of it slightly thinner than the rest to resemble the traditional stollen shape.
Prepare to Bake: If the dough is too soft, create barriers using foil on each side to prevent spreading. Alternatively, you can use a loaf pan for baking.
Bake the Stollen: Bake for about 50 minutes in the preheated oven. If it starts browning too quickly, cover the stollen loosely with damp baking paper or aluminum foil.
Finish the Stollen: Once a toothpick inserted comes out clean, remove the stollen from the oven and brush immediately with melted butter and dust with powdered sugar.
Cover and Cool: Let the stollen cool completely on a wire rack, then wrap it in foil to maintain freshness.

Tips

Substitutions: If quark cheese is unavailable, use cream cheese or ricotta as a substitute.
Dried Fruit Note: Opt for a mixture of raisins, currants, and cranberries for variety.

Nutritions

Calories: Approximately 290 per serving
Protein: 6 g
Fat: 15 g
Carbs: 35 g

Variations

Nut-Free: Skip almonds for a nut-free version or replace with sunflower seeds.
Gluten-Free: Use a gluten-free flour blend to accommodate gluten sensitivities.

Serving Suggestions

Pair With: Serve slices with a hot cup of coffee or tea.
Garnish: Decorate with slivers of candied orange peel for an extra festive touch.

Best Places to Enjoy Similar Delicacies

Café Sacher Wien - Famous for its traditional Viennese pastries. Location: Philharmoniker Str. 4, Vienna, Austria.
Hofbräuhaus München - Iconic for its Bavarian sweets and brews. Location: Platzl 9, Munich, Germany.
Berthillon - Renowned for artisanal confectioneries. Location: 31 Rue Saint-Louis en l'Île, Paris, France.
Café Demel - Historic patisserie with a legacy in fine baking. Location: Kohlmarkt 14, Vienna, Austria.
Princi Bakery - Known for delicious pastries and cafes. Location: Via Speronari, 6, Milan, Italy.
Konditorei Zauner - Celebrated for its traditional Austrian sweets. Location: Pfarrgasse 7, Bad Ischl, Austria.
Bettys Cafe Tea Rooms - Offers traditional bakes and teas. Location: 1 Parliament St, Harrogate, UK.
Schwarzwaldstube - Offers exquisite culinary sweets. Location: Tonbachstraße 237, Baiersbronn, Germany.
De Kaaskamer - Features delicious Dutch cheesecakes. Location: Runstraat 7, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Pasticceria Marchesi - Known for its luxurious Christmas treats. Location: Via Montenapoleone, 9, Milan, Italy.