INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

GARNISH
Place the candied fruit and raisins in a small bowl, cover them with the
brandy, and set aside for 1 hour to 12 hours, preferably overnight. Line a
baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
Place 1/2 cup of the milk and 1 tablespoon of the flour in the bowl of a
food processor fitted with the metal blade. Sprinkle the yeast over the
liquid. Cover the machine and process for 5 seconds to blend. Add the
remaining flour, sugar, salt and spices to the food processor. Pulse 3 to 4
times to incorporate the yeast mixture. Beat the eggs in a small metal bowl
until blended. Drain the candied fruit and raisins, saving the brandy and
adding it to the eggs, and setting the fruit aside. Add the remaining milk
and 1/2 cup of the melted butter to the beaten eggs.
Using an instant read thermometer, adjust the temperature of the egg
mixture so that the combined temperatures of the flour and the eggs give a
base temperature of 130 degrees if using a Cuisinart or KitchenAid, or 150
degrees if using a Braun. To warm the egg mixture, place the bowl in
another bowl with hot tap water and stir for 3 to 4 minutes or until the
desired temperature is reached. If the egg mixture is too warm, cool it by
placing the metal bowl over ice water and stirring for 2 to 3 minutes, or
until the egg mixture reaches the correct temperature.
With the processor running, add the egg mixture. Process for 15 seconds.
Stop the machine and scrape the sides of the bowl. If the dough sticks to
the bottom of the bowl and the processor has trouble starting, remove the
dough form the processor. Return half of it to the bowl, spreading it out
evenly. Process in two batches, each for another 30 seconds. The dough will
be soft, but will not cling to the sides of the processor bowl.
Stop the machine and take the temperature of the dough with an instant read
thermometer, which should read between 75 and 80 degrees. If the
temperature is lower than 75 degrees, process the dough for an additional 5
seconds, up to twice more, until the dough reaches the desired temperature.
If the temperature is higher than 80 degrees, remove the thermometer,
scrape the dough from the food processor into an ungreased bowl, and
refrigerate for 5 to 10 minutes. Check the temperature of the dough after 5
minutes; the dough should be 80 degrees or cooler by that time.
Scrape the dough from the processor onto a lightly floured work surface.
Press the dough out into a 12-inch square 2 inches thick. Sprinkle the
surface with half of the drained candied fruit and raisins and roll it into
a log shape. Fold it in half and knead it for about 2 minutes to
incorporate the dried fruit. If the dough feels too firm to knead, cover it
with a towel and let it rest for 10 minutes. Flatten it and sprinkle it
with the remaining half of the dried fruits. Roll the dough and knead it
again for 2 minutes, or just enough to distribute the fruit throughout.
Form the dough into a ball, place it in an ungreased bowl, and cover with
plastic wrap. Allow it to ferment for 1 1/2 to 2 hours at room temperature,
70 to 72 degrees. It will have doubled in volume.
Scrape the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and divide it into 2
equal pieces. To form the stollen, flatten each piece into an oval about 10
inches long, 8 inches wide, and 1-inch thick. Roll half of the marzipan
into a smooth log about the length of the flattened dough and lay it down
the center. Fold the dough over and press the edges with your fingertips to
seal.
Repeat with the remaining dough and marzipan. Transfer the loaves to the
prepared baking sheet, spaced 4 inches apart so that they don't stick
together when baking. Brush the stollen with part of the remaining melted
butter.
Cover with a sheet of plastic wrap and allow the loaves to proof at room
temperature until the dough has increased by half its size. This may take 1
to 1 1/2 hours, depending on the temperature in your kitchen. When the
dough is ready to bake, it will be puffed but still spring back slowly when
pressed with a finger.
One hour before baking, adjust the oven rack so that it is on the second
shelf from the bottom of the oven. Place the baking stone in
continued in part 2

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