*  Exported from  MasterCook  *

                Christmas Stollen (Quick-Bread Variety)

Recipe By     :
Serving Size  : 1    Preparation Time :0:00
Categories    : Holiday                          Breads
               Cakes

 Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
  2 1/2   C            Flour (all-purpose)
  2       Ts           Baking powder
    3/4   C            Sugar
    1/2   Ts           Salt
    1/2   Ts           Mace
  8                    Cardomon seed pods, seeds -- Removed And Crushed
    3/4   C            Almonds, blanched, ground
    1/2   C            Butter, soft
  1       C            Cream cheese, softened
  1       Lg           Egg
    1/2   Ts           Vanilla extract
    1/2   Ts           Almond extract
  2       Tb           Brandy
    1/2   C            Currants
    1/2   C            Golden raisins
    1/3   C            Candied lemon peel, chopped
    1/4   C            Butter, melted
    1/4   C            Sugar, powdered

 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Sift together the flour, baking powder,
 sugar, salt, mace, and crushed cardamon seeds. Stir in the ground almonds.
 Cut in the soft butter until the mixture looks something like coarse sand.
 In a blender, cream the egg with the cream cheese, vanilla, almond extract,
 and brandy.  Pour it into a bowl and stir in the dried fruit. Gradually
 stir in the flour mixture until everything is is well blended. Work the
 dough into a ball and turn it out on a lightly floured board. Knead it for
 a few minutes until it is smooth, then place it in the refrigerator for at
 least 15 minutes.  (You can store the dough in the refrigerator for several
 days, then take it out to bake when ever you like.) Shape the dough into a
 flat, oval loaf, about 10 inches long and eight inches wide. With the blunt
 edge of a knife, crease the loaf about 1/2 inch off center, down the length
 of it.  Fold the smaller side of the creased loaf over the wider side.
 Brush the top of the folded loaf with the melted butter. Place the stollen
 loaf on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for about 45 minutes, until it
 starts to turn brown on the outside.  Remove and allow to cool a little
 bit.  Dust lightly with powdered (i.e., confectioner's) sugar.



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