Cheese Christmas Stollen
Festive Cheese Christmas Stollen combines rich cottage cheese, dried fruits, and nuts in a tender, biscuit-like dough, perfect for holiday celebrations and gifting.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour ⓘ
- 2 teaspoons baking powder ⓘ
- 1/2 teaspoon salt ⓘ
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda ⓘ
- 3/4 cup rolled oats ⓘ
- 1/2 cup butter or margarine ⓘ
- 1/2 cup sugar ⓘ
- 1 tablespoon grated lemon peel ⓘ
- 1 egg ⓘ
- 2 egg yolks ⓘ
- 1 1/2 cups small curd creamed cottage cheese ⓘ
- 1/3 cup chopped nuts ⓘ
- 1/2 cup gold raisins ⓘ
Instructions
- Sift together 2 cups of flour, baking powder, salt, and soda.
- Stir in rolled oats.
- Beat butter and sugar until creamy, then add grated lemon peel.
- Add egg, egg yolks, cottage cheese, and the remaining 1/2 cup of flour; mix until combined.
- Stir in raisins, candied fruit, and chopped nuts.
- Dough will be stiff and biscuit-like.
- Divide dough in half.
- Turn each half out onto a lightly floured board and press into an oval shape about 1/2 inch thick.
- Fold each oval in half lengthwise to form a loaf shape.
- Lift the shaped dough onto lightly greased cookie sheets.
- Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 35 to 40 minutes.
- Cool on a rack and decorate with frosting and candied cherries.
Tips & Substitutions
For a richer flavor, consider using unsalted butter and adding a pinch of nutmeg or cinnamon to the dry ingredients. If you can't find small curd cottage cheese, you can blend regular cottage cheese until smooth. To enhance the texture, toast the chopped nuts before adding them to the dough. If you prefer a sweeter stollen, increase the sugar by a few tablespoons.
Serving Suggestions
Serve slices of the cheese stollen with a side of whipped cream or a light fruit compote for a delightful contrast. It pairs beautifully with Coffee El Greco for a cozy holiday treat. You can also enjoy it with festive cheeses or as part of a brunch spread with other vegetarian recipes.
Storage & Reheating
Store the cooled stollen in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. For longer storage, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for up to three months. To reheat, slice and warm each piece in a toaster or a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for about 10 minutes.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Cheese Christmas Stollen contains roughly 633 calories, with 24g protein, 46g carbohydrates, and 41g fat. It is an excellent source of iron (71% of the Daily Value), vitamin A (54% of the Daily Value), and protein (47% of the Daily Value), and a good source of dietary fiber. Note that it is relatively high in sodium, at 845mg per serving (37% of the Daily Value).
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different type of cheese in this recipe?
Yes, you can substitute the cottage cheese with ricotta or farmer's cheese for a different taste and texture. Just ensure the cheese is well-drained to avoid excess moisture in the dough.
What can I use instead of gold raisins?
If you don't have gold raisins, you can substitute with regular raisins, dried cranberries, or chopped dried apricots. Each will add a unique flavor and sweetness to your stollen.
Can I make this recipe ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can prepare the dough a day in advance and refrigerate it. Just let it come to room temperature before shaping and baking. The stollen also tastes great after a day or two, as the flavors meld together.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).