Stollen

A German Christmas bread rich with butter, dried fruit, candied peel and nuts, often with a marzipan center, coated in butter and powdered sugar.

Stollen: A loaf of stollen thickly coated in powdered sugar, sliced to show dried fruit and a marzipan center
  • Cakes, cookies, pastries and baked goods
  • Germany

Also called: christstollen, paasstol, stol

Stollen is a dense yeast bread made with raisins soaked in rum, candied citrus peel, almonds and warm spices. The dough is shaped into a folded loaf with a ridge down the middle, and many versions hide a log of marzipan inside. After baking, the hot loaf is brushed generously with melted butter and covered in powdered sugar.

The city of Dresden has made stollen for centuries and holds an annual festival in its honor. Stollen keeps well for weeks when wrapped, and many bakers think its flavor improves after a few days.

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Sources

Written by VanillaGoods in our own words from these sources. Last reviewed October 15, 2026.

  1. Dresdner Christstollen / Dresdner Stollen / Dresdner Weihnachtsstollen PGI, European Commission (Agriculture and Rural Development)