German Stollen-Inspired Bread

Ingredients

• 2 cups dried fruit, (use a combination of raisins, currants, and cranberries)
• 1/3 cup butter, (room temperature)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, (firmly packed)
• 1/2 cup rum combined with 1/2 cup boiling water
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon orange zest
• 2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 2 large eggs, (whisked)
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds
• 2 tablespoons confectioner's sugar

Instructions

1. 1

   Place the dried fruit into a large mixing bowl. Add the butter, salt, baking soda, and brown sugar.

2. 2

   Pour the rum and water mixture over the ingredients and stir to combine. Set aside to cool.

3. 3

   Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and prepare a loaf pan by spraying it lightly with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.

4. 4

   Once the dried fruit has cooled, add the vanilla extract, orange zest, and lemon zest. Stir to combine.

5. 5

   Add the flour, baking powder, nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamom, and beaten eggs to the fruit mixture.

6. 6

   Using a spatula, fold the dry ingredients into the date mixture.

7. 7

   Next, fold in the slivered almonds.

8. 8

   Transfer the batter to the loaf pan.

9. 9

   Bake for 35 minutes. Test to see if the loaf is baked by inserting a toothpick into the loaf. If it comes out clean, the loaf is ready. If not, bake for another 5 minutes and test with a toothpick once again.

10. 10

    Allow the loaf to cool in the loaf pan for 10 minutes. Remove the loaf from the pan and sit on a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

11. 11

    Once fully cooled, dust with confectioner's sugar.