Dresdner Stollen

Dresdner stollen is an aromatic German fruit bread that has been closely associated with Christmas. It consists of buttery yeast dough that is spiced and usually studded with candied orange, lemon peel, sultanas, sweet and bitter almonds, and lemon zest. It is formed in large loafs, and when baked, the bread is brushed with butter and generously dusted with powdered sugar. Originally referred to as striezel, it is believed that the first stollen was not as rich as today’s versions, following the tradition of fasting during Advent. In 1490, the Pope Innocent VIII lifted the ban on baking with butter during Advent for Dresden bakers, allowing them to create more elaborate stollen versions. Because of its long history and cultural significance, this German classic has been awarded the Protected Geographical Indication status by the European Commission in 2010, which restricts the production of Dresdner stollen to the state capital Dresden and twelve municipalities in the greater Dresden area.