Stollen Cake Ice Cream Recipe – A Taste Of Germany

Last Updated on December 21, 2024 by Cherie

Discover the magic of German Stollen Cake with a frosty twist! Learn its history, ingredients, and how to make Stollen Cake Ice Cream at home. A perfect treat for Christmas!

A friend of mine fondly remembers Stollen cake from her childhood—a German Christmas classic that’s hard to find in the UK. Inspired by her nostalgia, I decided to recreate this festive dessert with a twist: Stollen Cake Ice Cream! This recipe merges tradition with creativity, offering a fresh take on a beloved holiday treat.

In this article, we will share some information on Stollen Cake, a little history about this festive dessert too and of course, we’ll share recipes for both Homemade Stollen Cake and Homemade Stollen Cake Ice Cream. If you’d like to go straight to the recipes, please click either of the following links, or read along to find out more.

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What is Stollen Cake?

Stollen is a traditional German Christmas bread, packed with dried fruits, nuts, spices, and sometimes marzipan, all dusted with a snowy layer of powdered sugar. Its rich flavours and dense texture make it perfect for festive celebrations.

A Brief History of Stollen Cake

Stollen originated in Dresden in the 14th century. Initially, it was a modest bread due to restrictions on using butter during Advent. In 1490, Pope Innocent VIII allowed butter, transforming Stollen into the rich treat we know today. Dresden celebrates its Stollen heritage with an annual festival, Stollenfest.

What Sweet Foodstuff Would You Find in the Middle of a German Stollen Cake?

At the heart of a traditional Stollen lies marzipan—a sweet almond paste that adds richness and depth.

Other essential ingredients include:

• Dried Fruits (raisins, currants): Offer sweetness and chewiness.
• Nuts (almonds, hazelnuts): Provide crunch and nutty undertones.
• Candied Citrus Peel: Adds zesty brightness.
• Spices (cinnamon, nutmeg): Infuse warm, festive aromas.
• Powdered Sugar: Enhances sweetness and resembles snow.

These flavours translate beautifully into ice cream. The creamy base complements the marzipan and dried fruits, while spices add warmth, creating a frozen dessert that tastes like Christmas.

Homemade Stollen Cake Recipe

Stollen is a unique, yeasted Christmas bread that blends the texture of soft bread with the rich, sweet flavours of cake.

Yeast plays a key role, helping the dough rise and creating its signature light yet dense texture. Much like bread, this dough requires kneading to develop the gluten structure, which helps it rise and hold its shape.

Be patient with the process; the result is a deliciously festive loaf packed with fruits, spices, and that sweet marzipan centre.

Here’s the ingredients you’ll need along with our step-by-step instructions on how to bring it all together.

Ingredients

• 250g plain flour
• 7g dry yeast
• 50g caster sugar
• 100ml warm milk
• 75g unsalted butter, melted
• 1 egg
• 100g mixed dried fruits
• 50g candied citrus peel
• 50g chopped almonds
• 100g marzipan
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• Icing sugar, for dusting

Method

1. Mix yeast, warm milk, and sugar. Let sit until frothy.
2. Combine flour, spices, and yeast mixture. Add butter and egg; knead into a dough.
3. Fold in fruits, peel, and nuts. Rest dough for 1 hour.
4. Shape dough, encasing marzipan in the centre. Rest for 30 minutes.
5. Bake at 180°C for 25–30 minutes. Cool and dust with icing sugar.

Nutritional Information

Stollen Cake (Per Slice, 12 servings)

• Calories: 250 / Protein: 4g / Fat: 9g / Carbs: 38g

Homemade Stollen Cake Ice Cream Recipe

Of course, you can enjoy your Stollen Cake as it is, but we think the flavours work beautifully in an ice cream format. The warm spices, sweet marzipan, and bursts of fruit translate perfectly into a creamy frozen treat.

Below is our homemade Stollen Cake Ice Cream recipe—ideal for blending tradition with a little festive fun. It’s rich, indulgent, and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for the holiday season!

Ingredients

• 500ml double cream
• 250ml whole milk
• 150g caster sugar
• 4 egg yolks
• 100g mixed dried fruits (pre-soaked in rum or orange juice)
• 50g chopped almonds
• 50g candied peel
• 50g grated marzipan
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp nutmeg

Method

1. Heat milk, cream, and sugar until sugar dissolves.
2. Whisk yolks; temper with warm milk mixture. Cook until thickened.
3. Chill the custard, then churn in an ice cream maker.
4. Fold in dried fruits, nuts, peel, and marzipan. Freeze until firm.

Note: If you do not have an ice cream maker, you can still make this ice cream. Pour the mixture into a lidded, freezer-safe container and freeze. Every 30 minutes, remove from the freezer and stir vigorously with a fork or whisk to break up ice crystals. Repeat this process for 2–3 hours until the ice cream is smooth and creamy. For more information and further hints and tips, please head on over to our article – How to Make Homemade Ice Cream Without an Ice Cream Maker

Nutritional Information

Homemade Stollen Cake Ice Cream (Per Serving, 8 servings)

• Calories: 310 / Protein: 5g / Fat: 22g / Carbs: 24g

Serving Ideas

• Warm Stollen Cake and Ice Cream Duo: Serve a slice of freshly baked, warm Stollen Cake alongside a scoop of Stollen Cake Ice Cream. The warmth of the cake and the cold creaminess of the ice cream create a delightful contrast in texture and temperature.
• Christmas Dessert Parfait: Layer the ice cream with crumbled Stollen Cake and whipped cream in a tall glass. Top with maraschino cherries for a festive, elegant dessert.
• Festive Ice Cream Sandwiches: Slice Stollen Cake thinly and sandwich a generous layer of ice cream in between. Chill before serving for a decadent handheld treat.
• Mulled Wine Pairing: Serve the ice cream with a small glass of mulled wine. The warm spices in the wine enhance the flavours of the cinnamon and nutmeg in the ice cream.

Additional Toppings

• Toasted Almonds: Add a textural crunch that complements the soft fruits and creamy texture of the ice cream, while also enhancing the nutty marzipan notes.
• Candied Orange Peel: Brightens the dessert with a pop of citrus sweetness, balancing the richness of the ice cream and evoking traditional Stollen flavours.
• White Chocolate Shavings: Introduce a creamy, subtle sweetness that mirrors the powdered sugar topping of a classic Stollen cake.
• Crumpled Gingerbread Cookies: Provide extra festive spice and crunch, adding layers of flavour and texture to each bite.
• Spiced Caramel Drizzle: A warm caramel sauce infused with cinnamon or nutmeg brings out the ice cream’s spice profile, creating a luscious finishing touch.
• Dried Cranberries: Add a tart contrast to the sweet marzipan and cream, enhancing the balance of flavours.
• Dusting of Icing Sugar: For a simple yet beautiful garnish that mimics the snowy, festive finish of traditional Stollen.

These additions not only bring visual appeal but also balance textures and flavours, elevating the homemade Stollen Cake Ice Cream into a truly impressive holiday dessert.

The Final Scoop

Our Homemade Stollen Cake Ice Cream combines German tradition with frosty creativity, offering a new way to enjoy festive flavours. Have you tried reinventing a holiday classic into a frozen treat? Share your ideas below!

Try this recipe, customise it with your favourite flavours, and share your creation with friends and family for a truly special winter treat.

We hope that you have enjoyed our article – Stollen Cake Ice Cream Recipe – A Taste Of Germany – and we especially hope that we have inspired you to give this recipe a go. If you have any questions, please drop us a comment below and we will be happy to get back to you.

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