This is my Mother's famous recipe for Wienacht Stolen and is a family favorite at Christmas time. I make lots of these as gifts for precious friends and family. I want my Mother's recipes to live on and on long after we have gone! Her and Dad passed away and I miss them still so very much and all the fun times we shared as a family. I can't help but think of them when I make this wonderful Christmas bread

1/8 lb. (500g) of plain flour 1 packet of Oetker Baking Powder 4 tsp, of regular baking powder 7 oz. (200g) sugar 1 packet of Oetker Vanilla Sugar 2 tsp. of vanilla flavoring a pinch of salt 4 drops of Oetker baking essence of bitter almond 1 capful of regular almond flavoring 4 drops of Oetker baking essence of lemon 1 capful of regular lemon flavoring 1 bottle of Oetker baking essence of rum 2 tsp. of regular rum flavoring a pinch of ground cardamom a pinch of mace 2 eggs 4, 1/2 oz. (125 g) of unsalted softened butter 2 oz. (55g) of shortening or suet 9oz. or (250g) of ricotta cheese 4 oz. or (115g) dried currants 5 oz. or (140g) blonde raisons 2 oz. or (55g) of citron candied lemon peel 5 oz. or (140g) ground almonds or hazelnuts sifted 10x sugar

(Note: If you have a Kitchen Aid Mixer or other type mixer you can put all the ingredients in the mixer and using your mixing tool blend together on low speed like a bread dough.)

If not:

Mix together 1, 1/8 lb. (500g) of plain flour and I packet of Oetker Baking Powder or(4 tsp, of regular baking powder) and sift unto a pastry board and make a well in the center.

Add 7 oz. (200g) sugar and 1 packet of Oetker Vanilla Sugar or 2 tsp. of vanilla flavoring and a pinch of salt. Add 4 drops of Oetker baking essence of bitter almond or 1 capful of regular almond flavoring, 4 drops of Oetker baking essence of lemon or 1 capful of regular lemon flavoring, 1 bottle of Oetker baking essence of rum or 2 tsp. of regular rum flavoring, a pinch of ground cardamom and a pinch of mace and 2 eggs. Bring some of the flour into the wet ingredients to a heavy paste. Add 4, 1/2 oz. (125 g) of unsalted softened butter, 2 oz. (55g) of shortening or suet, 9oz. or (250g) of ricotta cheese, 4 oz. or (115g) dried currants, 5 oz. or (140g) blonde raisons, 2 oz. or (55g) of citron or candied lemon peel, 5 oz. or (140g) ground almonds or hazelnuts. Work all of these into a dough.

Grease a cookie sheet pan and shape dough into a football shaped loaf and bake at 350 degrees until a tooth pick inserted comes out clean. (about an hour or so)

Then brush loaf with butter and sprinkle with lots of sifted 10x sugar

Wrap the loaf tightly in several layers of foil paper. Wrap again in colorful cellophane wrap to give as a gift

This is absolutely delicious and not at all like the typical stolen made with yeast.

Time consuming but well worth the effort!