Is fresh Stollen better than Stollen you buy in packages at the store?

Question

I´ve tried Stollen, but it was dry-I bought it at Aldi last year.

Would fresh Stollen be better and moist?

Answer 1

Alwin said everything ...

The Stollen you can buy over here (which is normally produced in Germany) at Aldi, Wegman's, Trader Joes, Super Fresh is normally pretty good and authentic.

Answer 2

Why are you buying stollen by Aldi? The best stollen you get it now at the Christmas Markets. Also you can keep stollen (without opening) until April.

Answer 3

With Aldi, maybe you didn't take the best of all available choices. Usually, Stollen is made to last, and isn't moist from the very beginning. Look out for those with a marchpane (almond paste, "Marzipan") filling: The moisture from the filling will go into the Stollen, and it will get soft and very delicious until christmas. Fresh Stollen usually is very dry on the outside, due to the baking process, and the softness and moist only comes with time. But you have to store it properly. If it's wrapped, leave it in the plastic wrapping and store it in a cool place; if it's not wrapped, use a bread box or, as my German family does, a tin box, and also put it in a cool place (but not in the fridge).

The reason for that is that the sugar contained in the dough gets dried during baking. By putting the Stollen into a metal box, the water vapor contained in the surrounding air will be soaked up by the sugar crystals, making them expand and keep the moisture in. Freshly baked Stollen usually is very dry, and can only be swallowed accompanied by a huge cup of coffee.

For Germans, Stollen is not ready-to-eat food. It's some kind of a ritual. You have to wait three or four weeks until it's ready to eat.

---edit

@Fenris, I think I can help you out as far as the German hot wine ("Glühwein", actually: wine that glows) is concerned. Take a bottle of sweet, heavy Californian red wine, put it into a steel pot, and heat it slowly. Don't let it boil! Add a cinnamon stick (not powdered cinnamon!), and some orange slices. Let it simmer (not boil!) for about half an hour. Remove the cinnamon stick and the orange slices. Sweeten with brown sugar as to your liking (although I think, with California wine, that won't be necessary, whereas with German wine, it definitely is). Enjoy!

Be cautious, however: As it's not boiled, it contains a lot of alcohol, and is definitely not suitable for kids!

Answer 4

Aldi - not worse but best of medium quality.

If you make it yourself --- it will be possibly best --- possibly worst.

Greetings from Hamburg, Germany

Heinz

ps: Now I know, you live in Germany, sorry Breezer, Ich mag den Kram nicht.

Answer 5

Alwin gave you a great answer I can just add to what was said below also you can get real good one at most of the Christmas Markts if you live or are on vacation in Germany over the Christmas season.

I personally miss the hot red wine served under the tent. Its the only time of year I have ever drank wine hot!! It was really good too! I was in Weimar Thuringia for the Christmas Markt there. I have been to three of them and their Zweibal Mark (Onion Market) five times. I love thier festivals and markets!!