Everyone knows the Brothers Grimm, but there’s another pair of German brothers to thank for the origins of stollen, the rich, fruit-laden bread that’s become a holiday tradition. In medieval Germany, the Advent season was marked by fasting, and bakers were forbidden by the church to use butter–only oil was allowed. But in 15th-century Saxony, oil was scarce, expensive, and (if food historians I’ve researched are accurate) made from turnips (!) So, Prince Elector Ernst and his brother Duke Albrecht, petitioned the Pope in Rome for permission to use butter instead of oil in their Advent bread.
Their request was denied. Repeatedly. It took five popes and nearly 40 years before Pope Innocent VIII finally issued the famous “Butter Letter,” granting Saxon royals the right to use butter in their holiday bread. (The general public could only do too–but only if they paid a fee.)
Centuries later, stollen remains a beloved holiday treat in Germany and beyond. The Saxon brothers would be pleased to see today’s recipes loaded with butter, dried fruit and even bits of marzipan. Our version makes four small, or three medium, loaves–perfect for your holiday table with enough to share. Continue Reading…
