Schnitzbrot (German Christmas Bread)

The ingredients in this moist, dense German Christmas yeast bread recipe (Schnitzbrot) are prune juice, prunes, raisins, walnuts, and brown sugar.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 40 mins
• Total Time: 2 hr 10 mins
• Calories: 400 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 1 (9 ounce) package condensed mincemeat
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 cup walnuts, chopped
• 2 (.25 ounce) envelopes active dry yeast
• 2 cups prunes, pitted and chopped
• 1 cup black raisins
• 0.5 cup butter, softened
• 1.5 cups prune juice

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).

Step 2

Lightly grease three 9x5-inch loaf pans; grease a large bowl. Set aside.

Step 3

Dissolve yeast in water in a separate large bowl; set aside until mixture becomes creamy, about 15 minutes. Stir in sugar until combined, then stir in 3 cups flour until well combined.

Step 4

Meanwhile, combine prune juice and mincemeat in a medium saucepan over medium heat; bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, about 1 minute. Off heat, stir in prunes, raisins, walnuts, brown sugar, ½ cup butter, and salt.

Step 5

Add mincemeat mixture to yeast mixture; gradually stir in remaining 7 cups flour, 1 cup at a time, until well blended and a moist dough forms (you may not need all of the flour).

Step 6

Turn out dough onto a floured work surface; knead into a ball. Transfer dough to the greased bowl, cover with a cloth, and set aside in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 ½ hours.

Step 7

Punch down dough; turn out onto a floured work surface, lightly knead, and return to the bowl. Set aside to rise again, about 1 hour.

Step 8

Punch down dough; turn out onto a floured work surface and divide into 3 loaves. Place each loaf into a prepared pan; lightly brush each top with 1 teaspoon butter.

Step 9

Cover pans with a clean cloth; set aside to rise until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.

Step 10

Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour. Reduce the oven temperature to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C); continue baking until a toothpick inserted into centers comes out mostly clean, about 30 minutes more. Cool slightly, remove from pans, and cool on wire racks.