Due to popular demand I’ve developed these Gluten Free Stollen Bites which are the perfect mini treat to accompany a mulled wine or add to your festive party table. I have to admit that I have actually eaten a couple of the brands you find on the market, mainly the Aldi or Lidl ones as they don’t have dairy or egg in them so I totally get the need for people to have these back in their lives. But it also means that I can work on developing my recipe to make it as close to the real thing as possible and still be gluten free and vegan.
I’ve yet to work out a way to make the marzipan filling less dense although I do admit to having gotten close. In one of my more experimental moods I tried kneading the marzipan until it softened and then wrapping it in the stollen dough. This work pre-bake but post bake and cool down period and we’re back to a harder lump of marzipan (not a bad thing, I love marzipan anyway you present it to me!)
I have managed to get closer to the softer consistency by breaking down the marzipan into lumps and adding to a bowl, then gently warming it in the microwave and adding some soya milk to loosen it. This does make it impossible to roll into the sausage shape to add to the stollen dough but it can be spooned onto the dough and wrapped to enclose in the same way.
I’ll leave the choice in your hands, the photos in this post are of the written recipe version, therefore the rolled marzipan not gooey marzipan. I would love to hear if you try the more fiddle version and what you think to it…did I get it right? Is it more like the original squishy version – do tell.
Other recipes similar to this Gluten Free Stollen Bites that make the perfect gift idea
There seems to be an increase in homemade gift ideas this year which I for one am thrilled about. I don’t know about you, but I get so disheartened to see all the plastic tat in stores this time of year. Most of it likely to end in landfill. So the idea of making gifts, especially edible ones is a lovely idea.
These Stollen Bites look so pretty presenting in a little box with tissue paper and a bow but what about my Homemade Original Baileys for a gift idea, you can make this recipe and decant it into 4 small drinks jars for a mini tipple.
Another idea is to make my Brandy Chocolate Truffles; again these look so pretty in a little presentation box
- 50 g caster sugar
- 25 g vegetable fat I use Trex
- 25 g butter or dairy free spread I use Pure plus extra for brushing
- 50 g gluten free breadcrumbs
- 75 g mixed fruit I always add an extra table spoon of candied peel
- 40 g ground almonds
- 2 tbsp brandy
- 1 tsp almond extract
- 0.5 tsp cinnamon
- 0.5 tsp clove
- 1 egg or 1 flaxseed egg 1 tbsp flaxseed in 50ml water
- 125 g gluten free self-raising flour
- 125 g marzipan rolled into a long snake shape about 2cm wide
- First, you’ll need to make your breadcrumbs, choose your usual gluten free bread and blend into fine crumbs, add the brandy, extract, egg or flaxseed alternative and fruit, leave to one side.
- In a mixer combine the caster sugar, vegetable fat and butter/dairy free spread until light in colour.
- Add the breadcrumb and fruit mixture and mix thoroughly.
- Change to a dough hook if you have one and now add the ground almonds and flour, the mixture should come together into a sticky but manageable dough.
- At this point you can keep for the dough for later and it will stay fresh in the fridge for a week wrapped in clingfilm/wax wrap
- Roll out your dough into a rectangle to approx. 1/1.5cm thick. To make it more manageable you may wish to divide the dough into two and roll two rectangles.
- Brush liberally with melted and cooled butter or dairy free spread and place your roll of marzipan in the centre.
- Fold the stollen dough over the marzipan like a mini sausage roll and place onto your greased/silicone baking tray.
- Brush again with butter or dairy free spread and pop into a preheated oven on 200°C/180°C fan for 10-12mins, your stollen may brown due to the butter you’ve brushed on the surface so make sure it doesn’t catch.
- Remove from oven and immediately brush with more dairy free spread/butter. Dust liberally with icing sugar, wait 5mins and if the fat starts to bleed through, dust again.
- Allow to cool completely before serving.
I really love to read your comments and feedback and will always comment back. Do drop a line in the comment section if you like my Gluten Free Stollen Bites and don’t forget to rate the recipe too. If you try this recipe, I would love to see your creations, take a picture and do tag me using the hashtag #Glutarama on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to my email list so that you get the recipe straight in your mailbox.
And one last thing! I’ve linked my Gluten Free Stollen Bites with these other awesome Foodies websites, go check them out
Cook Blog Share | Baking Crumbs | Fiesta Friday
disclaimer: I’ve started using affiliate codes on my website again (needs must). If you click on any of the links in the post and make a purchase my family will benefit from a small % of that purchase at no extra cost to you.
I’m Rebecca, full time mum, social media editor and blogger. On my site you will find my free from recipes, reviews and the odd drama.
Love this gluten free festive bake, full of great flavours. Thank you for sharing to #CookBlogShare
Thank you for having me Lesley x
Awesome recipe. I adore stollen and there’s something very cool about bite sized ones!
Only trouble is I’ve convinced myself I can eat more that way hahaha