Try something new this Christmas - and do good at the same time.

German Stollen (pronounced "SHTOH-len") is a traditional Christmas bread that's been beloved in Germany for over 600 years. It's a festive fruit bread studded with candied citrus peel, almonds, and raisins, all wrapped in a tender, buttery dough and dusted with powdered sugar. The distinctive folded shape represents the swaddled baby Jesus, with the white sugar coating symbolizing the blanket.

No, though both are festive holiday breads! While Italian Panettone is light and airy like a dome-shaped cake, German Stollen is denser and more bread-like, with a richer, more compact texture. Stollen has a distinctive folded shape (like a blanket) and is generously coated with butter and powdered sugar, giving it incredible moisture and a longer shelf life. The flavor profiles are also quite different—Stollen features the warmth of traditional German spices and candied citrus, while Panettone is typically lighter and fluffier.

Stollen has a fascinating 600-year history! It originated in Dresden, Germany, around 1400 as an Advent bread. Originally, it was rather bland—just flour, water, yeast, and oil—because Catholic fasting rules during Advent forbade the use of butter. In 1450, two Saxon nobles petitioned the Pope to lift the butter ban. After five popes and 40 years, Pope Innocent VIII finally sent the famous "Butter Letter" in 1491, allowing bakers to use butter (in exchange for a fine that funded cathedral construction!). This transformed Stollen into the rich, delicious bread we know today, making it the "food of kings."

Our Stollen stays true to Grandma's recipe with a few thoughtful adaptations for Singapore. We've removed the lard and the alcohol - the raisins were soaked in rum in the original recipe - to make it more accessible. We've also added snow powder to make it slightly less sweet, as preferred by Singaporean palates. Everything else that makes authentic Stollen special has been preserved: the right German flour, original candied lemons, organic flavourful lemon peel, highest-quality raisins and traditional spices. The result is a Stollen that honors centuries of tradition while being perfect for our Lion City.

Stollen actually improves with age! Store it wrapped in its packaging in a fridge or in a cool place at lower than 18°C. The high butter and sugar content keeps it moist for weeks.

Slice your Stollen into pieces about 1-1.5cm thick. It's traditionally enjoyed with coffee or tea, but also pairs beautifully with champagne. Some people love it toasted with butter for breakfast. There's no wrong way to enjoy it!

Stollen Stories is proudly organized by Lions Club of Singapore Clarke Quay and supported by wonderful official partners: ASPARAGUS 421 crafted by JohnSee, Bosch UnserHaus Experience Center, California Raisins, German Marketplace, LaGourmet, and Park Bäckerei Singapore.

And our beneficiary Lions Prostheses Centre who provide prosthetic limbs and rehabilitation.

When you order our limited-edition Stollen, you're not just buying a Christmas bread—you're participating in a tradition of giving, connecting German heritage with Singapore's multicultural spirit during SG60, and helping someone regain their mobility through the Lions Prostheses Centre. That's your Stollen Story: tradition meets purpose, and every slice makes a difference.