Bremer Klaben Recipe

Ingredients

• 500g (4 cups) all-purpose flour 500g (4 cups) all-purpose flour
• 10g (2 tsp) active dry yeast 10g (2 tsp) active dry yeast
• 200ml (3/4 cup) warm milk 200ml (3/4 cup) warm milk
• 100g (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened 100g (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
• 100g (1/2 cup) granulated sugar 100g (1/2 cup) granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp ground cardamom 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
• 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp salt
• 50ml (1/4 cup) rum 50ml (1/4 cup) rum
• 150g (1 cup) mixed dried fruits (raisins, currants, candied orange peel) 150g (1 cup) mixed dried fruits (raisins, currants, candied orange peel)
• 50g (1/4 cup) slivered almonds, for topping 50g (1/4 cup) slivered almonds, for topping
• Powdered sugar, for dusting Powdered sugar, for dusting

Nutrition

• Calories (kcal / KJ): 350 kcal / 1465 KJ
• Fat: 12g (6g saturated)
• Carbohydrates: 53g (25g sugars)
• Protein: 7g
• Fiber: 3g
• Salt: 0.3g

Preparation

1. 1.
   In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm milk and let it sit for 5 minutes until frothy.
2. 2.
   In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, softened butter, sugar, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, salt, and rum. Mix well.
3. 3.
   Gradually add the yeast mixture to the flour mixture and knead until a smooth dough forms.
4. 4.
   Fold in the dried fruits and knead for an additional 5 minutes until the fruits are evenly distributed.
5. 5.
   Cover the dough with a clean kitchen towel and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
6. 6.
   Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and line a loaf pan with parchment paper.
7. 7.
   Transfer the dough to the prepared pan and sprinkle the slivered almonds on top.
8. 8.
   Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
9. 9.
   Remove from the oven and let it cool completely on a wire rack.
10. 10.
    Once cooled, dust the Bremer Klaben with powdered sugar before serving.

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Dried fruits — Soak the dried fruits in warm water or rum for 15 minutes before adding them to the dough. This will help them plump up and become more tender in the final bread.

Tips & Tricks

• For a more pronounced citrus flavor, add a teaspoon of grated orange zest to the dough.
• If you prefer a darker crust, brush the top of the bread with an egg wash before baking.
• Bremer Klaben tastes even better the next day, so consider making it in advance and letting it rest overnight before serving.
• Feel free to customize the dried fruits to your liking, adding cranberries, chopped dates, or even dried cherries.
• Serve the Bremer Klaben sliced and spread with a generous amount of butter for an extra indulgent treat.

Serving advice

Serve the sliced Bremer Klaben as a delightful addition to your Christmas breakfast or brunch. It pairs perfectly with a cup of hot tea or coffee.

Presentation advice

To enhance the presentation, dust the top of the Bremer Klaben with an extra sprinkle of powdered sugar just before serving. You can also wrap it in a festive cloth or parchment paper, tied with a ribbon, for a charming homemade gift.