Stollen - cooking recipe

Ingredients

12 to 14 c. flour
3 c. milk
1 1/2 lb. butter
1 1/2 c. sugar
6 eggs
4 Tbsp. dry yeast
3 tsp. cardamon (optional
grated peel from 3 lemons
2 c. each dark and white raisins
1 c. dried currants (optional)
3 c. shredded nuts (walnuts or pecans)
1 c. chopped almonds

Preparation

Melt butter in large saucepan, add milk, eggs and sugar.
Mix well.
Transfer to a large bowl.
In 1/2 cup lukewarm water with 1 teaspoon sugar, dissolve yeast and wait 3 to 5 minutes until it bubbles.
Add 4 cups of flour and the yeast mixture to butter mixture.
Mix well.
Add remaining flour, cardamon and lemon peel. Beat vigorously for 10 to 15 minutes until very smooth and elastic.
Add nuts, raisins and currants, knead them into stollen while in bowl.
Cover and let rise until double, 2 to 4 hours. After rising, punch down.