Keto Stollen Christmas Cake

Step 1The day before you want to make the cake, make the Sugar-Free Dried Cranberries and then soak them in the rum. Add the rum and gently heat it until just boiling. Spoon into a container and cover and leave to soak overnight until all the cranberry raisins are plump and most of the rum has been absorbed.

Step 2Turn the light on in the oven (only the light). The temperature should be about 40 °C/ 100 °F, but no more than 45 °C/ 110 °F. If you don't have this option on your oven, preheat the oven to the lowest setting (mine is 50 °C/ 120 °F).

Step 3Pour warm almond into a bowl. Add yacon syrup (or honey) and stir until fully dissolved. (Don't panic, no sugar will be left after the fermentation of yeast!) Crumble fresh yeast into the bowl (or sprinkle in 1 ¹/₂ tbsp/ 15 g of dry active yeast). Open the oven for about 30 seconds to cool down slightly before placing the yeast inside and close the door. The light will be enough to keep the bowl warm. Allow to proof for 10 minutes. When ready, the yeast will be frothy and will grow in volume. Once the yeast has proofed (it will become foamy), remove the bowl from the warm oven. Keep the light in the oven on.

Step 4Place all of the remaining dry ingredients in another bowl. Sift in almond flour and coconut flour, add whey (or egg white) protein powder, psyllium powder, Erythritol (or Allulose), xanthan gum, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Mix to combine or use a hand mixer to process well. (Instead of cream of tartar, you can use the same amount of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar and add it to the eggs before mixing with the dry ingredients).

Step 5Melt the butter. Place all of the egg whites and 1 egg yolk in a bowl. You'll need the remaining egg yolk to brush on top of the bread. Add the egg whites and egg yolk into the bowl with the proofed yeast together with the melted butter.

Step 6Use a hand mixer or a stand mixer and process until well combined. Add the dried mixture, about ¹/₂ cup at a time and process well. Gradually add more until you use all of it.

Step 7Fold in the fine lemon zest and soaked cranberries (excluding any leftover rum).

Step 8Transfer the dough into a tray lined with parchment paper and form into a loaf, about 28 x 15 cm (11 x 6 inch). Place in the oven and let it proof with the oven light on for 60 minutes.

Step 9Once the dough has proofed, remove from the oven. Preheat the oven to 160 °C/ 320 °F (fan assisted), or 180 °C/ 355 °F (conventional). The dough will be spread out and flatter. Use one side of the parchment paper and fold it lengthwise. Gently brush the reserved egg yolk mixed with a teaspoon of water on top of the bread without pressing too much (do not deflate the bread).

Step 10Bake for 10 minutes and then loosely cover the bread with aluminum foil and bake for 50 to 60 minutes. (The cake will brown faster if you use Allulose so you may need to keep it on the whole time.)

Step 11Remove from the oven. Once completely cool.

Step 12Optionally, dust with more powdered low-carb sweetener. This step is optional as it makes the cake quite sweet.

Step 13Slice and serve with butter on top. Store at room temperature loosely covered with kitchen towel for up to 3 days. To store for longer, freeze in batches of 2 to 4 slices for up to 3 months.