700m-long super-sized Stollen cake draws big crowd

Dubai - 15 chefs hand-baked 1,660 individual loaves for this year's 10th Annual Stollen Charity Cake Sale held to raise funds for Dubai Centre for Special Needs.

What measures 700m in length and comprises of 1,660 individual components? Nope, it's not Dubai's latest super yacht; it's every sweet-toothed person's dream - a super-sized Stollen cake.
On Saturday, the main galleria of Mall of the Emirates transformed into a fruitcake festival as hordes of tables were laid out to support the gigantic icing sugar covered fruit bread.
15 chefs from the Kempinski Hotel hand baked 1,660 individual loaves - measuring 60 centimetres each, with a combined length of 700m - for this year's 10th Annual Stollen Charity Cake Sale held to raise funds for Dubai Centre for Special Needs.
With this year's bake dwarfing last year's impressive 650m long Stollen, volunteers from the Centre treated busy shoppers to the sweet bread, handing out samples in a bid to lure them into buying more.
Video by Neeraj Murali / Khaleej Times
Selling a full loaf for Dhs100, a half loaf for Dhs50 or slice for Dhs5, the volunteers were determined to smash last year's sales of Dh54,000 - but as yet, the total money donated is unknown.
Speaking to Khaleej Times, a representative from the Kempinski Hotel said every year they aim to beat the previous year's record.
"Usually we only increase the length by a few metres but this year we went the extra mile - or extra 50m - as it's the 10th anniversary."
Dressed in a bright red chefs apron and hat, 14-year-old Afghanistan-born Habibullah Sherzay, was one of the volunteers on the day. A student at the centre for just over a year, Sherzay was dishing out the tasty treats to passers-by, including Khaleej Times' reporter.
"I enjoy doing this. It is my first time and it makes me happy," he said.
Sherzay's father said he moved his family to Dubai to get his son the specialised education he needs, and since joining the centre he has come on "leaps and bounds".
And when asked if he'd like to be a baker when he's older, Sherzay gave a resounding "yes".
Another volunteer on the day was 22-year-old Fatima Al Hadida. Taking lots of selfies with passers-by, a smiling Al Hadida said she loved volunteering for the Centre.
"This is fun. I enjoy it a lot. The cake is tasty too."
The total sum raised from Saturday's charity sale will be revealed in the next few days, with all proceeds going to the Centre.
Have a look at  'stollen' ingredients
2394 eggs, 300kg raisins, 125kg flour, 10kg sugar, 30kg butter, 10kg yeast, 5kg spices, 1.5kg vanilla essence, 6kg lemon and orange candy, 20kg dried apricots
kelly@khaleejtimes.com