Traditional Romania's Iconic Holiday Bread: Cozonac

butter

🥗Healthier: coconut oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Coconut oil provides a dairy-free option.

walnuts

🥗Healthier: almonds

💰Cheaper: sunflower seeds

Almonds are a healthier nut alternative.

sugar

🥗Healthier: honey

💰Cheaper: brown sugar

Honey offers natural sweetness.

milk

🥗Healthier: almond milk

💰Cheaper: water

Almond milk is a dairy-free substitute.

Warm up 1 cup of milk.

Melt 1/2 cup of butter.

Dissolve 25 g of fresh yeast in the warm milk, adding a little sugar and a pinch of flour, and set aside until foamy.

Separate 3 eggs, placing the yolks in a mixing bowl and saving the whites for the filling.

Mix the egg yolks with 4 cups of sugar until creamy, then add 1 tsp of lemon rind and mix again.

Add the foamy yeast mixture to the egg yolk mixture, followed by 1 tsp of vanilla.

Gradually add 3 and 1/2 cups of flour to the mixture on low speed to avoid a flour cloud.

Switch to a dough hook and add the melted butter and a pinch of salt, mixing until the dough comes together (about 5 minutes).

Transfer the dough to a lightly greased board, cover with plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour until doubled in size.

For the filling, whip the egg whites, then add 1/2 cup of sugar, 2 tbsp of cocoa powder, 1 cup of finely ground walnuts, 1/2 cup of drained raisins, and some rum flavoring, mixing well.

Once the dough has risen, divide it in two and roll out each half into an 11 in by 14 in rectangle.

Spread half of the filling over the dough, leaving about half an inch at the top, and roll it up like a jelly roll.

Repeat with the second half of the dough and filling.

Twist the two rolls together to form an X and tuck the ends under.

Place the twisted dough into a prepared loaf pan lined with parchment paper and cover to rise for about 45 minutes.

Brush the risen dough with an egg wash made from whisking an egg with a splash of milk.

Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F for 40 to 50 minutes until golden brown.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens