Nuts, Turkish delight, and cocoa bread
Nut, Turkish Delight, and Cocoa Sweet Bread – The Delight of the Holidays
Nut, Turkish delight, and cocoa sweet bread is a traditional Romanian dessert, perfect for delighting family and friends during the holidays or any special occasion. Its fluffy texture and delicious filling make it a favorite for everyone. In this recipe, I will guide you through the necessary steps to achieve a perfect sweet bread, full of flavors and nostalgia.
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Baking time: 40-45 minutes
Total time: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Number of servings: 2 sweet breads
### Ingredients
For the sweet bread dough:
- 1 kg wheat flour
- 500 ml milk (at room temperature)
- 4 eggs (separate the whites from the yolks)
- 250 g sugar
- 50 g butter (melted)
- 50 ml oil
- 50 g fresh yeast
- Zest of one lemon
- Zest of one orange
- A pinch of salt
For the filling:
- 250 g Turkish delight (cut into cubes)
- 3 tablespoons cocoa
- 1 vial of rum essence
- 4 egg whites (beaten to stiff peaks)
- 250 g ground walnuts
- 100 g raisins (optional, soaked in rum)
- 150 g sugar (or to taste)
### Instructions
1. Preparing the yeast: Start by making a simple yeast mixture. Dissolve 50 g of fresh yeast in a bowl with 100 ml of warm milk and 1 tablespoon of flour. Let it rise in a warm place for about 15-20 minutes, until the mixture doubles in volume.
2. Mixing the ingredients: In a large bowl, sift the flour 2-3 times to improve its texture. Make a well in the center of the flour and add the yeast mixture, the remaining milk, yolks, sugar, lemon and orange zest, and a pinch of salt. Mix with a spatula or your hands until combined.
3. Kneading the dough: Start kneading the dough by gradually adding the melted butter and oil, until the dough becomes elastic and no longer sticks to your hands. Cover it with a clean towel and let it rise in a warm place for about 40-45 minutes.
4. Preparing the filling: While the dough is rising, prepare the filling. Beat the egg whites with 150 g of sugar until stiff peaks form. Add the cocoa and ground walnuts, gently mixing to avoid losing air in the mixture. If desired, add the soaked raisins for extra flavor.
5. Shaping the sweet bread: After the dough has risen, divide it into two equal parts. Each part is then divided again into two. On each piece, spread the cocoa and walnut filling, adding cubes of Turkish delight. Roll each piece tightly and braid the resulting rolls.
6. Baking: Place the sweet breads in trays lined with baking paper or greased with oil and sprinkled with flour. Let them rise for another 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Brush the sweet breads with a beaten egg and sprinkle sugar on top. Bake for 40-45 minutes, being careful not to open the oven in the first 30 minutes to avoid collapsing the mixture.
7. Cooling and serving: Once the sweet breads are golden brown, remove them from the oven and let them cool for 10 minutes before taking them out of the tray. Serve them warm or at room temperature, alongside a glass of milk, for an unforgettable taste and experience.
### Useful tips
- Make sure all ingredients are at room temperature for optimal dough.
- Experiment with the filling: add chocolate or other dried fruits to diversify the flavor.
- The sweet bread can be kept in cling film to maintain freshness, and the next day it tastes even better.
This nut, Turkish delight, and cocoa sweet bread will surely become the star of your table. Enjoy it with your loved ones and savor every delicious slice!
Ingredients: DOUGH FOR COZONAC: -1 kg flour -500 ml milk -4 eggs -250 g sugar -50 g butter -50 ml oil -50 g fresh yeast -lemon zest, orange zest, -a pinch of salt FILLING: -diced Turkish delight (about 250 g) -3 tablespoons cocoa -1 vial of rum essence -4 egg whites -250 g ground walnuts -100 g raisins -150 g sugar, or to taste
