Braided sweet bread with poppy seeds, raisins, and Turkish delight

Twisted sweet bread with poppy seeds, raisins, and Turkish delight – a special recipe for any festive meal

The twisted sweet bread with poppy seeds, raisins, and Turkish delight is not only a delicious dessert but also a tradition that brings joy and warmth into our homes. This sweet bread is perfect for holidays, anniversaries, or simply to pamper your loved ones. This recipe combines the rich flavor of poppy seeds with the sweetness of raisins and the freshness of Turkish delight, creating an unforgettable delight.

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Baking time: 60 minutes
Total time: 90 minutes
Number of servings: 2 sweet breads

Ingredients:

For the dough:
- 1 kg wheat flour
- 400 g sugar
- 50 g fresh yeast
- Zest of one lemon
- 500 ml milk (warm)
- 200 g margarine or butter (melted)
- 4 eggs (separate yolks from whites)
- A pinch of salt
- Rum essence
- 1 packet of vanilla essence

For the filling:
- 100 g poppy seeds
- 100 g roasted and ground walnuts
- 100 g Turkish delight (cut into cubes)
- 100 g raisins (soaked in warm water and drained)
- 1 tablespoon cocoa
- 200 ml milk (for poppy seeds)
- 4 tablespoons sugar (for poppy seeds)
- 1 tablespoon semolina (for poppy seeds)

Preparation:

1. Preparing the starter: In a small bowl, dissolve the fresh yeast in 100 ml of warm milk, adding 2 tablespoons of sugar and 100 g of flour. Mix well, then cover with a clean towel and let rise for 20 minutes until foamy.

2. Preparing the dough: In a large bowl, sift the flour. Add the risen starter, yolks mixed with a pinch of salt, lemon zest, and the remaining warm milk. Begin mixing with a spatula or your hands until the dough becomes homogeneous. Then, add the melted margarine or butter, mixing continuously. Knead the dough for about 10-15 minutes until it becomes elastic and pulls away from the sides of the bowl.

3. Letting it rise: Cover the dough with a towel and let it rise in a warm place, away from drafts, for 1-2 hours or until it doubles in volume.

4. Preparing the fillings:
- Poppy seed filling: In a saucepan, place 200 ml of milk, 4 tablespoons of sugar, and 1 tablespoon of semolina. Add the poppy seeds and simmer over low heat, stirring constantly until thickened. Let cool, then fold in the beaten egg whites.
- Walnut filling: Mix the roasted and ground walnuts with 1 tablespoon of cocoa, rum essence, and half of the remaining egg whites.
- Raisin and Turkish delight filling: The soaked, drained raisins are mixed with the cubed Turkish delight.

5. Dividing and filling the dough: After the dough has risen, divide it into 4 equal pieces. On a floured surface, roll out each piece of dough into rectangles. Fill each rectangle with one of the fillings, rolling it tightly.

6. Braiding: Take two rolls and braid them, then repeat the process with the other two. Place the sweet breads in greased baking trays.

7. Second rising: Brush the sweet breads with a yolk diluted with a little milk. Let them rise for another 30 minutes in the trays.

8. Baking: Preheat the oven to 180°C. Bake the sweet breads for about an hour, or until golden and passing the toothpick test.

9. Cooling and serving: After baking, let the sweet breads cool in the trays for 15 minutes, then transfer them to a rack to cool completely. It is recommended to serve them the next day, to allow the flavors to develop.

Practical tips:
- Use room temperature ingredients to help activate the yeast.
- If you want a more intense flavor, you can replace the rum essence with almond essence.
- The sweet breads keep well in aluminum foil or airtight containers, so they don't dry out.

Nutritional benefits:
The sweet bread with poppy seeds, raisins, and Turkish delight is a source of carbohydrates, proteins (from eggs and walnuts), and vitamins (from milk and eggs). Poppy seeds are rich in essential fatty acids and minerals, while raisins provide extra fiber and antioxidants.

Frequently asked questions:
- Can I use dry yeast instead of fresh yeast?
Yes, you can use dry yeast, but you will need to adjust the amount (about 15 g of dry yeast for the equivalent of 50 g of fresh yeast).
- How can I customize the filling?
You can add cocoa, chocolate, or even candied fruits. Be creative!

The twisted sweet bread with poppy seeds, raisins, and Turkish delight is more than just a dessert; it is a recipe full of tradition and story. I invite you to try it and share it with your loved ones, turning every meal into a celebration!

 Ingredients: 1 kg flour, 400 grams sugar, 50 grams fresh yeast, zest of one lemon, rum essence, 500 ml milk, 200 grams margarine or butter, 4 eggs, salt, 100 grams poppy seeds, 100 grams roasted and ground walnuts, 100 grams rahat, 100 grams raisins, vanilla essence

 Tags:  sweet bread poppy seed cake sweet bread with raisins sweet bread with turkish delight