Chocolate, Raisins and Hazelnuts Cake

 Ingredients: I made my first cozonac last night; I am sending you the recipe and the pictures! 500 g flour 20 g - 25 g fresh yeast or 1 teaspoon dry yeast 50 ml warm water 5 tablespoons sugar a pinch of salt 3 egg yolks 8 tablespoons sour cream (15% fat) 110 g butter (65% fat) 2 packets of vanilla sugar grated lemon or orange peel Filling: 100 g milk chocolate 100 g nuts 100 g raisins Syrup: 1 egg 2 tablespoons sugar 50 ml milk

To prepare a delicious and fluffy cozonac, we start by gathering all the necessary ingredients: flour, yeast, sugar, salt, milk, eggs, oil, and preferred flavors such as vanilla or lemon zest. All these ingredients are added to the bread machine, where the kneading and rising process will take place. This is an essential step, as the dough needs to become elastic and homogeneous, and the yeast must take effect to give the cozonac a fluffy texture.

After the dough has risen, we take the bowl out of the bread machine and transfer the dough onto an oiled work surface. It is important that the surface we work on is well-oiled to prevent the dough from sticking. We divide the dough into three equal pieces, which will help us form the cozonaci. We take the first piece and, using a rolling pin, roll out the dough until we obtain a rectangle the size of the baking tray we will use.

Now comes the fun part: the filling! We sprinkle raisins on the dough, which have been soaked in rum for an hour to hydrate and gain an intense flavor. We also add pieces of chocolate, which will melt slightly during baking, and nuts, which can be coarsely chopped to add texture. After we have filled the dough, we carefully roll it up, ensuring that the filling does not spill out during baking. We repeat this process for the other two pieces of dough.

Once we have rolled all three pieces, we braid them skillfully to form a beautiful cozonac. We place the braided cozonac in the oiled tray lined with parchment paper (don’t forget to grease the paper too!), letting it rise for another 30 minutes. This step is crucial for achieving a fluffy and airy cozonac.

After it has risen, we place the tray in the preheated oven at 180 degrees Celsius. The cozonac will bake for about an hour, and its aroma will fill the entire house, making us feel impatient. In the meantime, we prepare the syrup: we mix an egg yolk with sugar, then add milk, obtaining a sweet and creamy syrup.

After the cozonac is baked, we take it out of the oven and, while it is still hot, we brush it with the prepared syrup. This step will give it a special shine and wonderful taste. We let the cozonac cool in the tray for 10 minutes, then take it out and wrap it in a clean towel, followed by plastic wrap and again a towel. This trick helps to maintain the moisture and fluffiness of the cozonac.

The cozonac is ready to be enjoyed after it has cooled completely. When we slice it, we will notice its airy texture and exceptional fluffiness. It is a perfect dessert for festive meals or simply to indulge ourselves during moments of relaxation. The flavors of raisins, chocolate, and nuts combine harmoniously, providing an unforgettable culinary experience.

 Tags:  eggs milk unt flour sour cream sugar lemon chocolate oranges christmas and new year's recipes vegetarian recipes recipes for children sweet bread pasta recipes