Cozonac (Kalacs)

To prepare a delicious recipe for fluffy rolls, we start by making a mixture full of flavor and taste. In a container, we heat 250 ml of milk until it becomes warm, then we add fresh yeast, the 2 tablespoons of sugar, salt, and vanilla sugar. We mix the ingredients well to ensure that the yeast dissolves completely and let the mixture sit for a few minutes until it becomes frothy. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, we put 1 kilogram of flour and make a well in the middle, where we will pour the milk and yeast mixture.

We mix with a little flour from around, forming a paste, and let it rise in a warm place for about 30 minutes. This step is essential, as the yeast will activate the fermentation process, and the dough will rise. After we notice the first signs of rising, we add the 8 egg yolks, melted butter, the remaining sugar, and grated lemon zest, which will give a fresh and citrus flavor to the dough.

We knead the dough with the necessary energy until it becomes elastic and forms bubbles on the surface. It is important that the dough remains soft, so if we feel it is too hard, we can add a little warm milk to adjust its consistency. After the dough is well kneaded, we add a handful of oil and continue kneading for about 10 minutes. Then, we let it rise again in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it doubles in volume.

Once the dough has risen, we take it out of the bowl and divide it into two equal parts. Each part is gently stretched with our hands, being careful not to tear it, until it reaches the size of the baking tray. We fill it with the desired filling – it can be poppy seeds mixed with sugar and ginger, walnuts with sugar and raisins, or Turkish delight with raisins. After adding the filling, we carefully roll the dough, forming a log that we place in a greased baking tray. We let the rolls rise for another 20 minutes while the oven preheats.

Before putting the tray in the oven, we brush the surface of the rolls with egg yolk to achieve a golden and shiny crust. We bake at low heat, checking with a toothpick after about 1 hour if they are ready. Once taken out of the oven, we let the rolls cool slightly in the tray, after which we transfer them to a clean towel, covering them with another damp towel and possibly a bag, to keep them soft. These delicious rolls can be enjoyed both plain and filled, and each bite will be an explosion of flavors and textures!