Sweet bread

Fluffy Sweet Bread Recipe with Cocoa and Walnut Filling

The sweet bread is a traditional dessert, full of meaning and often associated with holidays and moments of joy in the family. With a fluffy texture and a unique aroma, sweet bread is popular in many cultures, with multiple variations, each having its own story and ingredients. Today, we will learn to prepare a delicious sweet bread with cocoa and walnut filling, perfect for any occasion.

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Baking time: 45-50 minutes
Total time: 1 hour and 20 minutes
Number of servings: 2 sweet breads

Ingredients

- 1 kg of flour
- 250 g of sugar
- 1 cube of fresh yeast (approx. 42 g)
- 1 package of margarine (250 g)
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 1 cup of milk (approximately 250 ml)
- 3 eggs
- Spices: lemon and orange zest (1 teaspoon each)
- 4 sachets of vanilla sugar Dr. Oetker
- 200 g of walnuts (ground)
- 50 g of cocoa
- 100 g of raisins
- 1 egg for brushing the sweet breads

Preparing the Dough

1. Prepare the ingredients: Make sure all ingredients are at room temperature. It is essential that the yeast is active, and warm milk helps activate it. A good idea is to prepare the ingredients the night before to have everything on hand.

2. Activating the yeast: In a small bowl, crumble the cube of yeast and add a tablespoon of sugar. Mix well until the yeast becomes moist. Add a little warm milk and a tablespoon of flour, stirring gently. Cover with a towel and let rise for 15-20 minutes, until the yeast doubles in volume.

3. Sifting the flour: In a large bowl, sift the flour and add the salt. Make a well in the center of the flour to add the yeast mixture.

4. Preparing the dough: Once the yeast mixture has risen, pour it into the center of the flour. Start mixing, gradually adding the beaten eggs, vanilla sugar, spices, warm milk, and melted margarine. Knead the dough for about 10-15 minutes until it becomes elastic and smooth.

5. Adding the raisins: Finally, incorporate the raisins and knead again to distribute them evenly in the dough.

6. Letting it rise: Place the dough in a bowl greased with a little oil, cover it with a towel, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1-2 hours, or until it doubles in volume.

Preparing the Filling

1. Mixing the filling: In a bowl, combine the ground walnuts with cocoa. Add sugar to taste (approximately 100 g should be sufficient) and a little milk to obtain a smooth paste. You can also add rum or vanilla essence for extra flavor.

Forming the Sweet Breads

1. Dividing the dough: After the dough has risen, remove it from the bowl and divide it into two equal parts.

2. Rolling out the dough: On a floured surface, roll each piece of dough into a rectangular sheet, about 1 cm thick.

3. Adding the filling: Spread the cocoa and walnut filling evenly over the entire surface of each sheet of dough. You can also add pieces of chocolate or raisins for extra flavor.

4. Rolling the dough: Roll each sheet of dough tightly, forming a log, and then twist it slightly to shape it.

5. Placing in the pan: Prepare a sweet bread pan lined with parchment paper. Place the sweet breads in the pan, leaving a little space between them to rise.

6. Brushing with egg: Beat an egg and brush the sweet breads on top. If desired, you can sprinkle sugar or ground walnuts for a more attractive appearance.

Baking

1. Preheating the oven: Preheat the oven to 190°C (medium heat).

2. Baking the sweet breads: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake the sweet breads for 45-50 minutes. Check if they are done by inserting a straw or toothpick in the center; if it comes out clean, the sweet breads are ready.

3. Cooling: After the sweet breads are baked, let them cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer them to a rack to cool completely.

Serving Suggestions and Variations

The sweet breads are delicious both warm and cold. You can serve slices of sweet bread with aromatic tea or coffee. Additionally, vanilla ice cream alongside sweet bread provides a pleasant contrast of textures and flavors.

Frequently Asked Questions

- Can I use another type of fat instead of margarine?
Yes, you can use butter, which will give a richer flavor.

- Can I make the sweet bread without raisins?
Sure! You can omit the raisins or replace them with other dried fruits, such as apricots or cranberries.

- How long can I keep the sweet bread?
Sweet breads store well in aluminum foil or an airtight container for 3-4 days. If you want to preserve them longer, you can freeze them.

Nutritional Benefits

Sweet bread contains carbohydrates from flour, proteins from eggs, and fats from margarine, providing quick energy. Walnuts are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, and antioxidants, while cocoa has beneficial effects on mood and heart health.

Now that you have all the necessary information, all that’s left is to start cooking! Whether you prepare this recipe for holidays or for a weekend meal, your sweet bread will surely be a delight that everyone will love. Enjoy!