To prepare a delicious cozonac recipe, we start by gently warming the milk, making sure it does not get hot, but just warm. In this warm milk, we dissolve the fresh yeast together with the sugar, mixing well to obtain a homogeneous composition, which will help the dough rise beautifully. In a large bowl, we sift the flour, creating a well in the middle. Here we will add the milk mixture with the yeast and the egg yolks. It is important to mix gently at first, to integrate the ingredients without forming lumps.
After we have well incorporated the ingredients, we add the salt and flavors that will give a special taste to our cozonac: grated orange peel and lemon zest, which bring a fresh and pleasant aroma. The melted and cooled butter is also added to the dough, bringing an extra flavor and delicacy. We knead the dough patiently, until it becomes elastic and no longer sticks to our hands. If we notice that it sticks, we can add a little oil, continuing to knead to achieve the desired texture.
Once the dough is ready, we cover it with plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm place for about 2 hours, or until it doubles in volume. This step is essential to achieve a fluffy and airy cozonac. Once the dough has risen, we divide it into 6 equal pieces. On a clean surface, we grease the table with oil to prevent the dough from sticking. Each piece is rolled out into a rectangle, and then sprinkled with a mixture of sugar and cocoa, which will give the cozonac a special aroma.
We carefully roll each rectangle into a tight roll, and then proceed to braid them. These braided rolls are placed in 2 loaf pans lined with parchment paper. We let the cozonacs rise again, this time for about 30 minutes. In the meantime, we preheat the oven to a moderate temperature.
After they have risen, we brush them with a mixture of beaten egg yolk with 2 tablespoons of milk, to give them a golden color when baking. Finally, we sprinkle brown sugar on top, which will caramelize during baking, creating a delicious crust. The cozonacs are baked in the preheated oven for about an hour, until they turn golden brown and release their enticing aroma. After baking, we let them cool slightly, then we can enjoy them with our loved ones, savoring every slice.
After we have well incorporated the ingredients, we add the salt and flavors that will give a special taste to our cozonac: grated orange peel and lemon zest, which bring a fresh and pleasant aroma. The melted and cooled butter is also added to the dough, bringing an extra flavor and delicacy. We knead the dough patiently, until it becomes elastic and no longer sticks to our hands. If we notice that it sticks, we can add a little oil, continuing to knead to achieve the desired texture.
Once the dough is ready, we cover it with plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm place for about 2 hours, or until it doubles in volume. This step is essential to achieve a fluffy and airy cozonac. Once the dough has risen, we divide it into 6 equal pieces. On a clean surface, we grease the table with oil to prevent the dough from sticking. Each piece is rolled out into a rectangle, and then sprinkled with a mixture of sugar and cocoa, which will give the cozonac a special aroma.
We carefully roll each rectangle into a tight roll, and then proceed to braid them. These braided rolls are placed in 2 loaf pans lined with parchment paper. We let the cozonacs rise again, this time for about 30 minutes. In the meantime, we preheat the oven to a moderate temperature.
After they have risen, we brush them with a mixture of beaten egg yolk with 2 tablespoons of milk, to give them a golden color when baking. Finally, we sprinkle brown sugar on top, which will caramelize during baking, creating a delicious crust. The cozonacs are baked in the preheated oven for about an hour, until they turn golden brown and release their enticing aroma. After baking, we let them cool slightly, then we can enjoy them with our loved ones, savoring every slice.
Ingredients
Dough: -1 kg flour - 600 ml milk - 200 g sugar - 4 egg yolks - 50 g fresh yeast - 50 g butter - 1 teaspoon salt - vanilla or rum essence - lemon and orange zest Filling: - 4 tablespoons sugar - 4 tablespoons cocoa For the grease: - 1 egg yolk - 2 tablespoons milk