Cozonac

2 x mixing bowls, baking tray, kitchen processor, 1kg/2lb bread tin and chopping board

DOUGH
200g Doves Farm Organic Strong White Bread Flour
125ml milk
1 tsp Doves Farm Quick Yeast
1 egg yolk
50g icing sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
75g butter
oil, for chopping board

WALNUT FILLING
100g walnuts
50g icing sugar
25g cocoa
1 egg white

190°C, Fan 180°C, 375°F, Gas 5

Dough

1. Measure the flour, milk and yeast into a bowl and mix into a dough.
2. Cover and leave to rise for 6 – 12 hours.
3. Put the egg yolk, icing sugar and vanilla extract into another bowl and beat until smooth.
4. Press your fingers into the dough and pour the egg yolk mixture over the top.
5. Using your hands work the egg into the dough until combined into a smooth slightly sticky dough, about 100 presses.
6. Cover and leave in a warm place to rise for 2 hours.
7. Melt the butter then leave to cool.
8. Once again press your fingers into the dough then pour on half the cold melted butter.
9. Knead the butter into the dough until fully combined, about 100 presses.
10. Cover and leave in a warm place again to rise for 2 hours.
11. Pour the remaining butter onto the dough and knead to make a smooth, slack dough.
12. Cover and leave in a warm place again to rise for 2 hours.

Walnut Filling

1. Pre-heat the oven. 
2. Spread the walnuts on a baking tray.
3. Bake in the oven until golden, about 4 -6 minutes.
4. Tip the nuts into a kitchen processor.
5. Add the icing sugar, cocoa and egg white.
6. Pulse to make a paste.

Cozonac

1. Rub some butter around the inside of a 1kg/2lb bread tin or insert a baking liner.
2. Sprinkle a little oil all over a clean chopping board.
3. Transfer the dough to the board and gently stretch it into a rectangle, 12mm/½” thick.
4. Spread the filling evenly over the rectangle.
5. Starting from the short side, gently roll the dough into a cylinder, enclosing the filling.
6. Shape the dough and lift it into the tin.
7. Cover and leave until doubled in size to rise for 60 – 120 minutes.
8. Pre-heat the oven 20 minutes before you are going to bake.
9. Bake for 35-40 minutes.