Cozonac, a Romanian delicacy
Cozonac (pronounced like โkozoหnakโ) ,is a
Romanian traditional gently sweet bread, often with a
pretty and tasty swirl of nut filling,normally prepared in festive
events such as Easter ๐ฐ, Christmas ๐
and New Year's Eve ๐
Similar in taste to brioche, cozonac is believed to originate in Ancient
Egypt, where it was sweetened with honey and filled with seeds.The
Ancient Greeks took on the interest in leavened doughs and introduced it
to the Romans. Over time, the Southeast European versions have evolved
and become a regional tradition, forming what we now know as cozonac. Nowadays, cozonac can be found
in Romania, Bulgaria (where it is called kozunak), Moldova and Serbia.
While most versions of this bread start with the same basic sweetened,
butter- and egg-enriched yeasted dough, the flavorings can vary quite a
lot depending on the region. The filling normally includes candied fruit,
also called
rahat, nuts,raisins and chocolate.
Just as the ingredients can vary, so does the shape of this bread. Traditional cozonac is often rolled or
braided.Before baking, you typically brush the top of the bread with egg wash to help give it a rich golden
color. After brushing, itโs common to add some poppy seeds and/or coarser sugar to add some decoration to the
top of the loaf.
This tasty walnut roll has a gently lemon-scented sweet dough and nutty filling. It is both pretty and
flavorful, and a great base to try some other additions, as well as enjoy as it is.
๐ Learn how to prepare cozonac by clicking
here