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Walnut Roll (Cozonac Cu Nuca)

Reggie Dwork <reggie@jeff-and-reggie.com>
Thu, 03 Dec 2020 15:56:31 -0800
v120.n048.2
* Exported from MasterCook *

                    Bread, Walnut Roll (Cozonac Cu Nuca)

Recipe By     : Joanna Cismaru
Serving Size  : 36    Preparation Time :0:00
Categories    : Bread                           Bread-Bakers Mailing List
                 Ethnic                          Nuts
                 Posted

   Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
                         For Dough
      1/2           cup  raisins
      1/4           cup  rum
   2               tbsp  active dry yeast
      1/4           cup  warm water
   2               cups  milk
   1                cup  unsalted butter -- melted
   3               tbsp  lemon zest
   1 1/2           cups  sugar
   8               cups  all-purpose flour
   5                     eggs -- separated
   2                tsp  vanilla extract
                         For Filling
   8                 oz  walnuts -- or pecans
   5               tbsp  sugar
   2               tbsp  cocoa powder
   2               tbsp  vegetable oil
   1                     egg -- beaten, for egg wash
   3               tbsp  sugar

Sweet Walnut Roll known as "Cozonac cu Nuca" is a traditional 
Romanian sweet bread made with raisins and walnuts or pecans enjoyed 
at Christmas and Easter.

Prep: 3 hrs
Cook: 35 mins
Total: 3:55
yield: 3 loaves

For Dough: Add the raisins to a small bowl and pour the rum over 
them. Let the raisins soak up the rum and plump up while preparing 
everything else.

In another bowl add the yeast and warm water, stir it a bit and let 
it sit for 10 to 15 minutes to activate. The yeast should bubble up. 
If you don't see it bubble up, then the yeast is old. Do not proceed 
because your bread will not rise.

In a sauce pan add the milk, butter, lemon zest and sugar. Heat it 
over medium-low heat just until the butter melts and the sugar is 
dissolved. Do not boil it, it just needs to be hot. If it gets too 
hot it can kill the yeast.

Drain the raisins. To the bowl of your mixer add the flour, the 5 egg 
yolks, vanilla extract, the milk mixture, yeast mixture and raisins. 
Using the dough hook mix everything for about 5 minutes until 
everything is well blended together and the dough should come off the 
sides of the bowl. The dough will be a softer dough and somewhat 
sticky to your hands. The more you mix the dough the fluffier it will be.

Take a large bowl and oil it with about 1 tbsp of the vegetable oil. 
Place the dough in the bowl and use the other tbsp of vegetable oil 
to rub over the dough. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in 
a warm, draft free environment. Let the dough rise until it doubles 
in size, could take 1 to 2 hours.

Great 3 loaf pans with oil or butter. My loaf pans are 12 x 4.5 x 3", 
but the regular smaller loaf pans work just as well.

Once the dough has doubled in size, divide it in 3 equal pieces. On a 
big surface where you can work the dough, oil the surface, we will 
not use flour here, I find that oil works better. Take one piece and 
roll it out using a rolling pin, into a rectangle that's about 1/2" 
in thickness and the width of your loaf pans.  Spread about 1/3 of 
the nut mixture over the dough. then roll it up jelly style. Place 
the roll in the prepared loaf pan. Repeat with remaining dough pieces.

Cover the loaf pans with a clean damp kitchen towel, place in a warm, 
draft free environment and let the loaves rest until doubled in size.

Preheat the oven to 350F.

Place the loaves in the oven and bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until 
the loaves are golden brown. To test if they are done inside, insert 
a toothpick into the center and if it comes out clean the loaves are done.

Let the loaves cool for about 10 minutes in the loaf pans. Run a 
knife around the edges of the loaves, to make sure they didn't stick, 
then remove the loaves from the loaf pans, transfer them to a wire 
rack and let them cool completely before slicing into them and serving.

For Filling: While the dough is rising add the walnuts or pecans to a 
food processor and pulse a few times until the nuts are finely 
ground. Add the sugar and cocoa powder to the processor and pulse a 
few more times until everything is well incorporated.

In the bowl of your mixer add the egg whites and mix until stiff 
peaks form. Fold in the nut mixture. Place this in the fridge until 
ready to use.

NOTES: The rum in this recipe can be replaced by whatever is more 
convenient to you. For example: brandy, whiskey, or bourbon would also work.
If you wouldn't like to use alcohol at all, you can plump the raisins 
up in juice or some water.
To make the dough rise faster and create that warm, draft free 
environment for the dough to rise in, I usually turn the oven on to 
200 F degrees, turn it off, then place the dough in the oven with the 
door closed.
Once the loaves have cooled completely, I usually wrap them in 
plastic wrap and store them just on the counter for up to 4 days. You 
can also place them in the refrigerator. You can also freeze them, 
just make sure they are tightly wrapped in plastic wrap and you can 
freeze them for up to a month.

S(Internet address):
   https://www.jocooks.com/recipes/walnut-roll/
Yield:
   "3 loaves"
                                     - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 268 Calories; 11g Fat (37.1% 
calories from fat); 6g Protein; 36g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 
51mg Cholesterol; 20mg Sodium.  Exchanges: 1 1/2 Grain(Starch); 1/2 
Lean Meat; 0 Fruit; 0 Non-Fat Milk; 2 Fat; 1/2 Other Carbohydrates.

NOTES : 2020 - 1203