Breads & Bakingcookinglsl5.0
Bulgarian Easter Bread (Kozunak – Soft and Stringy)
Traditional Bulgarian Easter bread (kozunak) with a soft, fluffy crumb and signature stringy texture. Lightly sweet, scented with lemon and vanilla, and made with a method that focuses on proper dough development for reliable results.
👥 2 Servings⏱️ Prep & Cook: 1h⏳ Prep: 25 min🔥 Cook: 35 min👤 Mira Lyubenova📖 cookinglsl
🥘 Ingredients
Check off ingredients as you prepare them:
🍳 Cookware
- ●bowl
- ●whisk
- ●pan
- ●oven
📝 Preparation Steps
1
Activate yeast
2
Combine yeast with part of the warm milk and a little sugar.
lukewarm milk1 cupmilk1 tbspcup sugar3/4sugar2 tbsp
3
Let sit for ⏱️ 10 minutes, until foamy.
4
Prepare the dough
5
In a large bowl, mix flour and salt.
6
In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, egg yolk, and sugar. Add milk, vanilla, and part of the oil.
egg yolk1cup sugar3/4sugar2 tbsplukewarm milk1 cupmilk1 tbspcup vegetable oil (or melted butter, or a mix)1/2oil1 tbsp
7
Add the yeast mixture and combine.
8
Gradually add half of the flour, then lemon juice and zest. Continue adding the remaining flour and oil in stages.
lemon juice1 tspcup vegetable oil (or melted butter, or a mix)1/2oil1 tbsp
9
Knead and first rise
10
Mix until a soft, slightly sticky dough forms.
11
Knead until smooth and elastic. This step is essential for structure.
12
I use a stand mixer (KitchenAid) with a dough hook, which makes this easier and more consistent.
13
Transfer to a greased bowl, cover, and let rise until doubled.
14
This can take anywhere from 2 to ⏱️ 5 hours depending on room temperature.
15
Shape
16
Divide the dough into 2 equal portions.
17
Roll each portion into logs, then braid or twist into shape. Transfer to 2 standard loaf pans or baking molds.
18
Second rise
19
Let the shaped dough rise again until puffy and visibly increased in size.
20
Do not rush this step.
21
Bake
22
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
23
Brush with egg wash and sprinkle sugar.
cup sugar3/4sugar2 tbsp
24
Bake for ⏱️ 10 minutes, then reduce temperature to 350°F (175°C) and bake for 20–30 more minutes, until golden and fully cooked through.
25
If the top browns too quickly, cover loosely with foil.
26
Cool
27
Let cool completely before slicing. This allows the crumb to set and improves texture.
Nutrition Facts
calories
1569 kcal
fat Content
20 g
serving Size
1 serving
fiber Content
9 g
sugar Content
89 g
sodium Content
373 mg
protein Content
39 g
trans Fat Content
0.04 g
cholesterol Content
359 mg
carbohydrate Content
305 g
saturated Fat Content
4 g
unsaturated Fat Content
14 g
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