Romanian Cozonac Or Colac - A Christmas Bread

Total Time: 3 hrs 45 mins Preparation Time: 3 hrs Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• 4 cups flour
• 1 cup milk, heated
• 3 eggs, beated lightly
• 1 fresh yeast cake
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 3 tablespoons sugar, plus
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 -4 drops yellow food coloring (optional)
• 1/2 pint sour cream
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 4 tablespoons sugar
• 1 cup cream cheese
• 3 egg yolks
• 2 teaspoons vanilla or 2 teaspoons lemon flavoring

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350°f.
• 2 for the dough: heat the milk to lukewarm.
• 3 in a separate bowl, crumble yeast.
• 4 add 2 tsp sugar, 2 tbsp milk; set aside.
• 5 in a large mixing bowl, place the 4 cups flour.
• 6 to the lukewarm milk, add 3 tbsp sugar, 1 tsp salt, the melted butter, lightly beaten eggs, (and optional food colouring).
• 7 add yeast mixture to remaining milk.
• 8 beat all with with rotary beater until thoroughly blended.
• 9 pour mixture over flour and work in, with a wooden spoon, until all flour has mixed well with milk mixture.
• 10 now, knead with hands for about 5 minutes or until dough will not stick too your hands.
• 11 cover with clean tea towel and place in warm spot. allow dough to rise until double in size.
• 12 punch down and knead again for 2 minutes.
• 13 let rise again.
• 14 roll out dough and fill with your favourite filling.
• 15 cheese filling: cream cheese well, with fork.
• 16 add cornstarch and egg yolks and mix well.
• 17 add sour cream, 1 or 2 tbsp at a time.
• 18 work quickly and mix thoroughly.
• 19 add 4 tbsp sugar and flavouring.
• 20 spread over the dough, and bake in a moderate oven (350°f) until done.
• 21 after 45 minutes, check for doneness.