How to make
Sift the flour twice. Ingredients need to be at room temperature. Mix the yeast with 2-3 tbsp flour, 1 tbsp sugar, and 2/5 cup (100 ml) milk. After it becomes effervescent, knead a medium soft dough.
I kneaded it in a bread maker. Take it out of the bread maker and pour in half the lard, while kneading. Leave it to rise for about 1 - 1 1/2 hours in a warm area (I let it rise in a cold oven).
After it does, knead again and gradually add in the remaining lard. Let it rise once again. After it rises the 2nd time, divide the dough into 3 balls and each ball into another 3 parts. If desired, add raisins or Turkish delight.
Form threads and weave them together. Place them in trays with baking paper. Let them rise a 3rd time for about 30-40 min. Smear them with beaten egg white on top and sprinkle with moist sugar. Bake at 320°F (160 °C) about 50 min.
I made one of the cozonacs with a poppy filling - 3 1/3 tbsp (50 g) poppy seeds, 1-2 tbsp sugar, 2/5 cup (100 ml) milk and 1 tbsp crumbled biscuits.
Boil the milk, sugar and poppy seeds until thickened. Then add in the crumbled biscuits to them.
