Sfințișori (Mucenici)

Ingredients

Dough:

• 1 medium egg M (60g) — hen egg
• 150 ml — 2% buttermilk
• 50 g — solid sweetener of choice
• 1 tbsp — rum extract
• 1 tsp — freshly grated lemon or orange zest
• 1 pinch — table salt
• 2 level tsp — dry yeast
• 1/2 tsp — turmeric (natural food colouring)
• 50 g — whole wheat flour
• 250 g — white flour 000
• 30 ml — rapeseed oil

Topping (before baking):

• 50 g — white flour 000
• to taste — solid sweetener (dissolved in a little water) or liquid sweetener

Topping (after baking):

• 50 ml — honey
• 30 g — ground walnuts
• 15 g — grated coconut

Preparation

1. I mixed all the ingredients (except the flour) with a fork (you can also use a whisk, a hand mixer, or a blender).
2. I incorporated the flour into the wet mixture by hand; I used a little oil to remove the dough from my hands and kneaded until everything came together.
3. I left the dough covered with a towel at room temperature until it had doubled in size.
4. I divided the dough by eye into 5 parts and rolled each one into a rope on the work surface, then shaped them into a figure of 8; I baked these for about 30–35 minutes at 180°C in a tray lined with baking paper (adjust time according to your oven).
5. I brushed each Sfințișor with my preferred liquid sweetener (I used honey) and sprinkled with ground walnuts or coconut flakes.

Additional notes

1. To sweeten the dough you can use any solid sweetener you prefer; even zero-calorie sweeteners are available in stores. Double the recipe — you won't regret it!

Recipe in pictures

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