Tsoureki Rolls

Tsoureki Rolls, the raisins and cinammon filled Greek sweet bread rolls are usually prepared in Greece for Easter, but are great throughout the year. Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients 

for the bread
 
• MILK 500 ml / 17 fl oz
• YEAST POWDER 30 gr/ 1 oz
• EGGS 4
• MARGARINE 170 gr/ 6 oz
• BUTTER 100 gr/ 3.5 oz
• OLIVE OIL 4 tbs
• SUGAR 400 gr/ 14 oz
• MACHLEPI 4 gr/ 0.14 oz
• MASTIC 4 gr/ 0.14 oz
• BAKING POWDER 10 gr/ 0.35 oz
• VANILLA POWDER ½ tsp
• SALT ¼ tsp
• FLOUR 1500 gr/ 53 oz
 
for the filling
 
• SUGAR 100 gr/ 3.5 oz
• CINNAMON (optionally) 2 tsp
• NUTS 170 gr/ 6 oz
• RAISINS 200 gr/ 7 oz
 
Method
 
1. Warm up the milk until it reaches 80 C/ 176 F
2. Take off the fire and add the yeast powder and 3 tbsp of flour, mix well and let it rest for 15 minutes
3. Mix the egg whites to turn into meringue and set aside
4. Warm the margarine and butter until they turn into liquid
5. Mix the egg yolks with the sugar
6. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix until it turns into pastry
7. Let the pastry rest and grow in a warm place for 4 hours
8. Share the pastry in 3 pieces
9. Mix up the ingredients for the filling
10.Spread the pastry with a rolling pin
11.Add the filling on top
12. Roll the pastry with your hands
13. Cut the roll in individual shares with a knife
14. Place the small rolls on a baking pan leaving enough space between them to rise
15. Optionally add eggs on top with a brush
16. In a preheated oven bake for 20 min in 180 C/ 370 F
 
Enjoy the delicious tsoureki rolls!