Sour Cream Rolls with Walnut Filling

Total Time

Prep: 1 hour + rising Bake: 20 min.

Makes

8 loaves (6 pieces each)

Updated: Nov. 14, 2023
Cozonac cu nuca is a Romanian yeast bread with a sweet walnut filling that's traditionally made during the holidays. This particular recipe is from Nadine Mesch from Mount Healthy, Ohio, who used to make this recipe with her grandmother. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Cozonac cu Nuca (Romanian Walnut Bread) Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Ingredients

  • 4 cups ground walnuts (about 14 ounces)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup 2% milk
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • DOUGH:
  • 2 packages (1/4 ounce each) active dry yeast
  • 1 teaspoon plus 1/3 cup sugar, divided
  • 1/2 cup warm 2% milk (110° to 115°)
  • 1 cup butter, melted
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature, divided use
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 5-1/4 to 5-3/4 cups all-purpose flour

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, mix the first 5 ingredients until blended. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar in warm milk; let stand 5 minutes. In a large bowl, combine melted butter, sour cream, 3 eggs, salt, remaining sugar, yeast mixture and 2 cups flour; beat on medium speed 3 minutes. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough (dough will be sticky).
  2. Turn dough onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
  3. Punch down dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide and shape into 8 portions. Roll each into a 12x8-in. rectangle (dough will be very thin). Spread each with 1/2 cup walnut mixture to within 3/4 in. of edges. Carefully roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; pinch seam and ends to seal.
  4. Place rolls 2 in. apart on parchment-lined baking sheets, seam side down. Prick tops with a fork. Cover; let rise in a warm place until almost doubled, about 1 hour. Preheat oven to 350°.
  5. Lightly beat remaining egg; brush over rolls. Bake until golden brown, 20-25 minutes, switching position of pans halfway through baking (filling may leak during baking). Remove loaves to wire racks to cool. To serve, cut into slices.

Nutrition Facts

1 piece: 201 calories, 13g fat (5g saturated fat), 37mg cholesterol, 113mg sodium, 20g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.