-
1
About two hours before baking remove the butter from the refrigerator and let it soften at room temperature.
-
2
Warm up the milk to about 95u00b0F-100u00b0F. Add the sugar and crumbled yeast. Stir to dissolve. Wait at least ten minutes, until it becomes foamy and doubles in volume.
-
3
In a large bowl, mix the flour, milk, salt and oil. Knead about 10 minutes by machine and then 15 minutes by hand, until smooth stiff dough forms and pulls away from the work surface and your fingers. (Alternatively, if you want to be a true cesnica warrior, skip the machine entirely and knead by hand. It's also excellent workout for toning the arms.) Put the dough on a baking sheet or a plate, cover and let rise for about 30min.
-
4
Sprinkle the work surface with flour. Roll the dough into a disk or square less than 1/4 inch thick (the disk should be really big, about 15 inches in diameter). Spread two tablespoons of the butter uniformly across the surface. Fold the disk in half away from yourself, then fold again in half towards yourself, fold again to the left, and then finally fold again in half to the right. (You will end up with a packet of dough.)
-
5
Let the dough rest covered for about 20 minutes at room temperature. Then roll the dough again, spread the butter on top of it, and repeat the folding process.
-
6
For the third time, let the dough rest covered for about 20 minutes. Roll it again, spread the butter on top of it, and repeat the folding process. During this final folding, place the coin inside the dough.
-
7
Let the dough rest covered for another 20 minutes. Grease a 3 quart round casserole (or similarly sized round baking pan, about 9-10 inches in diameter). Roll the dough to the size of the baking pan, place it into the baking pan and let it rise for about 20 minutes.
-
8
Heat the oven to 400u00b0F. Brush the top of the bread with the remaining tablespoon of butter and place in the oven. Bake the bread at 400u00b0F for about 20 minutes. When the crust starts to turn golden, reduce temperature to 320u00b0F and bake for another 30 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer registers 190u00b0F.
-
9
Let the bread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes and then remove it from the pan. Serve slightly warm and you will be in heaven.
