Crescent Pastry with Walnuts (Ay Çöreği)

Ingredients

• •For the yeast dough:
• •4.5 cups flour
• •3 tsp dry yeast
• •2 small cups margarine
• •1.5 small cups sugar
• •Half a cup warm milk
• •2 eggs
• •1/2 tsp salt
• •For the filling:
• •5 cups ground almonds and pistachios
• •2.5 cups sugar
• •2 tsp cocoa
• •1 cup ground walnuts
• •1 cup chopped raisins
• •1 tsp cinnamon
• •2 egg whites
• •For brushing: 1 egg yolk
• •To sprinkle: 2 tbsp sesame seeds

Preparation

1. 1

   In a bowl, mix the yeast dough ingredients and bring to a dough.

2. 2

   Cover with a clean cloth and rest in a warm place for 20-25 minutes.

3. 3

   Pinch off walnut-sized pieces of dough and roll each out to palm size with a rolling pin.

4. 4

   Mix all the filling ingredients.

5. 5

   Make walnut-sized pieces and shape like meatballs.

6. 6

   Place the prepared filling in the center of the rolled dough and roll it up, shaping into a crescent.

7. 7

   Arrange the crescent pastries on a greased tray and rest for 20-25 minutes.

8. 8

   Brush with egg yolk and sprinkle sesame seeds.

9. 9

   Bake in a preheated 200°C oven for 15-20 minutes.