The Cougnou or Bread of Jesus is a kind of brioche that is traditionally given to children in Belgium during Christmas. It owes its name to the shape it takes, similar to a crib where Jesus Christ is supposed to have spent his first days, although it can also represent the baby itself. Sometimes these loaves have a figure of the baby Jesus and in other cases a hard-boiled egg inside. The preparation is not difficult and the result is a delicious bread that you don't have to be a child to taste and enjoy.
INGREDIENTS :
- 1 Kg (2.2 pounds) of pastry flour
- Half a liter (2 cups and half) of milk
- Half a kilo (1.1 pounds) of sugar (if 150 grams / 5.3 oz of it is vanillas' sugar, the better)
- 3 large eggs
- 200 grams (7 oz) of butter
- 250 grams (9 oz) of seedless raisins (corinthians or sultanas)
- Cinnamon powder
- A pinch of salt
- Fresh yeast (50 grams / 1.7 oz)
First we mix the warm milk with the yeast. Add the beaten eggs, about 150 grams/ 5.3 oz of vanilla sugar, a teaspoon of cinnamon and the salt. Mix well and then gradually add the flour passed first through the strainer and the melted butter.
Knead until the dough is homogeneous and leave it covered with a cotton cloth for an hour to rise.
After time we add the rest of the sugar and the raisins, making 5 loaves of about 200 grams (7 oz) each in the shape of a manger (see image). We again allow another hour for the yeast to recover.
We preheat the oven to 210 degrees (410 F) and put the breads on the tray covered with baking paper. They should stay for 45 minutes or until golden brown on the outside.
It is usually decorated with sugar pearls.