Roscas (Turkish Coffee Cake Rings With Cloves)

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon instant yeast
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 3/4 cup warm water
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 egg, for glazing
• sesame seed, for sprinkling on top

Directions

1. 1

   In a medium bowl, whisk together the yeast, 3/4 cup of the flour and the cloves, then whisk in the water until smooth. Let stand uncovered for 10-20 minutes, until it begins to ferment. It may not puff up at all.

2. 2

   Whisk the salt, oil, and sugar into the yeast slurry until smooth and the salt and sugar have dissolved. Stir in the remaining flour all at once.

3. 3

   When the mix is a shaggy mess, turn it out onto a work surface and knead until fairly smooth, soft, and just a bit sticky.

4. 4

   Put it in a warm, clean bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise until at least doubled in size, about 2 hours.

5. 5

   Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, or oil it.

6. 6

   Divide dough in half. Roll one piece into a rectangle, then roll it up along the long side, evening it and lengthening it until it is about 24 inches long and 1 inch thick.

7. 7

   Bring the ends together to form a ring, and pinch them together. Transfer to prepared sheet.

8. 8

   Repeat with the other half of the dough.

9. 9

   Cover the rings with plastic wrap and leave to rise until tripled in size, about 45-60 minutes.

10. 10

    Put an oven rack in the upper third position, and preheat to 400°F.

11. 11

    Beat the egg with a pinch of salt, and glaze the rings. Sprinkle generously with sesame seeds.

12. 12

    Slash the rings in a sunburst pattern, about 1/2 inch deep and about 2 inches apart to mark off serving sections.

13. 13

    Bake 25-35 minutes, or until very brown. Rotate the pan about 20 minutes into baking.

14. 14

    Cool rings on a rack.