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Cougnou
Cougnou: Walloon Christmas brioche shaped like a swaddled baby
Cougnou, also called cougnolle or bommetje, is the Christmas bread of Wallonia, given to children on Christmas morning: a soft brioche shaped like the infant Jesus in swaddling clothes, with a little clay or sugar medallion pressed into the middle, eaten with hot chocolate. Bakeries in Namur and Charleroi make them from early December. A common mistake is shaping them too small, which dries them in the oven. Chef's tip: make three balls, one large for the body and two small for the head and feet, pressed together tightly so they bake as one.
- Total time
- 65 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 8
Ingredients
For the dough
- 1 ⅛ lb strong white flour
- 2 ⅛ oz sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- ¾ cup warm milk
- 2 eggs
- 3 ½ oz soft butter
- 1 ¾ oz raisinsoptional
- 2 tbsp pearl sugar
- 1 eggbeaten
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Mix 1 ⅛ lb strong white flour, ¼ oz fast-action dried yeast, 2 ⅛ oz sugar and 1 tsp salt. Add ¾ cup warm milk and 2 eggs, knead 8 minutes, then knead in 3 ½ oz soft butter until silky. Add 1 ¾ oz raisins. Rise 1 hour.
8 minStep 2: Divide into 4. For each, shape one large oval for the body and two small balls; press one at each end of the body.
Step 3: Place on lined trays and rise 45 minutes. Common mistake: small loaves; they dry out.
45 minStep 4: Heat the oven to 375°F (fan 350°F). Brush with 1 egg, sprinkle with 2 tbsp pearl sugar and bake for 20–25 minutes, until golden.
25 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 330 kcal
- Protein
- 8 g
- Carbs
- 46 g
- Fat
- 13 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does cougnou take?
- About 65 minutes in total: 40 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 8 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of fast-action dried yeast?
- Fresh yeast, three times the weight.
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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