Stuffed tsoureki with strawberry jam

Instructions

1. To prepare this Stuffed Tsoureki with strawberry jam start by activating the yeast. In a medium sized bowl add lukewarm water, yeast, 1 tablespoon sugar and 1 cup of flour (from Tsoureki dough). Let the yeast-sugar-flour mixture rest for 15 minutes until the mixture turns foamy.
2. Continue by  gently heating milk until lukewarm. In a separate large bowl, add sugar, eggs, sunflower oil , orange zest, vanilla drops and the spices (mahleb and ground cardamon). Mix until combined.
3. Continue by adding the yeast mixture to the above sugar-spice mixture. Combine flour with salt and slowly add it in the mixture. Mix to combine all ingredients until a dough like consistency is reached. Knead the dough for 5 minutes.
4.  In a small saucepan, melt butter and add it in the dough. Knead for 5 further minutes, until the melted butter is incorporated in the dough.
5. Cover the bowl with cling film or a towel and left the dough proof until double in size , ie around 30 to 35 minutes.
6. Once the tsoureki dough has doubled in size, place it in a floured work surface and knock back the air. Knead only for a few minutes.
7. Divide the dough in 6 equal portions. With a rolling pin roll each one in a long rectangle. Spread the strawberry jam filling in the middle of the tsoureki rectangles. Seal the edges of the dough with your fingers. To create the Tsoureki, simply braid the three strands.
8. Place the stuffed Tsoureki with strawberry jam loaves into a parchment lined baking dish. Let the Tsoureki braids proof for a second time until it doubles in size.
9. Preheat the oven to 160C or 320F.
10. Once the suffered Tsoureki loaves doubled in size, brush them with the egg wash and bake the tsoureki loaves for 45 minutes at 160C or 320F.