The butter should be soft. 1. Combine warm milk and yeast. Cover and place in a warm spot for 10–15 minutes to activate the yeast. 2. Sift the flour into a large bowl, add the salt, and mix. 3. Add the milk‑yeast mixture and 1 egg, then knead into an elastic dough. 4. Add the 70 g of softened butter in small pieces. Knead until all the butter is absorbed and the dough becomes smooth, elastic, and not sticky. 5. Lightly oil a bowl. Shape the dough into a ball, place it into the greased bowl, and cover with plastic wrap. 6. Let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, until doubled in size. 7. Divide the dough into 6 equal pieces and roll each into a ball. The dough is very elastic and usually doesn’t require flouring the surface. If it sticks, lightly oil your work surface. 8. Place the dough balls onto a baking sheet lined with parchment. 9. Cover with a towel and let rise in a warm place for 20–30 minutes. 10. Preheat the oven to 370°F (about 187.8°C.). 11. Beat 1 egg with 1 tablespoon of water and brush the tops of the buns. 12. Bake for 15 minutes, until golden. 13. Brush the hot buns with softened butter (this keeps them soft longer). 14. Cover with a towel and let cool for 15–20 minutes. SANDWICH IDEAS: - Chicken Salad Sandwich: shredded chicken, mayo, celery, herbs, and a squeeze of lemon. - Egg Salad with Herbs: creamy eggs, dill, chives, and a touch of mustard. - Turkey, Avocado & Cucumber: thin turkey slices, mashed avocado, crisp cucumbers, and greens. - Caprese Sandwich: fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, and balsamic glaze. - Hummus & Veggie: hummus, roasted peppers, cucumbers, spinach. - Mini Sliders: beef or turkey patties with cheese and caramelized onions. - Pulled Chicken or Pulled Pork: slow‑cooked meat with a tangy sauce. - Grilled Mushroom & Swiss: sautéed mushrooms, Swiss cheese, and garlic butter. - Egg, Cheese & Bacon: soft scrambled eggs or a fried egg with crispy bacon. - Avocado & Poached Egg: creamy avocado, soft egg, and chili flakes. - Sausage, Egg & Cheddar. - Smoked Salmon & Cream Cheese: dill, capers, and thin red onion. - Chicken Pesto Sandwich: grilled chicken, pesto, mozzarella, and tomatoes. - Roast Beef & Horseradish: thin beef slices, arugula, and creamy horseradish sauce.

   1. Warm the milk. It should be warm, not hot. 2. Dissolve the yeast in the warm milk. 3. Add 1 tablespoon of sugar and 2 tablespoons of sifted flour to the milk with yeast. Whisk to combine. Cover the bowl with a damp towel or plastic wrap and let the sponge rise in a warm place for 20–30 minutes. 4. Separate 2 eggs into yolks and whites. 5. Add 2 tablespoons of milk to the yolks. Mix. Cover and set aside — this is the egg–milk wash for brushing the pies. 6. In a large bowl (or stand mixer bowl), combine the sponge, 1 whole egg, the 2 egg whites, the remaining sugar, salt, and 30 ml of vegetable oil. Gradually add the flour and knead until you get an elastic dough. (If kneading by hand, knead for about 10 minutes after all the flour is added.) 7. Knead the soft butter pieces into the dough. 8. Shape the dough into a ball, grease it lightly with vegetable oil, and place it into a large greased bowl. Cover with a damp towel or plastic wrap and let rise for at least 1 hour, preferably 1.5 hours. 9. Mix 60 g sugar with 10 g cinnamon. 10. Divide the dough into 2 equal parts, then divide each part into 3 pieces. Roll each piece into a ball — you’ll have 6 balls total. Keep them covered so they don’t dry out. Each pie uses 3 dough balls. 11. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one ball into a circle about 5 mm thick. Transfer it to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with the cinnamon–sugar mixture. 12. Roll out the second ball into a circle of the same diameter. Place it on top of the first circle. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon–sugar. 13. Roll out the third ball into a circle of the same diameter. Place it on top. Do not brush the top layer. 14. Mark a small circle in the center (using a cutter or glass). From that circle, cut the dough outward to the edge: first into 4 sections, then each section into 2 — you’ll have 8 segments. In each segment, make a slit in the middle, cutting through all layers. Turn each segment inside-out through the slit, then pinch the outer corners together. Twist all segments this way to form a snowflake shape. (Make sure the layers are slightly visible; gently separate them if needed.) 15. Cover the pie with a towel and let it proof in a warm place for 20–30 minutes. 16. Repeat steps 11–15 with the second pie. 17. Preheat the oven to 385°F (195°C). 18. SYRUP. Mix 1.5 tablespoons sugar with vanilla extract and 100 ml boiling water. Stir until the sugar dissolves. 19. Brush the pies with the yolk–milk mixture. Bake in the preheated oven (no convection) on the middle rack for 20–25 minutes, until beautifully golden. 20. Brush the hot pies with the syrup and transfer to a rack to cool completely. SERVING IDEAS: - Serve with hot chocolate, mulled wine, spiced tea, or a latte — the cinnamon pairs perfectly. - Warm a slice for 10–15 seconds — it becomes soft, buttery, and perfect with morning coffee. - Pair slices with bowls of whipped cream, vanilla yogurt, or mascarpone for dipping. - Wrap in parchment and twine; it makes a beautiful homemade holiday gift.