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.

   1. Wash the raisins and currants in hot water and put them on paper towels to drain. Set 2 tablespoons of the flour on side. Sift the remaining flour into a bowl and make a deep well in the center. Crumble the yeast in the well, then add the sugar and milk. Stirring in the well, carefully incorporate a bit of flour into the liquid. cover the bowl and leave it in the warm place for 20 minutes until the yeast bubbles up.

2. Set aside 1 tablespoon of the butter. Melt the rest of butter in a pot. Using the dough attachment of an electric mixer, mix the melted butter, vanilla extract, eggs, salt and lemon zest into the dough until it shows bubbles.

3. Toss the raisins and currants in the remaining 2 tablespoons of flour and gently fold them in to the dough.

4. Grease a 9 1/2 in (24 cm) gugelhupf mold (or fluted tube pan), place the dough in it, cover it with plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for 40 minutes.

5. Preheat the oven to 356F (180C). Place the gugelhupf on the middle rack of the oven and bake it about 50-60 minutes. test the cake to see if it is done. (To taste if a cake is done, insert a wooden toothpick or skewers into the center of the cake. If the toothpick or skewer come out clean, the cake is done.)

6. Remove the gugelhupf fro the oven and cool for about 20 minutes. Turn the cake out on a cake rack. Melt the reserved 1 tablespoon of butter and brush it over the cake. Sprinkle the cake with the confectioner's sugar.