Contents
Mucenici Moldovenești is a sweet Romanian pastry traditionally made on March 9th to celebrate the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste. Shaped like the number 8, these soft, cozonac-style pastries are brushed with honey and topped with crushed walnuts. This classic Moldovan treat is sticky, nutty, and rich with history—perfect for anyone who loves traditional Eastern European baking.
Ingredients
For the Dough:
- 400 g all-purpose flour
- 50 g sugar
- 7 g instant yeast (or 10g dried yeast)
- 1 packet vanilla sugar
- 1 large egg
- 150 ml warm milk
- 1 tsp vanilla essence
- 30 ml vegetable oil
- 1 egg (for brushing before baking)
- Zest from half a lemon
Optional Syrup:
- 150 ml water
- 50 g sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla essence
- Lemon or orange peel (to taste)
Toppings:
- Runny honey
- Chopped walnuts
Instructions
- Make the dough: In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, vanilla sugar, lemon zest, yeast, vanilla essence, and egg. Gradually add the warm milk, then the oil. Knead for 10 minutes with a mixer or 20 minutes by hand until smooth and elastic.
- Let it rise: Place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour in a warm place.
- Prepare syrup (optional): In a saucepan, heat water and sugar over low heat. Once sugar dissolves, add vanilla essence. Bring to a boil, turn off the heat, and add citrus peel. Keep warm.
- Shape the mucenici: Take a piece of dough and roll into a long thin strand. Coil each end in opposite directions until they meet in the middle to form a figure-8.
- Second rise: Place mucenici on a parchment-lined tray. Let rest 30 minutes.
- Bake: Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Brush pastries with beaten egg and bake for 20–25 minutes or until golden brown.
- Glaze & top: Let cool slightly. Brush with syrup (if using), then glaze with honey and sprinkle chopped walnuts on top.
Notes
A Sweet Pastry to Celebrate the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste – Only Made Once a Year on March 9th!
Mucenici Moldovenești is a beloved Romanian dessert, traditionally prepared only once a year—on March 9th, to honor the Orthodox celebration of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste. This time-honored recipe is a nostalgic reminder of Romanian roots, filled with flavor, meaning, and memories. 🕊️✨
This delicious pastry resembles cozonac, Romania’s traditional sweet bread, but with a twist: mucenici are shaped into figure-eights, symbolizing infinity and eternal life. They're glazed with honey and generously sprinkled with crunchy walnuts, making them a sticky, nutty, and irresistible treat. 🍯🌰🧁 What Are Mucenici?
In Romania, mucenici are deeply symbolic and vary by region:- In Moldova (northeast), mucenici are soft, baked pastries shaped like the number 8, brushed with honey, and topped with walnuts.
- In southern Romania, mucenici are tiny pasta-like shapes, also in the form of an 8, boiled in a sweet spiced broth with cinnamon, orange zest, and crushed nuts.
🙏 The Tradition Behind Mucenici
Mucenici Moldovenești aren't just a dessert—they’re part of a sacred tradition. On March 9th, Romanian Orthodox Christians commemorate the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste, who were Roman soldiers martyred for their faith. Women in rural areas often bake 40 mucenici, one for each martyr, and bring them to church to be blessed. The pastries are then shared with family, neighbors, and those in need, as a gesture of goodwill and remembrance. March 9th also marks the beginning of the agricultural year, and folklore says that whatever is sown on this day will grow 40 times more abundantly! 🌱🙏📝 Tips & Notes:
✅ No syrup? No problem! These pastries taste amazing with just honey and walnuts.✅ Use liquid honey to easily brush the top—no need to overdo it.
✅ A kitchen mixer with a dough hook will save time and effort.
✅ Makes 6–7 mucenici, depending on size.
📦 Storage Tips
Mucenici are best enjoyed fresh, but they can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2–3 days. They may dry out slightly over time, so it’s best to make only as many as you plan to eat.💡 Because of the sticky honey-walnut topping, wrapping them like cozonac isn't ideal.
OMG, these look amazing! I’m always looking for new baking adventures, and these Mucenici sound right up my alley. That honey and walnut combo? Sold! Gonna try this recipe, wish me luck (and maybe send some extra honey my way if it doesn’t turn out!). Thanks for sharing!