Maritozzo

Method

1. 1 Knead the flour with yeast, warm milk, eggs, sugar, and orange zest for 15 minutes, then add softened butter and knead for another 8 minutes.
2. 2 Let it ferment for 3 hours in a warm place, then divide it into portions and roll them into oval shapes.
3. 3 Let it rest for a second hour, then brush with egg wash and bake at 180 degrees for 18 minutes.
4. 4 Let the cake cool completely before cutting; if it's still warm, the cream will melt immediately.
5. 5 Make a deep diagonal cut across the surface of the cake, but do not cut it completely through.
6. 6 Whip the heavy cream with powdered sugar until stiff peaks form, then fill the slits with the cream, smooth the surface, and sift in the powdered sugar.

With an appliance

• Air fryer 1 hr 30 min

  To replace the baking step in step 3: spray oil on the surface of each loaf, run the oven at 195 degrees for 12 minutes, and flip gently at minute 6; the crust browns faster, so space them out and divide them into batches so the loaves have room to rise.