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Learn how to make this traditional Slovenian festive sweet yeasted roll stuffed with walnut and aromatic spices in the filling that is often served during Easter and Christmas. You can bake it in a loaf pan or in a Bundt pan.
The first time I tried potica (Poh-teet-sah) was at Costco when they offered sampling before Christmas. I fell in love with it after that. I love anything that is stuffed with nuts, to begin with, so potica sits well with me 😉
What is potica?
Potica is a yeasted sweet bread stuffed with sweet walnut fillings and then rolled up to form those beautiful layers when you cut the bread. The bread is usually is a ring shape baked in a special mold called potičnik made with ceramic, which looks like a bundt pan. Of course, nowadays you will see people bake potica in a regular bread loaf pan too.
Potica or povitica
From what I’ve read, potica is what the Slovenian calls it and povitica is the Croatian version. Some said that they are similar but not the same. They are slightly different in terms of the spices used in the filling? I’m not so sure myself. But all I know is whether you give me potica or povitica, I will welcome them with open arms for sure!
Tips for success
1. I highly recommend to rest the dough overnight after first proofing for one hour. It makes the dough softer with better flavor too 2. Ground the nuts as fine as possible, close to a powder consistency if you can and the consistency of the filling should be thick but moist (not soupy) after mixing with other ingredients 3. If you pan has dark color, very close to black, you want to watch out on the baking time. Check on the bread at about 10 minutes early to see if it is done. If you overbake the bread, it will be dry and crumbly
Toast the walnuts on a dry non-stick pan over medium-low heat until they smell nutty and nice, about 5 minutes. Let it cool down completely when you prepare other things
Put the toasted walnuts in a food processor and pulse several times until they are in fine pieces, almost like coarse flour consistency. Don't overwork it so it won't turn into walnut butter
Separate the egg yolk from the white. Add the egg yolk and the rest of the ingredients to the walnut. Stir to combine evenly. Use a fork and beat the egg white vigorously until they are foamy. Fold the egg white into the walnut mixture. It should be thick but moist enough for you to spread on the dough later. Cover and set aside
Prepare the dough:
Put all the ingredients for the dough in a mixing bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a hood attachment. I usually use the hook to stir the ingredients a bit to combine so when I start the machine, the dry ingredients won't "fly" all over
Start with the lowest speed for about 2-3 minutes to get a rough shaggy dough and then increase the speed to 4 (on KA) and knead for 8-10 minutes. You need to stop the machine several times to scrape the dough from the side of the bowl so everything is kneaded properly. Knead the until dough is smooth and elastic. It should be sticky too the touch but won't stick to your fingers.
First proofing:
Lightly oil the bowl. Cover the dough and let it rise at a warm place for about one hour or until it doubles in volume. This may take 1 hour or longer, depending on the temperature
To shape:
Get the dough out from the fridge, about 1 hour before you plan to start working on it to let it comes to room temperature. Lightly grease you oil surface and your rolling pin. Transfer the dough to a work surface.
To bake in loaf pan:
Grease a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan and the line the pan with a parchment paper. You can crisscross with parchment paper
Lightly dust your work surface with a bit of flour. Turn the dough out onto the working surface. Use a rolling pin to gently roll the dough out (while deflating some air bubbles at the same time) into about 18 x 24 inch rectangles, with the long side near you. The dough will be quite thin
Very gently and carefully spread the filling on the surface of the dough leaving about 1/2 inch along the borders. The filling should be easily spread without tearing the dough. If it's too thick, add 1 tablespoon of milk (or more as needed) to the walnut filling to thin it out a bit and try to spread again.
Carefully roll the dough up, starting from the side near you, moving along the length of the dough. Tuck it in as you roll so it will be a tight log and you won't end up with "holes" when you cut into the bread later after baking. The seam side should be facing down. Pinch the seams together with your fingers to seal
Gently roll the dough back and forth in the middle part of the log, then move to the left and do the same and move to the right and do the same.This is to lengthen the log a little bit, so it is about 3 times the length of your baking pan. Pinch the dough on both ends to seal.
Shape the log into a "Z" shape and carefully lift the dough up and put it inside the pan. The dough shouldn't be stacking on top of each other. It should be a "Z" shape inside the pan too
If baking in a Bundt pan:
This recipe will fit into 8 x 2 3/4-inch Bundt pan (6 cups/1.4 litre). Generously butter the pan, especially the nook and cranny parts and then dust with flour. Tapping out any excess flour. You can also use a non-stick spray with flour such as Baker's Joy.
Helpful tips: Use a clean kitchen towel and roll it into a log and place this inside your bundt pan, pretending that this is the dough you are going to bake. This helps to "measure" how long you need to roll the dough out so the dough fit nicely into the bundt pan without being too long
Use a rolling pin to gently roll the dough out (while deflating some air bubbles at the same time) into the length as long as the towel you use to measure the Bundt pan, you can roll it slightly longer than the towel, with the long side near you
Very gently and carefully spread the filling on the surface of the dough leaving about 1/2 inch along the borders. The filling should be easily spread without tearing the dough. If it's too thick, add 1 tablespoon of milk (or more as needed) to the walnut filling to thin it out a bit and try to spread again.
Carefully roll the dough up, starting from the side near you, moving along the length of the dough. Tuck it in as you roll so it will be a tight log and you won't end up with "holes" when you cut into the bread later after baking. The seam side should be facing down. Pinch the seams together with your fingers to seal
Lift the dough up and gently place this inside the Bundt pan, pinching the two ends to seal it together the best you can
Second proofing:
Cover the shaped dough and put in a warm place to let the dough rise again until it doubles the size again, about an hour or so, depending on the temperature where you are
Baking:
Beat the egg with water to make an egg wash
10 minutes before the end of second proofing, preheat oven to 350 F (180 C). This is for conventional oven with bottom heat only. If you use convection oven, you may want to lower temperature by 20 F/15 C
Brush the surface of the dough with egg wash. if you bake in a bundt pan, poke a few holes on top to help release some hot air.
If you bake in a loaf pan, sprinkle with some turbinado sugar (or regular sugar) and some chopped walnuts and/or pecans (totally optional_
Place the pan at the middle rack and bake for 15 minutes. Lower the temperature to 300 F (150 C) for conventional oven, without opening the oven door, and bake for another 45 minutes or until the internal temperature of the bread is 190 F ( 88 C)Lower the temperature by 20 F/15 C for convection oven
Remove from the oven and let the bread cool down in the pan on a cooling rack for about 15 minutes and then remove from the pan and let it cool down completely on a cooling rack
Serve the next day:
The bread tastes even better the next day when the flavor has fully developed
How to store:
Once the bread has cooled down completely, wrap it up with a cling wrap and keep inside an air-tight container and it can be kept at room temperature for about 3 days
For longer storage, keep them in the freezer. Wrap it well with a cling wrap and then put inside a freezer bag, push all the air out and seal. Keep in the freezer for about one month. Simply thaw at room temperature before serving
*Nutrition facts are just estimates and calculated using online tools*
Nutrition Facts
How To Make Potica (Slovenian Walnut Rolls)
Serving Size
1 serving
Amount per Serving
Calories
352
% Daily Value*
Fat
20
g
31
%
Saturated Fat
6
g
38
%
Trans Fat
0.2
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
9
g
Monounsaturated Fat
4
g
Cholesterol
63
mg
21
%
Sodium
288
mg
13
%
Potassium
170
mg
5
%
Carbohydrates
38
g
13
%
Fiber
3
g
13
%
Sugar
18
g
20
%
Protein
8
g
16
%
Vitamin A
270
IU
5
%
Vitamin C
0.3
mg
0
%
Calcium
48
mg
5
%
Iron
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Did you make this recipe?Let me know how you like this recipe and consider rating it! Tag me @whattocooktoday I’d love to see your photos/videos on Instagram
I realize that different families have different versions of this recipe, but, I am pretty sure, that, traditionally, cocoa powder and cinnamon were not used. Also, honey is used in the filling as the sweetener. But, like everything else, you have to make thing to your liking or why bother?
You are right. It seems like traditional potica recipes varies among families. Many use ground cinnamon and some use honey and some not. Some use cocoa powder some not. I honestly not sure about the true original version LOL! But like you said, as long as you like it 😀
2 comments
I realize that different families have different versions of this recipe, but, I am pretty sure, that, traditionally, cocoa powder and cinnamon were not used. Also, honey is used in the filling as the sweetener. But, like everything else, you have to make thing to your liking or why bother?
You are right. It seems like traditional potica recipes varies among families. Many use ground cinnamon and some use honey and some not. Some use cocoa powder some not. I honestly not sure about the true original version LOL! But like you said, as long as you like it 😀