Grandmas Povitisa (Po-vuh-teet-zuh) Povitica Croatian Nut Bread Recipe

Grandmas Povitisa (Po-vuh-teet-zuh) Povitica Croatian Nut Bread Recipe

  • Bread Dough:
  • 1/4 cup warm water
  • 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
  • 3/4 cup lukewarm milk
  • 1/4 cup white sugar
  • 1/4 cup vegetable shortening (such as Crisco®)
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, or more as needed
  • Filling:
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
  • 2 cups finely chopped walnuts
  1. Combine warm water and yeast together in a large bowl. Let stand until yeast softens and begins to form a creamy foam, about 5 minutes.
  2. Stir 3/4 cup lukewarm milk, white sugar, shortening, 1 egg, and salt into yeast mixture. Mix flour into yeast mixture until a soft, easy to handle dough forms.
  3. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and let stand for 10 minutes. Knead dough until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. Form dough into a ball.
  4. Place dough in a large, lightly-oiled bowl and turn to coat. Cover bowl with a damp towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, or until a hole remains when your finger is pressed deeply into the dough, about 2 hours.
  5. Punch down dough and turn onto a lightly floured surface. Shape into ball and let dough rest for 15 minutes.
  6. Beat brown sugar, butter, and 1 egg together in a bowl until creamy. Add 1/4 cup milk, vanilla extract, and lemon extract; stir until smooth. Stir walnuts into the filling mixture until walnuts are completely incorporated.
  7. Roll dough on a large, floured cloth into a 20×30-inch rectangle. Spread walnut filling evenly over the top of the dough, spreading to the edges. Roll the rectangle up along the long edge like a jelly roll and pinch edges to seal. Coil the roll into a snail-shape.
  8. Grease a 9x13x2-inch baking sheet. Place shaped dough on the prepared sheet and let rise until an impression remains when the dough is gently pressed, about 1 hour.
  9. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
  10. Bake in the preheated oven until the top is golden brown, 40 to 45 minutes.