I loved when my grandma would make this povitica bread recipe when I was a child. It's a real Croatian treat. Enjoy! This is time-consuming but worth every minute!
Preparation Time
45 mins
Cooking Time
40 mins
Total Time
1 hr 25 mins
Calories
411 Calories
Recipe Instructions
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
Step 2
Bake in the preheated oven until top is golden brown, 40 to 45 minutes.
Step 3
Make bread dough: Combine warm water and yeast together in a large bowl. Let stand until yeast softens and forms a creamy foam, about 5 minutes.
Step 4
Stir lukewarm milk, white sugar, shortening, egg, and salt into yeast mixture. Mix in flour until a soft, easy-to-handle dough forms.
Step 5
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.
Step 6
Place dough in a large, lightly-oiled bowl and turn to coat. Cover the bowl with a damp towel; let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume or until a hole remains when dough is pressed, about 2 hours.
Step 7
Punch down dough and turn onto a lightly floured surface. Shape into a ball and let dough rest for 15 minutes.
Step 8
Make filling: Beat brown sugar, butter, and egg together in a bowl until creamy. Add milk, vanilla extract, and lemon extract; stir until smooth. Stir in walnuts until incorporated.
Step 9
Roll dough on a large, floured cloth into a 20x30-inch rectangle. Spread walnut filling evenly over top of dough, spreading to the edges. Roll up along the long edge like a jelly roll and pinch edges to seal. Coil roll into a snail shape.
Step 10
Grease a 9x13x2-inch baking sheet. Place shaped dough on the prepared sheet and let rise until an impression remains when dough is gently pressed, about 1 hour.
