Homemade Povitica Recipe (Povitica Bread) (2024)

By Laura

Posted Dec 22, 2020, Updated Mar 15, 2024

5 from 28 votes

72 Comments

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This Homemade Povitica Recipe is a beautiful and delicious treat that’s perfect to give as a gift for the holidays! Povitica Bread is a rich homemade bread with a cinnamon walnut filling that is an old family favorite.

Homemade Povitica Recipe (Povitica Bread) (2)

When I think about the holidays, this Povitica Recipe always comes to mind (along with these snickerdoodles, these cut-out sugar cookies and these cinnamon rolls)! It is a very special and beautiful holiday treat that is the perfect gift to bring wrapped up, still warm from the oven, to a neighbor or friend. Add a bag full of these cinnamon pecans and you’re set!

Povitica Bread is a rich homemade bread with a cinnamon walnut filling that is an old family favorite, delicious for a Christmas morning breakfast, Mother’s Day brunch, etc.

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Povitica Recipe: Ingredients & Substitutions

Asalways this recipe for povitica bread is the best when made as written. The only potential substitution I could (in good conscience) recommend is using pecans in place of walnuts if you’re not a walnut fan!

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How to Make Povitica Bread

This Povitica recipe has a few different steps, and as always we’ll walk through them together. Don’t forget to watch the video too!

Begin by proofing the yeast, water and sugar.

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Begin this povitica bread reicpe by preparing the wet ingredients. In a medium saucepan, heat the milk to just below boiling (about 180°F), stirring occasionally. Allow to cool slightly, until it is about 105°F. Once cooled, whisk in the melted butter, sugar and salt to the milk until combined. Add egg, vanilla and yeast mixture and stir to combine.

The most important thing to note about this process is to make sure that your ingredients are below 105 degrees F before combining them with the yeast. If they are warmer than that you will very likely kill the yeast and the bread will not rise.

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Once the wet ingredients are prepared, add the flour to the container of a standing mixer fitted with a dough hook. You can also place it in a large bowl and mix by hand.

Pour the wet ingredients into the flour and mix the dough with the dough hook until it forms a smooth, elastic ball.

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If necessary, add up to 2 Tablespoons more flour until dough is smooth and no longer sticky. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and form into a ball.

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Rise

Place the Povitica dough in a lightly-greased bowl covered with a wet towel and let it rise for 1.5 to 2 hours (or until doubled in size).

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Make the Povitica Filling

While the Povitica bread dough is rising, make the filling. You can use a high-powered blender or food processor to make the filling.

Start by putting the wet ingredients into the container and blending/processing until they are warm. Then add the rest of the ingredients and pulse until ingredients are combined and walnuts are chopped into small pieces. Let the filling stand-covered-at room temperature until the rise is complete!

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Roll & Assemble Povitica Dough

Next comes the rolling and assembling. Roll out the povitica bread dough into a large rectangle and gently spread the filling over it, leaving a 1/2″ space at the edges bare. Tightly roll the dough into a jelly roll, making sure to apply ample pressure to ensure a tight roll.

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Make an “S” Shape in the Pan

Take the rolled povitica bread dough “rope” and stretch it just a touch. Then form it into an “S” shape in a prepared baking pan. This is what gives this povitica recipe it’s beautiful appearance! At this point let the bread sit, covered, while you preheat the oven and get ready to bake.

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Bake

Bake the Povitica bread in the oven once it’s preheated, and after 15 minutes, decrease the temperature and continue baking for about 45 more minutes!

Cool & Serve

When it is finished, place the breadin the pan on a wire rack to cool. This povitica bread is heavy, so it is very important to leave it in the pan while it cools so that it retains its shape. Once this povitica recipe completely cool dive on it! Carefully slice the povitica bread and share with your family and friends!

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Store

Store this povitica bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

To Freeze

You can freeze the entire, baked loaf of Povitica bread. Let it cool completely, then wrap it in plastic wrap and put it in an airtight container or ziplock bag and freeze for up to 2 months. You can also freeze individual slices in the same way.

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Povitica Bread Recipe FAQs

Can I double this recipe?

You can easily double (or triple) this recipe to make more loaves to share with your loved ones!

What nationality is povitica?

It’s Croatian, povitica means walnut bread.

Can I make this in advance?

Yes! You can form the loaf and let it rise in the refrigerator overnight if you want to bake it fresh in the morning for breakfast. You can also bake the loaf and freeze it.

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Homemade Povitica Recipe (Povitica Bread) (17)

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Povitica Recipe

Laura

This Homemade Povitica Recipe is a beautiful and delicious treat that's perfect to give as a gift for the holidays! Povitica Bread is a rich homemade bread with a cinnamon walnut filling that is an old family favorite.

5 from 28 votes

Course bread, Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 12 Servings (1 Loaf)

Calories 320

Prep Time30 minutes minutes

Cook Time1 hour hour

Rising time2 hours hours

Total Time1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Ingredients

Dough:

Walnut Filling:

Instructions

Make the Dough

  • In a small bowl, stir ½ teaspoon sugar, and yeast into warm water. Set aside until foamy (about 5 minutes)

  • In a medium saucepan, heat the milk to just below boiling (about 180°F), stirring occasionally. Allow to cool slightly, until it is about 110°F.

  • Once cooled, whisk in the melted butter, 3 TBS sugar and salt to the milk until combined. Add egg, vanilla and yeast mixture and stir to combine.

  • Add flour into the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a dough hook.

  • Pour wet ingredients into the flour and mix the dough with the dough hook until it forms a smooth, elastic ball of dough. (You can also mix and knead by hand).

  • If necessary, add up to 2 TBS more flour until dough is smooth and no longer sticky.

  • Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and form into a ball.

  • Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl and cover with a warm, damp tea towel and let the dough rise for 1.5 hours in a warm place, or until doubled in size.

Make the Filling

  • While the dough is rising, put the milk and butter into the container of a blender or food processor and blend/process until the mixture is warm.

  • Add Walnuts, sugar, salt, and cinnamon and pulse a few times until the ingredients are combined and walnuts are crushed into smaller pieces.

  • Add egg yolk and vanilla and pulse to combine.

  • Allow mixture to stand at room temperature until dough is ready.

Assembled

  • Line a 9×5” loaf pan with parchment paper and grease with butter. Set aside.

  • After the dough has doubled in size, remove it from the bowl and place on a well-floured surface.

  • Roll the dough into a rectangle about 18” x 7” in size. Be sure dough is thin but not so thin that you can see through it (about ¼” thick).

  • Spread the filling evenly on the dough, leaving about 1/2” at the edges bare. (If your filling has become too thick to spread, add warm milk ½ TBS at a time until it just reaches spreading consistency).

  • Staring at the edge of your rectangle, roll the dough tightly together making a jelly roll (see picture). Be sure to apply pressure and keep rolling tightly until it resembles a rope.

  • Gently stretch out the “rope” and lift it into your prepared loaf pan, making an “S” shape as you put it in. (To do this, fold the dough into thirds in your pan (see pictures)).

  • Cover the pan with a damp towel and let it sit in a warm place for at least 15 minutes while you preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

Bake & Cool

  • Bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees.

  • After 15 minutes turn down the oven to 300 degrees F and bake for an additional 45 minutes (about 1 hour total), or until done (will sound hollow when hit with a wooden spoon). Check your bread after about 30 minutes and cover with aluminum foil if it is getting too brown.

  • Remove bread from the oven. Cool for 20-30 minutes on a wire rack before removing from pan.

  • Cool completely before cutting and serving!

Video

Notes

I do not recommend any substitutions in this recipe. This recipe is easily doubled or tripled to make more loaves to share with loved ones!

Store

Store this povitica bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Freeze

You can freeze the entire, baked loaf of Povitica bread. Let it cool completely, then wrap it in plastic wrap and put it in an airtight container or ziplock bag and freeze for up to 2 months. You can also freeze individual slices in the same way.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 320kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 17.5g | Saturated Fat: 4.5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8.6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 226mg | Potassium: 142mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 230IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 1.4mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you enjoy this recipe? Have a question? Leave a comment below!

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Homemade Povitica Recipe (Povitica Bread) (2024)

FAQs

What is povitica made of? ›

Povitica begins with a yeast dough enriched with egg, butter, and sugar and is rolled thinly into a long rectangle. Walnuts, cinnamon, and brown sugar are blitzed together into a nutty paste that gets slathered generously over the dough.

What is the difference between potica and povitica? ›

Known as Potica (poh-TEET-sah) among Slovenians and povitica (poh-vee-TEET-sah) among Croatians, this sweet or savory pastry is made with a yeast-raised dough that is rolled or stretched out thinly and then spread with a filling.

Does povitica need to be refrigerated? ›

Once received, your povitica will remain soft and fresh for up to a week on your countertop. If you're aiming for a bit longer, keep each loaf cool in your refrigerator for up to two weeks. If you have the will power, you can freeze your Povitica for up to three months.

Where is povitica bread from? ›

Its origin traces back to the early 20th century in Slovenia and Croatia, among other regions of Central Europe. Povitica Bread, named after the Slovenian word poviti meaning “to wrap” or “to roll,” is a traditional Eastern European sweet bread.

What is another name for povitica? ›

Grandma pronounced it “po-va-TEET-sa.” Others know this Eastern European pastry as potica, kolachi, gubana or bejgli. But you don't have to learn Croatian to enjoy this delicious tradition — just call it “povi” for short!

Where did povitica originate? ›

Belokranjska povitica (English: White Carniola rolled pastry) is a Slovenian national dish. It was supposedly brought to the White Carniola region by the Uskoks, who were Croatian Habsburg soldiers that inhabited the areas of the eastern Adriatic area. The name itself, povitica, explains the preparation.

How to eat povitica? ›

Once the loaf has cooled and is ready to be served, you must turn it upside down for slicing with a serrated knife. The flaky top of loaf will be torn away in big shards if you don't follow these directions, but then again no one will be watching so stuff the bits into your mouth and carry on.

What ethnicity is potica? ›

Potica (po-TEET-sa) is a traditional Slovenian walnut bread, usually made around Christmas and Easter. Both sides of my family are from Slovenia, so potica was always available.

Is povitica Slovenian? ›

Potica (Slovene pronunciation: [pɔˈtít͡sa], also slovenska potica) is a traditional festive pastry from Slovenia. Slovenska potica is variation of rolled pastry. The word potica as well as some regional names for potica, like povtica, potvica, etc.

How do you freeze povitica? ›

You can freeze the entire, baked loaf of Povitica bread. Let it cool completely, then wrap it in plastic wrap and put it in an airtight container or ziplock bag and freeze for up to 2 months. You can also freeze individual slices in the same way.

Can you refrigerate yeast roll dough? ›

Prepare the dough, let it rise, and shape the rolls. Cover the shaped rolls tightly and refrigerate for up to about 16 hours. At least 3 hours before you need them the next day, remove the rolls from the refrigerator and allow to rise on the counter for about 1-2 hours before baking.

Does bread stay fresher longer when it is kept in the refrigerator or on the counter? ›

In short, if you plan to eat your bread quickly, store it at room temperature in a cool, dark, dry place such as a pantry, bread box, or cabinet, or freeze it if you want it to last longer. Bread stored at room temperature should be kept in its original packaging or wrapped tightly in plastic wrap.

What is the difference between babka and povitica? ›

Babka may be the most well-known, but it is not the only twisted or braided bread from Eastern Europe. Povitica, an Easter bread from Slovenia and Croatia, is a similar enriched bread rolled with a walnut filling. Compared to babka, potivica is rolled much thinner and has an elaborate pattern of tight spirals.

Who makes povitica? ›

Preserving a secret family recipe more than a century old, Strawberry Hill Baking Co. brings the Old World povitica to a new generation, along with other delicious recipes inspired by the same spirit of heartfelt sharing.

How old is a Potica? ›

Potica was first mentioned as early as the 16th century. Today, it is considered a symbol of Slovenian cuisine, a traditional guaranteed speciality that is undergoing a protection procedure under the auspices of the European Commission.

What is potica made of? ›

Potica consists of a rolled pastry made of leavened paper-thin dough filled with any of a great variety of fillings, but most often with walnut filling. The most characteristic poticas are made with ground walnut, tarragon, quark, hazelnut or poppy seed, salted ones even with cracklings or bacon, and other fillings.

What is Iranian bread made of? ›

3.2. 4. Lavash
No.Persian nameMajor ingredients
1ChepotinWheat flour, water, salt
2KukehWheat flour, oil, salt, milk, turmeric, egg yolk
3HashjinWheat flour, sugar, salt, oil, walnut, cinnamon
4KhitabWheat flour, oil, salt, turmeric, onion, spinach
8 more rows

What is Iraqi bread made of? ›

Whisk flour, powdered milk, yeast, sugar, and salt together in a large bowl. Add butter and mix with your hands until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually add water to flour mixture, using your hands to mix well after each addition.

What was war bread made of? ›

When white flour was scarce, often in wartime, this blend of rolled oats, cornmeal and whole wheat was added to the flour to make it go farther. It makes a delicious loaf that tastes equally good in less troubled times." Prep time includes rising time."

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