Potica

This is a wonderful bread from Slovenia with a sweet, nutty filling. Due to the spelling and pronunciation (paw-tee’-tzah) it’s very hard to find the recipe.

Original recipe makes 2 loaves

Ingredients

1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup milk, lukewarm
1 cup butter, softened
6 egg yolks
1 1/3 cups milk
5 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, melted
1 cup honey
1 1/2 cups raisins
1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

PREP

30 mins
COOK

1 hr
READY IN

3 hrs

Directions

In a small mixing bowl, dissolve yeast, 1 teaspoon sugar, and 3 tablespoons of the flour in warm milk. Mix well, and let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
In a large mixing bowl cream the butter with the remaining sugar. Add the egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the yeast mixture, remaining milk, 4 cups of flour and the salt; mix well. Add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
Lightly grease one or two cookie sheets. Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into two equal pieces and roll Out to 1/4 to 1/2 inch thickness. Spread each piece with melted butter, honey, raisins, walnuts and cinnamon. Roll each piece up like a jelly roll and pinch the ends. Place seam side down onto the prepared baking sheets. Let rise until double in volume. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for about 60 minutes or until the top is golden brown.