grandma's povitisa (po-vuh-teet-zuh) povitica croatian nut bread

Ingredients

• Servings: 1
• 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

Recipe

Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 40 mins Ready Time: 4 hrs 40 mins


• 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.
• 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.
• turn dough out a lightly floured surface and let stand for 10 minutes. knead dough until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. form dough into a ball.
• 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.
• punch down dough and turn a lightly floured surface. shape into ball and let dough rest for 15 minutes.
• 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.
• roll dough on a large, floured cloth into a 20x30-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.
• 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.
• preheat oven to 325 degrees f (165 degrees c).
• bake in the preheated oven until the top is golden brown, 40 to 45 minutes.