Povitica, a rolled yeast bread filled with various ingredients, is a traditional Eastern European dessert served on special occasions. It is known by different names in neighboring countries and is considered a dying art. Recipes vary, and it is often passed down through families. It is not overly sweet and can be frozen for several months. Online stores sell fresh povitica.
Povitica, or Croatian nut bread, is a nostalgic favorite of many Eastern Europeans and their descendants. Also known as Orehnjaca (nut bread) and Makovnjaca (poppy seed bread) in Croatia, Povitica is a favorite of many other neighboring cultures. Also known as Potica in Slovenia, Orechovnik in Slovakia and Štrudla in Serbian, recipes vary from region to region and family to family.
Povitica is a rolled yeast bread, somewhat similar to strudel. It is typically served on special occasions, such as holidays, birthdays, and weddings. The versatility of this bread makes it perfect for morning coffee or as a simple dessert. According to some, the povitica-making process is revered as a dying art, created by long-gone grandmothers and aunts in the ‘old country’. In the United States, many immigrants brought their family recipes for povitica and passed them down, preserving the tradition. A gift of povitica from one family to another is said to be a symbol of respect, making it a perfect hostess gift.
The sweetened dough is rolled out very thin and flat, and then smeared with filling. While walnut is the most traditional filling used to make povitica, other filling choices include hazelnuts, chocolate, poppy seeds, strawberry jam, apple, cherry, pumpkin, and cream cheese. After the filling is spread over the dough, it’s rolled tightly, into a simple roll and baked, or placed in a loaf pan for a more uniform loaf.
The end result looks beautifully: the rolled dough and filling create a swirled slice when cut. Unlike some cakes and coffee strudels that many Americans are familiar with, povitica isn’t particularly sweet — it doesn’t contain as much sugar as some other cake-like breads. While it’s best eaten warm from the oven, povitica will keep for several months if frozen.
Recipes for povitica abound on the internet and there are Croatian cookbooks dedicated to bread. For those craving a loaf of povitica, several online stores sell a small piece of the old country, shipped fresh from the oven.
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