Stephanie's Croatian Walnut Roll - Orahnjaca

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You’ve seen them often on our blog, but this time Mateja and Stephanie are up to something utterly delicious. They shared the traditional recipe for Orahnjaca; a Croatian delicacy, and their favourite cake in the world. 

Stephanie explains: “This delicacy is usually associated with traditional celebrations and family get together."

It is a nut roll with a bread like texture and its variations can be found in many regions of Central and Eastern Europe. Stephanie and Mateja agree: “the Croatian variation is of course the best."

The recipe can be altered with poppy seeds and it’s then called Makovnjaca.

The two neighbours joke “Makovnjaca and Orahnjaca, the walnut and the poppy seed rolls, are like best friends who attend parties together – you will rarely see one without the other in a very close proximity."

We cannot think of a better recipe to celebrate the power of friendship!

Ingredients

Dough

• 100 grams caster sugar

• 200 ml milk

• 30 grams yeast

• 600 grams plain flour

• 150 grams butter, melted

• 4 egg yolks

• 1/2 tsp salt

Filling

• 400 grams walnuts, finely ground

• 4 egg whites

• 200 grams caster sugar

• 100 ml milk

• Lemon – ½ grated zest

Instructions

1. Dough

• Dissolve the sugar in warm milk, blend in the yeast and leave to rise for cca 15 minutes.

• Mix together flour, yeast, salt, butter and egg yolks to make a dough. Beat with a wooden spoon until blisters begin to form on the dough.

• Cover and let stand in a warm place until it doubles in size, about 1 hour.

2. Filling

• Beat egg whites until stiff.

• Heat the milk in a pot until scalding hot. Pour the milk over the walnuts. Combine with sugar and raisins. Allow to cool.

• Gently fold in beaten egg whites.

3. To Assemble

• Divide the dough into two sections.

• Roll each section out very thin, about 1cm.

• Divide walnut mixture into half and fill each rolled out dough with the wallnut filling, leaving the top two inches free on each.

• Roll by up gently.

• Oil 2 baking tins and place a roll into each pan.

• Brush the rolls with melted butter and bake at 175 C (350 F) for about 40 minutes or until golden.

• Leave to cool and slice. DOBAR TEK!

Hvala ti for sharing Stephanie and Mateja! And if you feel inspired to get baking, why not joining Care’s Cake Week?