The famous Orehnjača, which is basically a walnut cake is a traditional specialty typically prepared in continental Croatia. Ask any local what would their grandma prepare for dessert during, for example, Christmas or Easter lunch. This pastry is a hit for all generations and everybody who likes their bread….well…nutty and sweet! It is not difficult to make a Walnut cake/Orehnjača so follow the simple steps and surprise your loved ones!
Ingredients:
Ingredients for dough:600 g flour,250 ml milk,100 g sugar,80 g margarine,30g baker’s yeast,5 yolk,1 lemon (zested),a pinch of salt;For filling: 40 dkg minced walnut,2 tablespoon honey,15 dkg sugar,lemon zest,8 dkg raisin,rum,cinnamon,nutmeg,2-3 dl milk,powdered sugar;
Preparation:
Dough: Sift flour in a plastic bowl. Heat milk in a kettle until warm, not hot. Pour half in a second bowl, add little sugar, crumbled yeast and leave to rise. Form a pit in the flour, pour in a mixture of yeast and milk, cover with some flour and leave for a while. In the meantime, separate egg yolk from egg white. Whisk in yolk, margarine, sugar and lemon zest into the smooth mixture, pour the mixture into the flour, add leftover lukewarm milk, knead and salt. Knead the dough on a wooden board coated with flour until smooth. Leave to rise until it doubles in size. Filling: pour boiling milk over minced walnuts, add honey, sugar, raisins, lemon zest, rum, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Whisk in and cool. Once the dough rises/doubles in size, split in half. Roll out each half, spread filling on top, garnish with raisins and form into a roll. Place on a greased baking pan and bake in an oven heated to 190-200 degrees. Bake for 60-70 minutes. When done, leave in a warm oven for additional 10 minutes, turn it upside down on a wire rack and leave to cool. Sprinkle with powdered sugar while warm.
