For me, the holidays just wouldn’t be the holidays without this Slovinian nut bread, or Potica (pronounced Poh-tee-suh).

Dough Ingredients:

1 pkg active dry yeast dissolved in 1/4 cup warm water
1 cup warm milk
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs, well beaten
4-1/2 cups unsifted all-purpose flour

Filling Ingredients:

2 eggs
3/4 lb. walnuts, chopped
1/2 cup honey
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Dissolve yeast with water and mix with warm milk.
3. In large bowl, with electric mixer at medium speed, beat 1/4 cup butter with the sugar until fluffy. Add salt, 2 well beaten eggs, and the yeast mixture. Beat well.
4. Gradually add flour; stir until smooth. Turn out on lightly floured surface, knead with hands until smooth and elastic (about 10 minutes).
5. Place in lightly greased large bowl, greased side up. Cover with towel. Let rise in warm place (85 degrees F) free from drafts, until double – about 1 hour.
6. Meanwhile, make filling. In medium bowl, slightly beat eggs. Add nuts, honey, butter , cinnamon, and vanilla. Stir well.
7. Punch down dough.
8. On lightly floured surface, roll and stretch dough out to a 30 inch square.
9. Spread with filling.
10. Roll-up like a jellyroll. Form dough into a snail-like coil. Leave no opening in the center. Place on greased cookie sheet.
11. Cover and let rise until double in bulk – about 1 hour.
12. Bake 40-50 minutes. When rapped with fist, it will sound hollow. Cool on wire rack.