Festive roll cake - a classic that delights

The festive roll cake is more than just a dessert; it's a true festive masterpiece, winning the hearts of every gourmet with its rich texture and flavor. Traditionally, it combines the best of two worlds: a creamy custard filling and a classic walnut filling wrapped in a soft yeast dough. It is named ''splurge'' because it is full of ingredients that symbolize abundance and festive indulgence. During the holidays, when the table is full of delicacies, the sweets are the ones that guests always notice and admire. It may take a little more time to prepare, but the result is worth every minute.

How is a roll cake made?

Festive roll cake or 'potratna potica' has its roots in the rich Slovenian tradition of making potica, which dates back to the distant past. It was not until the 20th century that it was first recorded, as housewives created it in response to a desire for a more luxurious version of the classic potica. Today, it is an indispensable part of the festive menu, especially at Christmas and Easter.

Recipe for traditional rich festive roll cake

Read the easy-to-understand recipe for a traditional 'potica' that you can make at home.

Ingredients:

For the dough:

- 500 g white flour

- 20 g fresh yeast

- 80 g sugar

- 50 ml of warm milk

- 2 egg yolks

- 80 g butter

- ½ teaspoon salt

- ½ teaspoon BAM Vanilla paste

For the walnut filling:

- 250 g ground walnuts

- 100 ml hot milk

- 80 g sugar

- 1 tbsp honey

- 1 tsp rum

For the cottage cheese filling:

- 300 g cottage cheese

- 80 g of sugar

- 1 egg

- 1 tbsp sour cream

- grated peel of ½ lemon

Procedure:

To prepare the dough:

1. Dissolve the yeast in the warm milk with a teaspoon of sugar and let it activate for 10 minutes.

2. Sift the flour into a large bowl, add the sugar, salt, BAM Vanilla Paste, and egg yolks.

3. Stir in the yeast and slowly add the warm milk. Finally, stir in the melted butter.

4. Knead the dough until smooth, then cover and leave to rise for about one hour until doubled in volume.

To prepare the fillings:

For the walnut filling, mix the ground walnuts, sugar, honey, rum, and hot milk to make a spreadable mixture.

For the cottage cheese filling, mix all the ingredients until smooth and creamy.

To assemble the cake:

1. Roll out the risen dough into a rectangle. Spread the walnut filling on one half and the cottage cheese filling on the other.

2. Roll the dough tightly and transfer to a greased baking tray.

3. Leave to rise for 30 minutes, then brush with beaten egg.

4. Bake the pastry in a preheated oven at 180 °C for about 50-60 minutes.

Cooling and serving:

After baking, let the cake cool completely, then slice and serve.

How to upgrade a festive roll cake?

For a more modern version, you can use pistachios instead of walnuts and add BAM Pistachio Paste and BAM Pistachio Spread or BAM Crunchy Pistachio Protein Spread with sweetener. Alternatively, top the cottage cheese filling with BAM Raspberry Jam without added sugar. Alternatively, the addition of chocolate provides a richer and more sophisticated flavor. If you want a healthier version, try using wholemeal flour and reduce the amount of sugar.

Tips for the perfect 'potica'

1. Always knead the dough well to make it soft and pliable.

2. Don't put too much filling around the edges of the dough so that it doesn't run during baking.

3. Make sure the dough has risen sufficiently before baking - the dough should be light and fluffy.

4. If you wish, you can decorate the cake with icing sugar or melted BAM chocolate drops. 

Queen of the Festive table

The festive roll cake is a dessert that combines tradition and luxury in a single slice. Although it is a little more complicated to prepare, the result is always worth the effort. At festive times, when we want something special, it is the potsticker that brings warmth, joy, and a sweet experience.