Yugoslavian Coffee Cake (Povitica)

Ingredients

Cake

• 1 package active dry yeast
• 1/4 cup warm water (105 to 115 degrees F)
• 3/4 cup lukewarm milk (scalded, then cooled)
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 3 eggs
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 1/2 to 5 cups all-purpose flour, divided

Walnut Filling

• 2 1/2 cups finely chopped walnuts
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup butter, softened
• 1 egg
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Glaze

• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Cake

1. Dissolve yeast in warm water in large bowl. Stir in milk, butter, eggs, sugar, salt and 3 cups of the flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to make dough easy to handle. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Place in greased bowl; turn greased side up.
2. Cover; let rise in warm place until double, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Dough is ready if indentation remains when touched.
3. Punch dough down; divide into halves. Roll each half into a 15 x 12 inch rectangle on lightly floured surface. Spread half the Walnut Filling over each rectangle. Roll up tightly, beginning at the 15 inch side. Pinch edge of dough into each roll to seal well. Stretch rolls to make even.
4. With sealed edges down, coil into small shapes on lightly greased cookie sheets.
5. Cover; let rise until double, about 1 hour.
6. Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
7. Bake until golden brown, 35 to 45 minutes. Brush with butter if desired; spread with Glaze.

Walnut Filling

1. Mix all ingredients.

Glaze

1. Mix confectioners' sugar, water and vanilla extract until smooth. Stir in additional water if necessary, 1/2 teaspoon at a time.