Orahnjaca (Croatian Walnut Roll)
A soft, buttery yeast dough rolled around a spiced walnut filling and baked until golden, a Croatian favourite for celebrations.
- Time2 hr 30
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £0.48 a head
- Oven180°C (160°C fan)
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Estimated nutrition per serving
- 519kcal
- 61.1gcarbs
- 21.9gof which sugars
- 25.3gfat
- 8.1gsaturates
- 13gprotein
- 3.6gfibre
- 0.5gsalt
A rough estimate worked out from the ingredients, for the serving size above. It is a guide only and not medical advice. If you count carbs or manage diabetes, check with your own tools and your care team.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Mix the flour, 60 g sugar, yeast and salt in a large bowl. Add the warm milk, egg, melted butter and lemon zest and mix to a soft dough.
- 2
Knead on a floured surface for 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Put it in an oiled bowl, cover and leave somewhere warm for 1 hour until doubled in size.
60 min - 3
Meanwhile make the filling. Blitz the walnuts to a coarse crumb. Heat the 150 ml milk, 120 g sugar, cinnamon and 30 g butter until the butter melts, then stir in the walnuts. The mixture should be thick and spreadable. Cool completely.
- 4
Roll the dough out on a floured surface to a rectangle about 40 x 30 cm. Spread the filling over it, leaving a 2 cm border, and roll up from the long side like a Swiss roll.
- 5
Lay the roll seam side down on a lined baking tray, curving it into a gentle horseshoe if it is too long. Cover and leave to rise for 30 minutes.
30 min - 6
Heat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan). Brush the roll with the beaten egg and milk and prick a few times with a fork.
- 7
Bake for 40 minutes until deep golden brown and it sounds hollow when tapped underneath. Cool on a rack before slicing.
40 min
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
