Croatian Poppy Seed Roll (Makovnjača)
A beloved Croatian dessert, makovnjača is a sweet, swirled yeast bread filled with a rich, nutty poppy seed mixture. It’s a staple at holidays, especially Christmas and Easter, and pairs perfectly with coffee or tea.
🌰 Why You’ll Love This Recipe
✔ Soft, fluffy dough with a sweet, earthy poppy seed filling
✔ Nostalgic flavors – A classic Central European treat
✔ Great for gifting – Stays fresh for days
📜 Traditional Recipe
(Makes 2 rolls)
Ingredients
For the Dough:
- 500g (4 cups) all-purpose flour
- 100g (½ cup) sugar
- 7g (1 packet) active dry yeast
- 250ml (1 cup) warm milk
- 1 egg (+ 1 extra for egg wash)
- 60g (¼ cup) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
For the Poppy Seed Filling:
- 200g (2 cups) ground poppy seeds
- 150ml (⅔ cup) milk
- 100g (½ cup) sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp honey or jam (optional, for sweetness)
- 50g (½ cup) ground walnuts (optional)
- Zest of 1 lemon (optional, for brightness)
For Topping:
- Powdered sugar (for dusting)
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prepare the Dough
- Activate yeast: Mix yeast with warm milk and 1 tsp sugar. Let sit 5-10 mins until frothy.
- Make dough: In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, egg, melted butter, vanilla, and yeast mixture. Knead 8-10 mins until smooth.
- Let rise: Cover and let rise 1-2 hours until doubled.
2. Make the Poppy Seed Filling
- Simmer: In a saucepan, heat milk, sugar, and poppy seeds. Cook 5 mins until thickened.
- Flavor: Stir in vanilla, honey, walnuts, or lemon zest. Cool completely.
3. Assemble & Bake
- Roll out dough: Divide into 2 pieces. Roll each into a rectangle (~12×16 inches).
- Spread filling: Cover dough with poppy seed mixture, leaving a 1-inch border.
- Roll up: Tightly roll into a log, sealing the edge.
- Second rise: Place on a baking sheet, seam-side down. Let rise 30 mins.
- Egg wash: Brush with beaten egg for shine.
- Bake: At 350°F (175°C) for 25-30 mins until golden.
4. Serve
- Cool slightly, then dust with powdered sugar.
- Slice and enjoy with coffee or tea!
💡 Expert Tips
✔ Grind poppy seeds finely – Use a coffee grinder or buy pre-ground.
✔ Don’t overfill – Too much filling can leak during baking.
✔ Storage: Keeps 3-4 days wrapped at room temp or freeze for longer.
🇭🇷 Croatian Traditions
- Served at Christmas, Easter, and weddings
- Often paired with orahnjača (walnut roll) for variety
- Regional variations: Some add raisins, rum, or cinnamon
🔄 Variations
- Chocolate twist: Add cocoa powder to the filling.
- Almond version: Replace walnuts with ground almonds.
- Vegan option: Use plant-based milk and butter.
This sweet, aromatic roll is a taste of Croatian heritage—will you try it classic or with a twist? 😊
Fun fact: In some regions, it’s called “makovaca” or “makovijača.”
