Skip to Content
I may earn a commission if you click on links in this post and make a purchase.

Potica Cookies

Potica is a Serbian nut bread and a holiday tradition of my family. It’s an involved recipe, however. Potica cookies are less involved and still provide similar flavor and memories.

Potica Cookies on a green plate sprinkled with powder sugar.

Break Up The Making over Several Days

The great things about these cookies is that they can be in multiple steps over the course of multiple days if necessary.  The dough needs chilling after being made, so whether you wait two hours or two days it won’t matter much.  Make the dough, scrape down the bowl, wrap in wax paper and store.

[mailerlite_form form_id=8]

The filling too, can be made ahead of time and simply brought to room temperature when you’re ready to assemble. When you are ready to assemble it’s easiest to roll out and cut with a cookie cutter.  I liked the cookie cutters because it kept the cookies a uniform size. However, one could simply cut the rolled out the dough into triangles and roll up like crescent rolls.

Potica Cookies - Homespun Seasonal Living

Spread the filling around the center of each cut-out, but don’t quite go to the edge.  This isn’t an exact science, if some filling does get to the edge, it’s not a big deal.  After filling, roll up like a mini-loaf of cinnamon bread and put on a baking sheet.  Tucking the ends in is optional, I tried some with the ends tucked under and some open.  In the end, I personally liked seeing the swirl on the ends better and won’t tuck the ends in the future.

Potica Cookies - Homespun Seasonal Living

Freezes Well

Potica cookies freeze extremely well. This makes them an ideal cookie to make in big batches and save for holiday parties and gift giving later.

Potica cookies on a green plate sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Yield: 3 Dozen Cookies

Potica Cookies

Potica cookies on a plate sprinkled with powdered sugar.

A spin on the traditional Serbian Nut Bread, Potica cookies give all the flavor and feel of the bread in a tiny hand-held, delicious style.

Ingredients

Cookie Dough

  • ½ Pound Butter, softened (2 sticks)
  • 8 Ounces Cream Cheese, softened
  • ¼ Cup Sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
  • 2 Cups Flour
  • ½ teaspoon Baking Powder

Filling

  • 1 Egg White
  • 1 Tablespoon Butter
  • 1/2 Cup Milk
  • 1/3 Cup Sugar
  • 2 1/2 Cups Ground Walnuts

Instructions

Make the Dough

  1. Cream together the butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy. Beat in the sugar and vanilla extract until thoroughly incorporated. Slowly add in the baking powder and flour until a soft dough forms.
  2. Divide the dough in half, wrap in wax paper or plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours (longer is just fine but use within 2 days).

Make the Filling

  1. In the top of a double boiler, place the egg white. Heat the double boiler so that the water in the bottom is simmering (not a hard boil), place the top with the egg white over the simmering water and whisk constantly until the egg white becomes foamy and opaque. Remove from heat.
  2. In another saucepan, combine the butter, milk and sugar. Heat until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves remove from heat. Fold in the egg white. Add the walnuts and allow to cool. You can put this in the fridge for a couple of days to assemble if desired. Bring to room temperature before spreading on dough.

Assembling & Baking

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Roll the dough out to 1/8" thickness and cut into even pieces. Spread a small amount of filling on each piece of dough and roll up like miniature cinnamon rolls. Place seam side down on baking sheet.
  3. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes or until edges turn golden brown.
  4. Cool on baking sheet for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.
  5. Sprinkle with powdered sugar just before serving, if desired.
  6. Store uneaten cookies in an airtight jar.

Notes

These cookies stay fresh for about a week in a cookie jar. They freeze delightfully if you want to make extra for giving and eating later.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

 If you’d like my recipe for traditional Potica, it is included in my cookbook, Gift It From Scratch.

Potica cookies on a green plate with a cloth napkin next to it.

Sharing is caring!

Kelli

Tuesday 6th of December 2022

My grandmother used to make Potica, it was the best! I remember there being cinnamon in hers. Am I missing something? Comments say there is cinnamon in the recipe, but I don’t see it.

Kathie Lapcevic

Saturday 10th of December 2022

We never added cinnamon in my family but you could sure add some up to a teaspoon would be great here.

Mary Brewington

Friday 2nd of December 2022

These were terrible. I followed to the letter. Disappointed & I think the amount of flour is wrong.

Kathie Lapcevic

Saturday 10th of December 2022

This recipe has great reviews in general, I'm not sure what happened for you but the flour amount is correct.

Adrianna

Friday 31st of December 2021

I am very excited to try these! My Nonna was from Istria… so many influences there. These cookies, the almond crescent shaped ones, and the jam cookie bars were always a special Christmas treat! 💕 Have her panettone down, next is struccolo.

AE

Sunday 28th of November 2021

So excited to find this recipe! My Serbian grandmother made these every holiday and I’ve been wanting to find a similar recipe. Cannot wait to try it!

Kathie Lapcevic

Monday 29th of November 2021

I hope you enjoy it!

rose

Monday 8th of March 2021

disregard previous comment my error was the techique i did triangles im sorry thats why had to much filling and it only make about 18

Skip to Recipe