Grandma's Nut Roll Recipe

slices of grandma's nut roll with swirls walnut filling on a white platter

5 from 61 votes

Grandma's Nut Roll Recipe makes a delicious sweet bread filled with ground walnuts. Homemade Slovak nut rolls are perfect for the holidays and traditional for both Christmas and Easter.

Prep Time15

Cook Time30

Rising time1 30

Total Time2 15

Course: Bread

Cuisine: European American, Polish, Russian, Slovak, Ukrainian

Servings:

Author: Dee

Cost: $15

Equipment

Stand mixer

Ingredients

Dough

½ cup milk
2 packets active dry yeast ¼ ounces each
½ cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter softened, room temperature
1 cup sour cream
3 large eggs lightly beaten
5½ cups all purpose flour plus more for rolling out

Filling

1 pound walnuts, ground about 4 cups
¼ cup milk
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

Dough

In a small bowl, heat the milk to 100° to 110° F, and dissolve yeast in milk, along with 1 teaspoon sugar
Add yeast mixture to bowl of stand mixer, and add sugar, salt, butter, eggs, sour cream and 1 cup flour
Mix with dough hook on medium speed, then gradually add 2 more cups of flour
Add 2 more cups of flour, (for total of 5 cups) and mix until dough separates from sides of bowl. You may have to scrape it off the hook and scrape flour from the sides during mixing process.
Dough should be slightly sticky but not wet. You can add another ½ cup to 1 cup of flour if necessary
Form dough into ball with your hands. Place in buttered mixing bowl, and cover loosely with buttered aluminum foil. Allow to rise in warm place for 1 hour
While dough is rising, make the filling
After dough has risen, punch down with your fist. Cut the dough into 4 equal pieces
Place dough on lightly floured surface, and gently roll out in rectangle, about 12 x10 and ¼ inch thick
Sprinkle walnut filling evenly over dough, and press lightly on dough, leaving about a ½ inch border on all sides.
With long end facing you, start rolling edge of dough tightly up and over the filling, starting in the center and moving to the sides. Roll completely over filling, stopping with seam side down. Pinch edges together, and tuck underneath roll
Place on prepared baking sheet, covered with parchment paper or foil. Repeat until all nut rolls are formed, and allow to rise for 30 minutes, covered with greased foil
Preheat oven to 350°
Bake nut rolls for 30 to 35 minutes or until top is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped. Temperature should be above 160°
Allow to cool completely before slicing and serving

Filling

Add ground walnuts to a mixing bowl, and mix in sugar, milk, melted butter and cinnamon
Mix until walnuts form a paste

Video

Notes

Makes 4 nut rolls.

You may need up to 6 cups of flour if dough needs it, but start out with 5. See post for more info.

You can make an egg wash to brush over tops of bread before baking if desired. Just mix 1 egg with 1 teaspoon water, and brush over rolls before baking.

Nutrition