Povitica 2 Austrian Holiday Bread

This is a traditional sweet Christmas bread made both in Austria and Poland. This is the Austrian version. I have posted the Polish version seperately as well ;-)

• Ready In: 6 hrs
• Yields: 1 Very large spiral loaf

Ingredients

• For Dough

• 1  cup milk, scalded
• 1 1⁄2 cups sugar
• 1⁄4 lb butter, melted
• 1 1⁄2 cups water
• 2  packages  yeast
• 1⁄2 cup water (warm)
• 3  eggs
• 9  cups flour, approximate

• For Filling

• 2  lbs ground walnuts
• 2  cups milk, scalded
• 1⁄4 cup butter
• 2 1⁄2 cups sugar
• 4  teaspoons cinnamon
• 4  teaspoons vanilla
• 3  beaten eggs

Directions

1. Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup warm water, then mix remaining ingredients as you would for bread with about 9 cups flour (Do not add the flour all at once; 9 cups is approximate, as with all bread many things including temperature and humidity effect how much flour you need. Use enough to make a smooth pliable nonsticky dough); knead well.
2. Let rise 2 hours.
3. Mix filling ingredients together while milk is still warm.
4. Spread or roll dough on table top, making sure you have no holes.
5. Spread filling on top.
6. Roll up, then coil as a snake.
7. Let rise 2 hours in large greased roaster.
8. Bake 2 hours at 350°F.