Throughout your subsequent journey to Croatia, don’t miss the possibility to attempt some – or all – of those conventional Croatian desserts.
Croatians love desserts. Irrespective of how a lot meals we could have had, there’s all the time room for dessert. Croatian dessert recipes are written in notebooks and handed down by generations. Whereas some conventional desserts come and exit of trend, others are timeless. Right here’s an inventory of the most effective Croatian desserts to attempt in your subsequent Croatia trip.
10 Croatian Desserts You Have To Strive
1. Kremšnita
For a lot of Croatians, Kremsnita (custard cream cake) is the queen of Croatian desserts. The identify comes from the German phrase Cremeschnitte and yow will discover this delicacy in lots of central European nations, most famously at Lake Bled in Slovenia.
The origin of this conventional cake is unknown. But, all these nations had been as soon as a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Therefore, the cake is accessible all through the area, with some variations. The style of Kremsnita takes me again to my childhood when each birthday, anniversary, or vacation was marked by everybody’s favourite dessert.
The basic Croatian Kremsnita is a cake fabricated from high-quality yellow egg custard and typically a little bit of whipped cream, in between layers of golden flaky pastry crust. The cake is among the symbols of Samobor, a small city that lies eighteen miles from the capital. Locals on this picturesque city take nice satisfaction of their model of the cake, Samoborska Kremsnita.
A pastry chef, Đuro Lukačić, created the unique recipe within the Twenties after returning to his hometown to work in his brother’s pastry store. He had spent a few years working in prestigious pastry retailers in Vienna, Budapest, and Zagreb, and he mixed a number of recipes he preferred to create his well-known model.
Samoborska Kremsnita is straightforward: two layers of puff pastry, the highest sprinkled with icing sugar, with primarily egg custard filling and a skinny layer of whipped cream. A factor that’s distinctive to Samobor is the truth that they serve the cake heat. Again within the day, the cake was so in style that folks waited in line to purchase a bit. Because the demand was so excessive, there was no time for the cake to chill. You possibly can benefit from the unique cake on the U Prolazu pastry store within the heart of Samobor.
Zagreb has its personal model, Zagrebacka Kremsnita, which has chocolate icing as an alternative of the highest crust. You gained’t discover this sort in a heat model, however it’s equally yummy. The writer of the thought is Stjepan Vincek, the proprietor of Vincek, the most well-liked pastry store in Zagreb.
2. Breskvice
Breskvice are small colourful bites that appear to be peaches, have a candy peach taste, and are named accordingly. Other than Croatia, yow will discover them in different ex-Yugoslavian nations. They’re served at weddings, birthday events, or anniversaries, often on a plate filled with small desserts and cookies. In Croatia, holidays and celebrations don’t really feel the identical with out Breskvice.
Their exterior is fabricated from a cookie dough combination, and the feel reminds you of sentimental cookies. You might want to hole out the cookies to create space for the filling, which connects the 2 halves of every little peach. Nothing is wasted, so that you make the filling by including chocolate, peach jam, toasted hazelnuts, and a touch of rum to the crumbs you faraway from the pit. You dip the completed peaches in coloured milk and roll them in sugar. The tip end result is an ideal little chew that melts in your mouth.
Breskvice treats are a nightmare to make as a result of there’s a lot work to do and it appears to take without end. Fortunately, you possibly can typically discover them in supermarkets, and we’re without end grateful to all these diligent palms who put loads of effort into making them.
3. Mađarica
Madarica, a layered chocolate cake, is one other implausible candy deal with yow will discover on the identical platter as Breskvice and lots of different desserts and cookies. It’s a timeless basic that may make you lick your fingers and attain for extra. We don’t know anybody who can cease at only one piece. The identify is the Croatian phrase for a Hungarian girl. We are able to solely guess that the cake obtained this identify as a result of it seems like in style Hungarian desserts Zserbo, Esterhazy, and Dobos.
This delightfully wealthy dessert consists of 5 layers of skinny cake, creamy chocolate, and darkish chocolate glaze on high. Making Madarica takes time and ability because it includes very skinny cake layers that may simply break. I keep in mind my mother dropping her calm each time a layer would break and stating she wouldn’t make Madarica ever once more. Having to chop the cake into small equivalent rectangles isn’t encouraging both.
Fortunately, you possibly can pattern Madarica at conventional pastry retailers round Croatia or purchase an entire field in some supermarkets. For me, although, my mother’s Madarica nonetheless tastes a lot better, regardless of a damaged layer or two.
4. Fritule
Fritule (or Prikle) are small deep-fried desserts with powdered sugar, melted chocolate, or caramel on high. Just like the Venetian Fritole, they’re conventional candy snacks originating in Dalmatia. These days, they’re in style throughout Croatia and ready largely round Christmas. There’s no Christmas Eve with out the scent of Fritule, a real image of Christmas in Croatia.
To make the fundamental dough for Fritule, you want flour, eggs, milk, butter, and sugar. To make them juicier, you possibly can add raisins or grated apples. Skilled Fritule makers declare that the key to creating the most effective fritters is the vigorous mixing of the components till there are bubbles within the dough. It’s greatest so as to add a little bit of alcohol to the dough, corresponding to rum, cognac, maraschino liqueur, or rose brandy, to make it ethereal and provides it a pleasant aroma.
You deep-fry the dough by the spoonful, a couple of items at a time, to ensure they don’t stick collectively or burn. The end result needs to be flippantly crisp and golden brown ball-shaped bites, smooth and fluffy on the within. Then, you drain them with a slotted spoon and put them on a plate lined with absorbent paper to take away extra oil, earlier than coating them generously with powdered sugar, chocolate, or caramel glaze.
You’ll find Fritule at many meals stalls round Zagreb throughout Introduction when Zagreb turns right into a winter wonderland. Often, you too can discover them in conventional taverns in Istria and Dalmatia.
5. Paprenjaci
Paprenjaci (or black pepper cookies) are crispy and fragrant cookies which can be a staple of Croatian cookie jars. These Croatian cookies date again to Renaissance occasions when Papar was the identify for a bunch of spices that included nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves. Originating from the Island of Hvar, particularly Stari Grad, Paprenjaci cookies had been ready as items for newborns or to be supplied as Christmas sweets and marriage ceremony treats.
Paprenjaci have a posh taste profile for seemingly easy cookies. They’re made with flour, eggs, honey, olive oil, Prosek (candy dessert wine), saffron, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and cloves. For reference, think about gingerbread cookies, lower with picket molds sporting festive designs, and simply the correct quantity of spices. Conventional Paprenjaci had been hand-cut and painted to resemble horseshoes, roosters, fruit, non secular iconography, or ornate and delicate designs with white frosting.
You’re prone to run into one of many many sorts of this in style deal with throughout a keep in Croatia. Paprenjaci will be simply present in delis, memento retailers, and each duty-free store in Croatia. This straightforward biscuit has slowly labored its method into the collective nationwide consciousness to turn into a precious conventional deal with and a vastly sought-after memento. It’s a part of Croatia’s intangible cultural heritage.
6. Makovnjača & Orehnjača
Makovnjaca and Orehnjaca/Orahnjaca are flavorsome yeast dough pastries stuffed with a candy filling, both poppy seed (Makovnjaca) or walnut (Orehnjaca). The lengthy custom of constructing poppy seed or walnut rolls is strongly implanted in all components of Croatia.
The particular scent and flavors of those do-it-yourself delicacies are cherished childhood recollections for a lot of Croatians. Our grandmothers and great-grandmothers’ genuine recipes are nicely preserved and saved as crucial household secrets and techniques. Though there are scrumptious desserts much like Croatian poppy seed or walnut rolls in some components of Central and Northern Europe, Croatians proudly take into account them their nationwide desserts.
The story of Makovnjaca and Orehnjaca begins proper by the oven, in early childhood. Beginning younger is vital because it takes time to grasp the ability of constructing a smooth dough. Nonetheless, a baby isn’t permitted to knead the dough. Kids patiently sit subsequent to their grandmothers, observing their light strikes.
It takes time and lots of errors earlier than the following technology is able to stick with it the household custom. The baked dough have to be smooth and ethereal on the within and crispy on the skin. The proper dough texture can solely be achieved by fastidiously measuring all of the components and lengthy, affected person mixing and kneading. As soon as mixing and kneading are carried out, the dough needs to be given an increase earlier than filling and a second rise earlier than baking.
Hand handy with smooth dough, the contemporary, fragrant, and moist filling is an equally vital element of the do-it-yourself rolls. Freshly floor walnuts or poppy seeds are combined with boiling milk, sugar, lemon zest, cinnamon, a couple of drops of rum, and, typically, raisins.
As soon as baked, the rolls are lower into slices and served with powdered sugar on high. After all, nothing beats do-it-yourself Makovnjaca and Orehnjaca, however you possibly can typically discover these Croatian desserts in conventional Croatian eating places or purchase an entire loaf at some supermarkets.
7. Kroštule
Krostule are crispy candy pastries, ready largely in Dalmatia and Istria, however in style all through Croatia. Though many declare they’re conventional to this space, the precise place of birth of this straightforward dessert is Venice. Venetian Crostoli unfold to many nations throughout the glory days of the Venetian Republic. Totally different variations will be present in Italy, France, Hungary, Poland, and Greece. Croatians make Krostule totally on non secular holidays – Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and Christmas Eve, but additionally throughout the Carnival season.
This crunchy Croatian dessert is simple to arrange. The primary components are flour, eggs, sugar, butter, rum, and salt. Dalmatians add their very own staple to the fundamental dough, lemon liqueur (Limoncello), whereas Istrians add white wine. You roll the dough thinly, form it into twisted ribbons, and deep fry. You drain the little pastries and mud them with icing sugar.
Krostule will be served after a meal or with a cup of espresso or tea. It’s greatest to eat them inside a day, whereas they nonetheless crumble in your mouth. Since they’re simple to make, most conventional taverns in Istria and the Dalmatian Coast have them on the menu.
8. Splitska Torta
This conventional Croatian cake, native to the metropolis of Break up, is a real Dalmatian favourite. Its roots return to when folks ready dishes out of what was simply out there, both grown within the yard or simple to seek out within the space. The cake is indispensable on nearly each important festive event in Dalmatia.
Splitska Torta consists of layers of meringue and luscious yellow cream. You put together meringue from egg whites, almonds, dried figs, sugar, flour, and a pinch of salt. These days, yow will discover variations to the meringue, the place almonds are changed by walnuts and dried figs by raisins or another dried fruit.
For the yellow cream, you utilize egg yolks, powdered sugar, butter, vanilla sugar or vanilla extract, and optionally, lemon or orange zest and some drops of rum. You unfold a 3rd of the cream on every layer of meringue and stack one on high of the opposite. Earlier than serving, it’s not uncommon to embellish the highest of the cake with grated chocolate.
After all, nothing beats a do-it-yourself cake, however yow will discover Splitska Torta at many patisseries in and round Break up. Luka Ice Cream & Truffles within the heart of Break up serves Splitska Torta with the right ethereal texture and heavenly style.
9. Princes Krafne
Princes Krafne, or princess doughnuts in English, are lavish, creamy, and scrumptious desserts which can be very fashionable in Croatia. Though the exact origin of princess doughnuts isn’t totally resolved, it’s extensively accepted that they had been first made in France. Ultimately, they unfold round Europe and the remainder of the world. These days, Princes Krafne are among the many most beloved Croatian desserts throughout household gatherings and vital holidays.
Though the listing of components isn’t very lengthy, making the right dough takes time. The hot button is to measure exactly all of the components: flour, water, butter, sugar, eggs, and salt. Opening the oven earlier than the pastry is totally baked is strictly forbidden as it’ll make your Krafne flat and unappealing. Every pastry must be lower in half and stuffed with yellow custard.
If you happen to handle to make the pastries, the custard needs to be the simple half. There are completely different recipes for the custard, however utilizing contemporary egg yolks relatively than vanilla pudding will earn you respect in the local people. Other than egg yolks, additionally, you will want milk, sugar, vanilla sugar, butter, and cornstarch.
Princes Krafne needs to be served chilly, however it’s all the time a problem to attend. Luckily, many patisseries in Croatia have them available.
10. Gibanica
Gibanica is a kind of flaky layered pie, often made with cheese. Two variations of Gibanica are mostly ready in Croatian households – Medimurska and Prekmurska. They differ in some components, thickness of the filling, kind of topping, and style however each variations are candy and scrumptious. Related specialties are made all through Southeast Europe. In Slovenia, Serbia, and North Macedonia, Gibanica goes by the identical identify, whereas in Bulgaria it’s referred to as Banica.
Međimurska Gibanica is initially from the Medimurje area in northern Croatia, close to the Hungarian border. Softer and juicier than different comparable sorts of cake, it’s ready with skinny phyllo dough and has 4 layers of filling. The latter’s components are contemporary cow’s cheese, grated apples, floor walnuts, and floor poppy seeds with toppings like raisins and cinnamon.
Prekmurska Gibanica is initially from Slovenia, however in style in Croatia as nicely. It’s named after the Slovenian area of Prekmurje, which lies in northeastern Slovenia, close to Hungary.
The phyllo dough for Prekmurska Gibanica is much like the one for Medimurska Gibanica. There have to be eight layers of 4 fillings, repeated in the identical order: poppy seeds, cottage cheese, walnuts, and apples. For each Medimurska and Prekmurska Gibanica, the final a part of the dough is topped with candy or bitter cream combined with the egg yolk. Gibanica is then baked within the oven for about 40 minutes to an hour.
Each Medimurska and Prekmurska Gibanica are lower into cubes or squares and often served sizzling, however very tasty when chilly as nicely. You’ll find Gibanica at conventional eating places north of Zagreb.
Croatian Dessert Wines
Croatian desserts pair excellently with dessert wines. The latter are candy wines to be loved as an after-dinner deal with. Because of their extra intricate manufacturing processes, they’re thought-about among the many most prestigious and costly wines on the earth. In Croatia, these wines are loved on festive events, often throughout Christmas, when all of the household spends time collectively.
Prošek
Indubitably, essentially the most well-known Croatian dessert wine is Prosek. The latter shouldn’t be confused with the Italian Prosecco, which is a glowing wine. Prosek is historically made in central and south Dalmatia. Most households who develop grapes make their very own wine in addition to small quantities of unique Prosek dessert wine, which requires about seven occasions extra grape enter than an extraordinary wine.
Croatians often get pleasure from Prosek on particular events with particular folks. Historically, folks would convey Prosek to new moms because it was thought-about to have therapeutic and strengthening results on the physique. Prosek may also be an ingredient in conventional Croatian sweets and different basic dishes, like Pasticada.
Muškat Momjanski
Muskat Momjanski is one other Croatian dessert wine. It comes from a local grape selection that grows on the hills of Momjan, close to the city of Buje, on the Istrian peninsula. Gold or straw yellow in coloration, this wine pairs nicely with desserts and often has aromas of dried figs, honey, and raisins. It’s served chilled at about 54°F.
Zelenac
Final however not least, the Zelenac grape selection, which grows all through inland Croatia in vineyards close to the city of Kutjevo, produces some beautiful dessert wines. Whereas some dessert wines will be sickly candy, this selection has notes of freshness and sharpness that offset the excessive sugar content material. This wine is greatest served with fruity or buttery desserts, like an apple strudel or a dry cookie.
Fulfill Your Candy Tooth in Croatia With JayWay
We hope that this listing of the most well-liked Croatian desserts conjures up you to go to Croatia and take pleasure in a journey of sugar-fuelled discovery. Whether or not you’re on the lookout for a foodie journey throughout Croatia, an itinerary that covers the nation’s highlights, or an journey to discover Croatia’s less-traveled roads, our skilled journey planners and wonderful native workers will be sure your subsequent Croatia journey affords you nothing however the sweetest of recollections.
Josipa involves us with a robust background within the tourism enterprise in Dubrovnik. With us, she returned to considered one of her favourite roles, direct contact with company, after a number of years in gross sales roles with considered one of Dubrovnik’s bigger high-end lodges. Though Josipa was not born in Dubrovnik, she completed her research and began her household life right here and she or he feels Dubrovnik to be her hometown. She is aware of the most effective locations within the metropolis and the encircling countryside, which she loves visiting together with her household. If you happen to’re beginning your journey in Dubrovnik, Josipa will greet you upon arrival and shall be your native contact, by way of the cellphone we offer, all through your journey.