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Fall is Upon Us: Celebrate with Italian Bakery of Virginia

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Italian Bakery of Virginia Apple NestsThe leaves are starting to change and the temperatures are starting to drop which can only mean one thing: fall is upon us. Fall is one of the best seasons to enjoy homemade baked goods and Italian Bakery does not disappoint.

The Italian Bakery offers a variety of seasonal specialties through the autumn months all of which offer the familiar tastes of fall.

Here are a few of our favorites!

Pumpkin Doughnuts

A twist on the original sugared doughnut, this sweet snack goes well with a cup of coffee, or even better, with a group of friends. Bring a batch of them to your next fall picnic or seasonal party today!

Pumpkin Cake and Carrot Cake

These are two of our all-time favorite cakes: a pumpkin cake and carrot cake, finished with cream cheese. The cream cheese frosting gives the cake a sweet, delectable taste, that anyone can enjoy on these seasonal favorites.

Apple Nests

And what would fall be without the sweet taste of fresh, seasonal apples? Our apple nests are pastries that are layered with an irresistible cinnamon and apple swirl, perfect for any occasion.

Apple Strudel

Our apple strudel has a flaky dough that covers sugared apple slices in a combination that has been delighting customers for generations. At the Italian Bakery, we offer a “take and bake” version of this timeless classic, which allows you to take the strudel home frozen and bake it at your own convenience, filling your home with sweet scents of fall. It’s perfect for a last-minute dessert idea if you’re unexpectedly invited somewhere. Please keep in mind that these must be ordered in advance if you’re hoping to have an apple strudel on hand.

All Italian Bakery’s pastries are made by scratch with the freshest ingredients. Today, our customers keep coming back for a taste of our world-famous potica, our Italian fruit cake, our crisp, crunchy biscotti, and a variety of other delectable pastries including our fall favorites.

History of Potica Bread

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History of Potica BreadPotica is a traditional Slovenian cake, typically served on special occasions and holidays.

Potica has been pleasing people and taste buds for centuries, serving as a main dessert dish in many celebrations.

The dough for potica takes quite some time to prepare but after it has risen, it is typically filled with either sweet or savory fillings. Common fillings include walnut, tarragon, honey and even bacon. It is created by flattening the dough, adding the ingredients, and then wrapping the dough and shaping it into a loaf. The process gives potica delicious layers that resemble a marbled cake.

Here at Italian Bakery of Virginia, our traditional potica bread is the heart of our bakery. Back in 1965, we received a traditional Slovenian family recipe for potica, and it has since become one of our most requested and best-selling cakes. We’ve added in some spices over the years to create a truly unique blended delicacy that our customers keep coming back for.

We begin the process of making potica with all-natural and fresh ingredients. Baking potica each day is a time-consuming project, as it requires the careful hands of a proficient baker. The dough is carefully hand-rolled, pulled and stretched to create a traditional potica consistency. We then add in crunchy walnuts, creamy butter, brown sugar, vanilla and a variety of other spices. The potica is then baked and sliced for serving.

Our most popular flavors are walnut and walnut-raisin. Both of these flavors honor the classic recipe of this bread, with a touch of sweetness. When potica first originated in Slovenia, the ingredients often told the story of the family baking it. Only wealthy families could afford expensive fillings such as nuts and cream and poorer families could typically only afford to include herbs from their garden.

To honor your Slovenian heritage, or to start a new tradition in your family, celebrate life’s milestones, holidays, and good fortune with fresh potica.

At the Italian Bakery of Virginia, we’ve ensured that the time-honored art of making potica has not been lost. Visit our website here.