Bananica Rolat/Bananica Wafer Roll

A Balkan-style cookie tray wouldn’t be complete without some kind of wafer cookie. Whether that’s an Oblanda or something like this recipe that I’m sharing today, wafer cookies are a must when exploring the world of “sitni kolaci”. Bananica Rolat is a quick and easy addition that uses a traditional Balkan sweet treat as the center of the cookie. The flavor of banana, chocolate, and walnuts make this an easy and delicious dessert that comes together very quickly.

Growing up we ate A LOT of bananice. It was something we’d be offered by the clerk at the village store or as a treat when we were out shopping or running errands. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who doesn’t like these things. And of course there are multiple brands that make them in both small and large sizes. There are even cakes that use these in the filling. So delicious!

While this recipe is easy to make, there are a few key components that you must get right otherwise it will not turn out correctly. First, you must ensure your wafer sheets are damp so they are able to be rolled. You can do this by laying a damp kitchen towel on top of a wafer sheet for a couple of minutes. Then, flip it over and place the wet kitchen towel on it again to make sure both sides are damp. Once they become flexible (but not falling apart) they are ready.

This recipe (as most Balkan recipes) uses walnuts. However, you can substitute the nuts for additional tea biscuits or another nut if you’d like. With the exception of heating up a few ingredients, this recipe is essentially no bake!

I hope you give this recipe a try soon! And if you have any questions along the way, feel free to reach out on my IG page, I’m always happy to help!

Bananica Rolat/Bananica Wafer Roll

Recipe by The Balkan HostessCourse: DessertCuisine: Balkan, Serbian

Servings

8

servings

Prep time

20

minutes

A quick and easy cookie recipe that uses a familiar Balkan treat!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (100 ml) milk

• 1/2 cup (85 g) granulated sugar

• 1 tablespoon vanilla sugar (1 kesica)

• 1 stick (113 g) unsalted butter

• 1 cup (100 g) ground tea biscuits (plazma keks)

• 1 cup (100 g) ground walnuts

• 5-6 Krem Bananice treats

• 2 small rectangle wafer sheets

• 1 bar (100 g) dark chocolate

Directions

• Take 2 kitchen towels or paper towels and thoroughly wet them. Wringe them out and then place 1 directly on top of each wafer sheet. Allow to sit for 10-15 minutes then flip the wafer sheets over and return the damp cloth on top. This helps the wafer sheet become flexible and rollable.
• In a medium pot add the milk, butter, sugars, and chocolate. Cook on medium heat until everything melts together. Remove from the heat and to the pot add the ground walnuts and ground tea biscuits and mix well to incorporate everything. Allow the mixture to cool and thicken 15-20 minutes.
• Once the mixture has cooled slightly and thickened, remove the kitchen cloths from the wafer sheets and place one on a flat work surface. Spread half the mixture on one sheet in an even layer.
• Next, unwrap the bananice and lay them in a straight line one next to the other along the long edge of the wafer sheet.
• Slowly begin rolling the wafer sheet away from you and press lightly as you roll to ensure a semi-tight roll. Once you have a wafer log, transfer it carefully to a sheet of aluminum foil, cover the wafer roll tightly, and place it in the fridge for 1 hour to firm up.
• Once cooled, cut the wafer roll into slices and enjoy!

Notes

• With a few substitutions (a nut milk), margarine, and posni keks, this recipe can be made lenten/posno!