Prlekija Layered Cake (Prleška gibanica)

Prleška gibanica is a very rich layered cake made of phyllo dough and farmer’s cheese. The name gibanica comes from güba, which means a fold - implying that it is a type of cake that is folded.

The story goes that the housewives from Prlekija invented all sorts of layered cakes in an attempt to feed hungry children. Whenever bread was prepared they used leftover scraps of dough and between them various fillings.

Layered cakes were also very popular in wealthier households. Monika Simonič Roškar writes that records from Ormož castle from 1771 mention 2 Kebanzen Schiessl, ie. two molds for the baking of gibanica.

Bogataj, Janez.  Taste Slovenia. Ljubljana: Rokus Gifts & National Geographic, 2007.

Recipe

Ingredients:

Dough (or 500 g store-bought phyllo dough)

• 500 g flour

• 50 g melted butter

• 180 ml water

• 1 tbsp vinegar

• 1 tsp salt

• 2 eggs

Filling

• 1000 g farmer’s cheese

• 4 tbsp sugar

• 400 g sour cream

• 2 eggs

• 200 g butter

Instructions:

Dough

1. Mix water, vinegar, and salt in a cup.

2. Place flour in a mixing bowl and make a well in the center.

3. Drizzle in melted butter, the vinegar-water mixture and add the egg.

4. Knead the dough by hand or using a mixer until the dough is soft and elastic, about 10 minutes. It should not stick to your hands.

5. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest for at least 30 minutes.

Filling

1. Mix the farmer’s cheese with 1 egg and 4 tbsp of sugar.

2. Melt the butter.

3. Mix sour cream with 1 egg.

Making Prlekija Layered Cake

1. Heat the oven to 180C (350 F).

2. Butter the pan well.

3. Split the dough into 6 parts, take the first part and stretch it into two layers that fit the pan.

4. Place one sheet of phyllo dough into the pan, brush the layer with melted butter, and put the second layer of phyllo dough on top.

5. Spread the farmer’s cheese filling over the phyllo dough and top it with the sour cream mixture.

6. Repeat Steps 3-5 until you have no farmer's cheese filling left. It will be enough for about 5 layers. Make sure you have enough phyllo dough for the final two layers.
7. Cover the farmer's cheese filling with the last layer of phyllo dough. Sprinkle with butter and add another layer of phyllo dough, which you also sprinkle with butter. Top the final layer of gibanica with the remaining sour cream mixture.
8. Bake for about 40 minutes. The top layer should be golden brown.
9. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve while still warm.