Hungarian Beigli – Christmas Poppy Seed and Walnut Roll Cake
Hungarian Beigli is a traditional walnut and poppy seed roll which is served in many Hungarian families at Christmas as a special treat. The Christmas meal table would be incomplete without these rolls. Here is my recipe:
Ingredients
For the dough:
- 500 grams (17,6 ounces) of flour
- 100 grams (3,5 ounces) of butter
- 100 grams (3,5 ounces) of lard
- 1 teaspoon of sugar
- 50 grams of (1,8 ounces) of powdered sugar
- 120 ml (1/2 cup) of milk
- 2 whole eggs
- 15 grams (0,5 ounces) of compressed yeast
- 1 sachet of vanilla flavored sugar (1 flat tablespoon)
- Zest of half a lemon
- Pinch of salt
For the walnut filling:
- 200 grams (7 ounces) of finely ground walnuts
- 1 handful of coarsely chopped walnuts
- 100 ml (1/2 cup) of milk
- 100 grams (3,5 ounces)) of powdered sugar
- A pinch of ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons of raisins – optional
- 2 tablespoons of apricot jam
- 1 coffee spoon of lemon zest
- 1 coffee spoon of orange zest
For the poppyseed filling:
- 250 grams (8,8 ounces) of ground poppy seeds
- 100 ml (1/2 cup) of milk
- 100 grams (3,5 ounces) of powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons of raisins – optional
- 1 coffee spoon of lemon zest
Other:
- 1 egg for eggwash
Takes
Instructions
- Dissolve 1 teaspoon of sugar in the lukewarm milk, then add the yeast, wait a few minutes until blooms.
- Mix the flour with the butter and lard by hand. The mixture will be quite crumbly.
- Add 2 whole eggs, the powdered sugar, pinch of salt, vanilla sugar, lemon zest and the yeast/milk mixture. Knead thoroughly. Add more flour if necessary.
- Divide the dough into 4 balls, cover and let rest for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, you have time to make the walnut and poppy seed filling.
- Walnut filling: In a pan heat the milk with the sugar, bring it to a boil. Take the pan off the heat, add the ground and coarsely chopped walnuts, the raisins, the lemon and orange zest, the cinnamon and the apricot jam. Mix well and let it cool completely.
- Poppy seed filling: In a pan heat the milk with the sugar, bring it to a boil. Take the pan off the heat, add the ground poppy seeds, the raisins and the lemon zest. Mix well and let it cool completely.
- Heat the oven to 180°C (355°F). Line a pan with parchment paper.
- On a floured surface roll out each piece of the dough into a rectangle measuring about 12×14 inches (30×35 cm).
- Spread the walnut or poppy seed filling on the dough while leaving approx. 1/2 inch empty edges on each side, and roll up lengthwise. Make sure it is not too tight and not too losse. Carefully transfer the rolls onto the baking sheet.
- Egg wash: Separate the egg, set the egg whites aside. Gently whisk the egg yolk and brush the top of the 4 rolls. Let them sit in the yolk dries, it will take about half an hour or so. After the egg yolk has dried, brush on the egg white, let it dry in a cool place, if possible not in the fridge.You can leave them overnight and bake the next day.
- Prick on the top with a skewer, making sure it goes all the way through. It allows vapor to escape, that could cause the pastry to split.
- Bake the rolls for about 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Keep the rolls in a cool and dry place and slice them only before serving.
Wanting to make this for my Hungarian son in law for Christmas! I could use some help with the measurements conversion! Please!!!
Hello Charity,
Sorry for my late response. Yes, how can I help you?
Agnes
Perfect recipe – just like Grandma made – and not just for Christmas!!!
The Poppy Seed roll is my all time favorite!!!!! I have only tried to make it once, from a recipe my mother had. In this recipe it calls for one sachet of vanilla sugar. How much is a sachet of sugar?
Hello Mary,
One sachet is about 10 grams – a flat tablespoon.
Kind regards,
Agnes
This by far the easiest recipee I’ve seen and it’s in english! My grandma and aunt both make this! Love this it reminds me of when I was a child back home!
I’m going to try it! Thanks for recipe!
Hi Gabirela,
Thanks, I hope it will turn out delicious. Please let me know!:)
Agnes
how much powdered yeat can be used?
Hi Eva,
Please use 7 grams or 2 teaspoons of powdered instant yeast.
Have a great day!
Agnes
Hi Agnes, do you have an advice so the rolls don’t crack during baking?
Many thanks,
Carol
Hi Carol,
First, please make sure that the filling is not liquidy. Then prick on the top with a skewer, making sure it goes all the way through.
I hope it helps!
Agnes
What temerature?
Hello Zoltan,
Heat the oven to 180°C (355°F).
Kind regards,
Agnes
Hello Zoltan,
How many loaves does this recipe make ?
Hello!
This recipe makes 4 loaves.
Aggie
Hi. I can’t use lard in the recipe. What can I substitute please?
Hello Ricky,
You can use butter instead of lard.
Happy Holidays!
Aggie
I used ghee instead of lard, and worked really well.
I make beigli every year having learnt it from my mother who died 20 years ago. My daughter has become vegan and so I have to make her a special vegan beigli. I shall use vegan margarine, and liquid from tinned chickpeas [aquafaba] instead of eggs. I live in Nottingham and luckily there is a Paprika Store that sells Hungarian ground poppy seeds, among other Hungarian food, so that I don’t have to grind it myself with the expensive poppyseed grinder I purchased some years ago!
Hello Zsuzsanna,
You can use 1 tablespoon of ground linseeds instead of egg. Also, use plant based milk instead of cow’s milk. You mix the plant milk with the yeast, sugar and ground linseeds. Margarine sounds great.
I always use my coffee grinder to grind my poppy seeds. I just pust some sugar in it too, it prevents the ground poppy seeds to be too sticky (because of the oil content).
Happy Holidays!
Aggie
Hi, I don’t have access to vanilla sugar. Can I add some vanilla extract instead?
Thanks, Judit
Hello Judit,
Yes, you can use vanilla extract! Happy Holidays!
Aggie
Hello – I can’t wait to make this today – My Mom used to fill with Lekvar sometimes – do I have to do anything different if I fill with Lekvar?
Hello Zsuzsa,
I have never made it with Lekvar, we just put some lekvar in the walnut filling.
Happy holidays!
Aggie
Hi, I am so excited to try this recipe. What type of flour do you use? I only have all purpose flour, I can use that? would the measurements change? Thank you!
Hello Valentina,
Please use all purpose flour, that is what I am using too. The measurments will not change.
Happy Holidays!
Aggie
Hi, I am so excited to make this.
I only have all purpose flour, can I use it? Would the measurements for flour change?
Thank you,
Valentina
Thank you for posting! My favorite is the gesztenye (chestnut paste) version of the beigli!!