Here’s a full recipe for Hungarian Walnut and Poppy Seed Rolls—classic festive breads filled with rich nut or poppy seed paste, perfect for holidays or special occasions.
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 packet (7 g / 2 ¼ tsp) dry yeast
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup milk, lukewarm
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 eggs
- Zest of 1 lemon (optional, for aroma)
For the Walnut Filling
- 1 ½ cups finely ground walnuts
- ½ cup sugar
- ¼ cup milk (or cream)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Optional: ½ tsp cinnamon
For the Poppy Seed Filling
- 1 ½ cups poppy seeds, finely ground
- ½ cup sugar
- ¼ cup milk (or cream)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For Brushing and Topping
- 1 egg, beaten (for brushing)
- Powdered sugar (optional, for dusting)
Instructions
1. Make the Dough
- In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in lukewarm milk with 1 tsp sugar. Let sit 5–10 minutes until frothy.
- In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt.
- Add eggs, melted butter, lemon zest, and yeast mixture.
- Knead for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Cover with a towel and let rise 1–1.5 hours or until doubled in size.
2. Prepare the Fillings
Walnut Filling:
- Mix ground walnuts, sugar, milk, vanilla, and optional cinnamon into a thick paste.
Poppy Seed Filling:
- Mix ground poppy seeds, sugar, milk, and vanilla into a spreadable paste.
3. Assemble the Rolls
- Punch down the dough and roll it into a rectangle (~12×18 inches).
- Spread your choice of filling evenly over the dough, leaving a small border.
- Roll tightly from the long side, forming a log.
- Cut into 2–3 rolls, or leave as one long roll for a braided loaf.
- Place on a lined baking sheet, seam side down.
4. Second Rise
- Cover and let the rolls rise 30–45 minutes until puffy.
5. Bake
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Brush rolls with beaten egg for a golden finish.
- Bake 25–35 minutes, until golden brown.
- Cool slightly, then dust with powdered sugar if desired.
Tips for Perfect Rolls
- Warm ingredients slightly to help yeast rise, but don’t make them hot or it will kill the yeast.
- Finely grind walnuts and poppy seeds—coarse bits can tear the dough.
- For extra flavor, add a splash of rum or orange zest to the filling.
💡 Extra: These rolls freeze well—slice and warm slightly before serving to enjoy anytime.
If you want, I can make a step-by-step visual guide for rolling and shaping these Hungarian rolls so they look like the traditional bakery version.
Do you want me to do that?
