A beautiful Hungarian classic with a rich, buttery pastry wrapped around a sweet, nutty filling. Beigli is especially popular during Christmas and family celebrations, and this recipe makes both walnut and poppy seed versions.
🇭🇺 Hungarian Beigli – Walnut & Poppy Seed Rolls
These traditional Hungarian rolls have a tender, lightly sweet pastry and a generous filling made with ground walnuts or poppy seeds. The shiny golden crust and beautiful spiral make them perfect for a holiday dessert table.
⭐ Recipe Details
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Resting Time: 1 hour
Bake Time: 30–35 minutes
Total Time: About 2 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 2 large rolls
Cuisine: Hungarian
Course: Dessert
🛒 Ingredients
For the dough
4 cups (500 g) all-purpose flour
1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
2 large egg yolks
½ cup (120 ml) whole milk
1½ teaspoons active dry yeast
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Zest of 1 lemon
Walnut filling
2 cups (200 g) finely ground walnuts
¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
½ cup (120 ml) milk
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon cinnamon
Zest of ½ lemon
⅓ cup (50 g) raisins, optional
Poppy seed filling
2 cups (200 g) ground poppy seeds
¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
½ cup (120 ml) milk
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Zest of ½ lemon
⅓ cup (50 g) raisins, optional
For the glaze
1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon milk
1 egg white
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Prepare the dough
Warm the milk until lukewarm. Stir in the yeast and a teaspoon of the sugar. Let it sit for about 5–10 minutes until slightly foamy.
In a large bowl, combine the flour, remaining sugar and salt. Add the cold butter and work it into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Add the egg yolks, vanilla, lemon zest and yeast mixture. Knead until a smooth dough forms.
Divide the dough into two equal pieces, cover and refrigerate for about 30–45 minutes.
2. Make the walnut filling
Place the milk, sugar and honey in a saucepan. Heat gently until the sugar dissolves.
Remove from the heat and stir in the ground walnuts, cinnamon, lemon zest, vanilla and raisins.
Allow the filling to cool completely.
3. Make the poppy seed filling
Repeat the same process with the poppy seeds.
Combine the milk, sugar and honey in a saucepan and warm until the sugar dissolves. Stir in the ground poppy seeds, lemon zest, vanilla and raisins.
Let cool before assembling.
4. Roll out the dough
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Place one piece of chilled dough on a lightly floured surface and roll it into a rectangle, approximately 10 × 14 inches.
Spread the cooled filling evenly over the dough, leaving a small border around the edges.
Fold the edges slightly inward and carefully roll the dough into a tight log.
Repeat with the second piece of dough and the other filling.
5. Prepare the traditional Beigli crust
Place both rolls seam-side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Brush the rolls with egg yolk and let them rest for about 15–20 minutes.
Brush them again with egg white.
Using a fork or skewer, make several small holes through the top of each roll. This helps steam escape while baking and can help prevent the rolls from splitting.
6. Bake
Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until the Beigli is beautifully golden brown.
Remove from the oven and allow it to cool completely before slicing.
For the cleanest slices, let the rolls cool for several hours before cutting.
🍽️ How to Serve Hungarian Beigli
Slice the rolls into thick pieces and serve with coffee or tea.
They are especially delicious during Christmas, but they’re also wonderful for breakfast, afternoon coffee or whenever you’re craving a traditional Hungarian treat.
💡 Tips for Perfect Beigli
Cool the filling completely before spreading it on the dough.
Don’t make the filling too wet, or the pastry can become soggy.
Roll the dough firmly but don’t stretch it.
Don’t skip the small holes on top—they allow steam to escape.
Let the Beigli cool completely before slicing.
For a beautiful holiday platter, make one walnut roll and one poppy seed roll.
❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This Hungarian Beigli combines a buttery pastry with a rich, aromatic filling and a gorgeous spiral pattern when sliced. It’s the kind of old-fashioned dessert that looks impressive but is absolutely worth making at home.
