Here is the authentic Hungarian Gerbeaud Cake (Zserbó Szelet) 🇭🇺 One of Hungary’s most iconic pastries — delicate yeast dough layers with walnut filling, apricot jam, and a rich chocolate glaze.
🇭🇺 Hungarian Gerbeaud Cake (Zserbó)
🧾 Ingredients (9×13 inch pan)
Dough
3 cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup butter, softened
½ cup sugar
2 large eggs
¼ cup warm milk
2¼ tsp (1 packet) instant yeast
1 tsp vanilla
Pinch of salt
Filling
2 cups ground walnuts
¾ cup sugar
Zest of 1 lemon (optional but traditional)
¾–1 cup apricot jam (thick)
Chocolate Glaze
5 oz (140 g) dark chocolate
3 tbsp butter
2 tbsp heavy cream
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Prepare the dough
Warm milk slightly (not hot). Mix with yeast and 1 tsp sugar. Let sit 5 minutes.
In a bowl, mix flour and salt. Cut in butter. Add eggs, remaining sugar, vanilla, and yeast mixture. Knead until soft and smooth.
Divide dough into 4 equal balls. Cover and rest 30 minutes.
2️⃣ Prepare filling
Mix ground walnuts, sugar, and lemon zest.
3️⃣ Assemble layers
Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Line pan with parchment.
Roll out first dough layer and place in pan. Spread ⅓ jam, sprinkle ⅓ walnut mixture. Repeat layers 3 times, finishing with dough on top.
Prick top with fork lightly.
4️⃣ Bake
Bake 35–40 minutes, until lightly golden. Cool completely in pan.
5️⃣ Chocolate glaze
Melt chocolate, butter, and cream gently until smooth. Spread over cooled cake evenly.
