Hungarian Sweet Vanilla

Here is a clean, elegant, photo-free traditional recipe for Hungarian Sweet Vanilla-Butter Rolls — soft, fragrant, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. These rolls are beloved around Christmas and Easter, but Hungarians enjoy them year-round with tea or coffee.

🇭🇺✨ Hungarian Sweet Vanilla-Butter Rolls (Vaníliás Vajtekercs)

Soft enriched dough rolled with sweet vanilla butter and baked until golden. Light, tender, and delicately aromatic — a true Hungarian pastry classic.

⭐ Ingredients

For the Dough

  • 3 ½ cups (420 g) all-purpose flour
  • ⅓ cup (70 g) sugar
  • 1 packet (7 g) instant yeast
  • 1 cup (240 ml) warm milk
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 4 tbsp (60 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract (or 1 tbsp vanilla sugar)
  • ½ tsp salt

For the Vanilla-Butter Filling

  • ½ cup (100 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • ½ cup (100 g) sugar
  • 2 tbsp vanilla sugar or 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • Optional: zest of 1 lemon (traditional in some regions)

For Brushing

  • 1 egg yolk mixed with 1 tbsp milk (egg wash)

🔥 Instructions

1. Prepare the Dough

  1. Mix warm milk, sugar, and yeast; let stand 5 minutes until foamy.
  2. In a large bowl, combine flour and salt.
  3. Add yeast mixture, egg yolks, vanilla, and softened butter.
  4. Knead 8–10 minutes until smooth, elastic, and slightly soft.
  5. Cover and let rise 1–1½ hours, until doubled.

2. Make the Vanilla-Butter Filling

  1. Cream butter, sugar, and vanilla (plus lemon zest if using) until fluffy.
  2. Set aside at room temperature.

3. Shape the Rolls

  1. Punch down risen dough.
  2. Roll into a large rectangle about ¼ inch (0.5 cm) thick.
  3. Spread the vanilla-butter filling evenly over the dough.
  4. Roll tightly from the long side into a log.
  5. Slice into 12–16 rolls.
  6. Place cut-side up in a buttered baking dish or on a parchment tray.

4. Second Rise

Let rolls rise 30–40 minutes, until slightly puffy.

5. Bake

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Brush rolls lightly with egg wash.
  3. Bake 20–25 minutes, until golden and fragrant.

6. Optional Finishing

  • Dust with powdered sugar while warm.
  • Brush with vanilla syrup for extra shine and aroma.

🍽️ Serve Warm

These rolls are best fresh, soft, and warm. Perfect with tea, coffee, or hot cocoa.

💡 Tips for Perfect Vanilla-Butter Rolls

  • Dough should be soft but not sticky — adjust flour gently if needed.
  • Keep butter filling soft so it spreads easily.
  • Roll tightly for neat spirals.
  • Don’t overbake; they should be light and tender.

✨ Variations

  • Vanilla-Walnut Rolls: add 1 cup ground walnuts to the filling.
  • Cinnamon-Vanilla Rolls: add 1 tbsp cinnamon to the butter.
  • Custard-Filled Vanilla Rolls: spread a thin pastry cream layer under the butter.

If you want, I can also create:
🥐 Hungarian Butter Crescents (Vajas Kifli)
🍮 Hungarian Vanilla Custard Buns
🍯 Hungarian Sweet Honey-Rolls

Would you like another Hungarian pastry?

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