A festive favorite from Hungary, these sweet yeast rolls are traditionally served at Christmas and holidays. Filled with rich walnut (diós) or poppy seed (mákos) filling, they’re soft, fragrant, and beautifully swirled when sliced.
📝 Ingredients
🥖 Dough
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 packet (2¼ tsp) active dry yeast
½ cup warm milk
½ cup sugar
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
2 egg yolks
1 whole egg
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
🌰 Walnut Filling (Diós)
1½ cups finely ground walnuts
½ cup sugar
¼ cup milk
1 tablespoon honey
½ teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
Zest of 1 lemon
🌑 Poppy Seed Filling (Mákos)
1½ cups ground poppy seeds
½ cup sugar
¼ cup milk
1 tablespoon honey
Zest of 1 lemon
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Prepare the Dough
Dissolve yeast in warm milk with a pinch of sugar. Let sit 5–10 minutes until foamy.
In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt.
Add butter, eggs, vanilla, and yeast mixture.
Knead until smooth and elastic (8–10 minutes).
Cover and let rise 1–1½ hours until doubled.
2️⃣ Make the Fillings
In separate bowls, mix ingredients for walnut and poppy seed fillings.
Warm slightly if needed to create a spreadable paste. Let cool.
3️⃣ Shape the Rolls
Divide dough into 2 portions.
Roll each into a rectangle (about ¼ inch thick).
Spread walnut filling on one and poppy seed filling on the other.
Roll tightly like a jelly roll and seal edges.
4️⃣ Second Rise
Place on lined baking sheet.
Cover and rest 30 minutes.
Brush with beaten egg for shine.
5️⃣ Bake
Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 30–35 minutes until golden brown.
Cool completely before slicing for clean swirls.
💡 Tips
Use freshly ground walnuts and poppy seeds for best flavor.
