Hungarian Beigli (Christmas Poppy Seed & Walnut Roll Cake)

Ingredients:

Dough:

• 500 g flour
• 25 g fresh yeast or 7 g dry yeast
• 200 ml warm milk
• 100 g sugar
• 2 egg yolks
• 100 g butter or lard
• Pinch of salt
• Zest of 1 lemon (optional)

Poppy seed filling:

• 250 g ground poppy seeds
• 100 g sugar
• 150 ml milk
• 1–2 tbsp honey
• 1 packet vanilla sugar
• Raisins (optional)

Walnut filling:

• 250 g ground walnuts
• 100 g sugar
• 150 ml milk
• 1–2 tbsp honey
• Cinnamon (optional)
• Raisins (optional)

Instructions:

1. Dissolve yeast in warm milk with a little sugar.
2. Mix flour, sugar, egg yolks, butter, salt, and yeast mixture into a soft dough.
3. Knead well and let rise for about 1 hour.
4. Divide dough into two parts and roll out thinly.
5. Spread poppy seed filling on one and walnut filling on the other.
6. Roll tightly into logs.
7. Place on baking tray and let rest 20 minutes.
8. Brush with egg yolk and prick lightly with a fork.
9. Bake at 180°C for 30–40 minutes until golden.
10. Let cool completely before slicing.