Wonderful choice — Hungarian Gerbeaud Cake (Zserbó szelet) is one of Hungary’s most iconic desserts! Named after the famous Café Gerbeaud in Budapest, it’s a rich, layered pastry filled with ground walnuts and apricot jam, topped with a thin, glossy chocolate glaze. Each bite is a perfect balance of tender yeasted dough, nutty-sweet filling, and deep chocolate — it’s a showstopping treat for holidays or special occasions.
Here’s a traditional recipe so you can make this Hungarian classic at home:
🇭🇺✨ Hungarian Gerbeaud Cake (Zserbó Szelet)
✅ Ingredients for the dough:
- 3 cups (375 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 packet (2 ¼ tsp) instant yeast
- ¾ cup (170 g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup (120 ml) milk, lukewarm
✅ For the filling:
- 1 ½ cups (150 g) finely ground walnuts
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- 1 ¼ cups (300 g) good-quality apricot jam
✅ For the chocolate glaze:
- 4 oz (115 g) dark or semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter