Hungarian pastry delight: How to make kürtőskalács at home

The holiday season is still far away. Maybe that's why I often reminisce about my trip to Hungary and my culinary discoveries. I've already written about goulash soup and langos. Now it's time for something sweet: kürtőskalács. It's quite easy to make at home!

Kürtőskalács, is one of the most famous Hungarian desserts. It's associated with street food because it tastes best when bought from street stalls. They're easy to find because the smell of this baked treat spreads quickly and is very enticing.

It starts with the smell, but it truly is a pastry that's hard to resist. It has a characteristic cylindrical shape and was once baked over a fire, similar to a spit cake. It's made from thinly rolled yeast dough. It's usually served with toppings. The traditional one is sugar, but the choice is much wider. At street stalls, you can choose from cinnamon, cocoa, nuts, or coconut toppings. I suggest preparing it with brown sugar and cinnamon.

When you see kürtőskalács, at street stalls, it seems impossible to make them at home. However, there's no big problem with that. You can bake them in the oven, and the whole process is made easier with special forms for kurtosz that can also be bought online. The second thing is a good recipe, and I'm happy to share one.

Kürtőskalács, recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ⅓ cup milk
• 1 egg
• 1.5 teaspoons fresh yeast
• 4 tablespoons sugar
• 3.5 tablespoons butter
• A pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Oil for greasing the dough
• Favorite toppings for coating (e.g., brown sugar and cinnamon, 1 tablespoon melted butter)
• Kurtosz forms

Instructions:

1. Start by preparing the yeast mixture. Add a teaspoon of flour and sugar to lukewarm milk, add crumbled yeast, and mix. Set it aside for 15 minutes in a warm place to let the yeast activate.
2. Add flour, sugar, egg, a pinch of salt, vanilla extract, and finally, melted butter to a bowl and combine these ingredients with the yeast mixture. Knead the dough thoroughly. Then, transfer it to an oiled bowl and set it aside for 30 minutes to rise.
3. Afterward, transfer it to a board and lightly knead it again. Divide it into smaller portions. Form long, thin strips from the dough to roll it out. Wrap it around the kurtosz forms. The dough should stick tightly to them.
4. Brush the prepared kurtosz with melted butter. Mix brown sugar with cinnamon and coat them in this topping. Place the forms vertically on a baking sheet.
5. Place them in an oven preheated to 375°F. Bake for about 15-20 minutes; kurtosz should have a golden color. They taste best when warm.