Hungarian Kürtőskalács (Chimney Cake)

About This Recipe

Kürtőskalács (chimney cake) is one of Central Europe's most recognizable street foods — a long spiral of sweet yeasted dough wrapped around a wooden cylinder, grilled over glowing coals until the sugar caramelizes into a crunchy golden crust, then rolled in walnut, cinnamon sugar, or coconut. The hot, hollow cylinder with its crispy outside and soft, steamy inside has made it popular across Europe and beyond.

Ingredients

Serves 6

• 3 cupsall-purpose flour
• 7 ginstant yeast
• 1/4 cupsugar
• 1/2 cupwarm milk
• 2 largeeggs
• 80 gbutter, melted
• 1/2 tspsalt
• 1 cupsugar (for coating)
• 1 cupwalnuts, finely ground
• 1 tspcinnamon

Instructions

1. 1

   Make the dough

   Combine flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Add warm milk, eggs, and melted butter. Knead 8 minutes until smooth and elastic. Rest covered 1 hour until doubled.

2. 2

   Make the coating

   Mix sugar, ground walnuts, and cinnamon on a flat tray.

3. 3

   Wrap the cylinders

   Divide dough into portions. Roll each into a long rope and spiral-wrap tightly around a greased rolling pin or metal cylinder. Brush with melted butter, then roll in the sugar-walnut coating.

4. 4

   Grill or bake

   Grill over hot coals or bake at 200°C (400°F) for 12–15 minutes, turning every few minutes, until caramelized and golden.

5. 5

   Serve

   Slide off the cylinder while hot. Serve immediately.

Variations

• •

  Roll in coconut and vanilla sugar instead of walnuts

• •

  Fill the warm hollow with ice cream for a contemporary version

• •

  Dip in chocolate after grilling

• •

  Vegetarian: swap the protein for roasted king oyster mushrooms, smoked tofu or cooked chickpeas — adjust seasoning slightly upward to compensate.

Storage

Best eaten immediately. Does not store well.

Frequently Asked Questions