Polish Makowiec (Poppy Seed Roll)

About This Recipe

Makowiec is the cake that defines Polish Christmas, appearing on every Christmas Eve (Wigilia) table across the country. A soft, enriched yeast dough is spread with a thick, sweet filling of ground poppy seeds, honey, nuts, and raisins, then rolled up and baked until golden. The aroma alone is the smell of the Polish holidays.

Ingredients

Serves 12

• 3 cupsall-purpose flour
• 7 ginstant yeast
• 1/3 cupsugar
• 1/2 cupwarm milk
• 100 gbutter, softened
• 3 largeegg yolks
• 1/2 tspvanilla
• 400 gground poppy seeds
• 1/2 cuphoney
• 1/2 cupraisins
• 1/2 cupwalnuts, chopped
• 2 tbsporange zest
• 1 tbsplemon zest

Instructions

1. 1

   Make the dough

   Mix flour, yeast, sugar, and a pinch of salt. Add warm milk, egg yolks, vanilla, and softened butter. Knead for 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Rest covered for 1 hour until doubled.

2. 2

   Make the filling

   Combine ground poppy seeds, honey, raisins, walnuts, orange zest, and lemon zest. Heat gently to combine. The filling should be thick and spreadable. Cool to room temperature.

3. 3

   Assemble

   Roll dough into a rectangle about 40×30cm. Spread filling evenly, leaving a 2cm border. Roll up tightly from the long side.

4. 4

   Second rise

   Transfer to a lined baking pan, seam-side down. Cover and rest 30 minutes.

5. 5

   Bake

   Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 35–40 minutes until golden. Cool on a rack. Glaze with powdered sugar icing if desired.

Variations

• •

  Add marzipan to the filling layer

• •

  Make individual mini rolls (rollmops shape)

• •

  Use a walnut filling instead of poppy seed

• •

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

Storage

Store at room temperature for 4 days wrapped. Freezes well for 2 months.

Frequently Asked Questions