🇭🇺 Hungarian Kiffles (Kifli / Kifli Cookies)
Hungarian Kiffles are tender, buttery pastries filled with sweet walnut, apricot, or poppy seed filling — a beloved holiday treat in Hungary that melts in your mouth. These crescent-shaped or rolled cookies are a symbol of family gatherings and festive tables. 🥐✨
🧈 Ingredients
For the Dough:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter (cold, cut into cubes)
- 8 oz (225 g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the Walnut Filling (Diós Töltelék):
- 1 cup finely ground walnuts
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup milk
- ½ tsp cinnamon (optional)
Or use:
- Apricot preserves 🍑
- Poppy seed filling (makos) 🌸
- Prune or raspberry jam 🍇
For Dusting:
- Powdered sugar
👩🍳 Instructions
- Make the Dough:
In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Add cream cheese, egg yolk, and vanilla. Mix until soft dough forms.
Divide into 3 balls, wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (or overnight). - Prepare the Filling:
In a small saucepan, heat the milk and sugar until dissolved.
Add ground walnuts and cinnamon. Stir until thick, then cool completely. - Roll Out and Fill:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- On a floured surface, roll out each dough ball into a thin rectangle.
- Cut into 2–3 inch squares or triangles.
- Place 1 tsp filling on each piece and roll into a crescent or log shape, tucking edges to seal.
- Bake:
Arrange on parchment-lined baking sheets and bake 12–15 minutes, until lightly golden (not brown). - Cool and Dust:
Let cool on a rack, then generously dust with powdered sugar.
🍽️ Tips & Variations
- For extra flaky kiffles, chill the filled pastries for 10 minutes before baking.
- Use apricot or prune lekvar (thick jam) for a traditional fruity flavor.
- Store in an airtight container — they taste even better the next day!
Would you like me to give you the traditional Hungarian poppy seed filling version (Mákos Kifli) next? It’s another cherished variation across Hungary.
