Hungarian Christmas Bread Recipes

HUNGARIAN BEIGLI

Steps:

• Combine the 5 tablespoons sugar, butter, egg yolks, and sour cream in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the dough blade and process well. Add the flour and yeast and process until the dough comes together. If the dough feels too wet, add a little more flour; if it's too dry, add milk a tablespoon at a time. The dough should be moist and easy to work with.
• Shape the dough into a ball, cover with a damp towel, and set aside. To make the filling, heat the milk and 1 cup sugar in a saucepan until the sugar dissolves and the mixture has a syrupy consistency. Add the chopped walnuts and stir to combine. Remove the saucepan from the heat; stir in the lemon zest and raisins, and let filling cool.
• Divide the dough into three pieces. Roll one piece of dough out on a lightly floured surface to form a long rectangle about a 1/4-inch thick; keep the remaining dough covered. Spread 1/3 of the walnut filling on the dough, leaving about an inch of dough at each edge. Roll the dough up to form a log, and press to seal. Place the dough, seam-side down, on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling.
• Beat the egg with the tablespoon of water to make an egg wash. Brush the loaves with egg wash and let rest for 1 hour in a warm place. After the dough has risen, brush it again with egg wash and put the baking tray in the refrigerator for 30 minutes (this will give the dough a shiny finish).
• Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Bake the loaves until they're a deep golden brown, about 35 to 45 minutes.

HUNGARIAN CHRISTMAS BREAD

Steps:

• In a small cup, dissolve the yeast and sugar in the water. Let stand for a few minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine the butter, sugar, salt, 1 tbsp lemon peel, and.
• milk in a large mixing bowl. Then add 2-1/2 cups of flour alternately with the yeast mixture. Blend the dough well.
• Turn the dough out onto a floured board. Knead for about 10 minutes until the dough is smooth and not sticky.
• Add more flour as necessary. Put the dough into a greased bowl, turning so the top is greased. Let rise in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
• While the dough is rising, prepare the filling:.
• Combine the poppy seeds, sugar, raisins, milk, and the rest of the lemon peel in the top half of a double boiler. Cook it over hot water until the mixture is of spreading consistency. Stir constantly. It should thicken in about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
• Punch the dough down, divide in half, and roll each piece into a long rectangle about 1/4-inch thick.
• Spread the filling on top of each piece, then roll up. Pinch the seams together so the filling can't come out.
• Place the rolls on a large greased baking sheet and brush with the glaze.
• Cover the rolls with wax paper laid across water glasses so the paper doesn't touch the dough. Let rise again for 30 minutes.
• Apply a second coat of glaze.
• Bake the loaves in a preheated 325 F oven for about an hour. If the top browns too rapidly, cover loosely with aluminum foil. Cool on a wire rack.

HUNGARIAN COUNTRY BREAD

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in water (if using dry yeast, follow instructions).
• Add most of the flour and the salt.
• Knead vigorously by hand for 5-10 minutes.
• Let rise, covered, to double size (1-2 hours).
• Heat the oven to 450 deg F/ 230 deg C.
• Knead again, vigorously, for 5 minutes.
• Shape one big, round loaf and put on a greased baking tray.
• Cover and let rise for another 45 minutes.
• Make a few cuts in the loaf with a razorblade.
• Bake in the oven for 10 minutes.
• Reduce heat to 400/200 deg and bake another one hour.
• The crust should become quite brown.
• Turn off the oven, take out the bread, and brush the bread with water.
• Put it back in the oven for 15 minutes.
• Let cool uncovered.

KALACS (HUNGARIAN CINNAMON SWIRL BREAD)

Steps:

• Place flour, white sugar, salt, and yeast into the bowl of a stand mixer. In a bowl, whisk together egg, melted butter, warm milk, and vanilla extract; pour into the flour mixture. Using dough hook attachment, mix on low until the flour is moistened and a dough forms, then increase speed to medium, and continue kneading until smooth and elastic, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Place dough into a greased bowl, cover, and allow to rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Punch down dough, turn out onto a floured work surface, and divide into 2 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a 1/3 inch thick rectangle. Brush each square with melted butter. Mix together cinnamon and brown sugar in a small bowl, then sprinkle evenly over the two rectangles.
• Roll each firmly into a log, pinch the ends closed, and tuck them underneath. Place each into a greased, glass loaf pan. Cover, and allow to rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 45 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Brush the tops of the loaves with melted butter, then bake in preheated oven until loaves are golden brown, and sound hollow when tapped, about 30 minutes.