Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1–2 hours.
Step 2: Roll the Dough
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
Roll the chilled dough to about ⅛ inch (3 mm) thick.
Cut into circles or triangles, depending on your preferred shape.
Step 3: Add the Filling
Place about 1 teaspoon of thick jam near the wide end of each piece.
Avoid overfilling to prevent leaking during baking.
Step 4: Shape the Kifli
Roll each piece toward the pointed end.
Curve the ends slightly to create the traditional crescent shape.
Arrange them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Step 5: Bake
Brush each pastry lightly with beaten egg.
Bake for 18–22 minutes, or until lightly golden.
Step 6: Finish
Allow the pastries to cool for about 10 minutes.
Dust generously with powdered sugar before serving.
Serving Suggestions
Serve with:
Coffee
Black tea
Hot chocolate
Mulled wine
Fresh fruit
Vanilla ice cream
Tips for Perfect Kifli
Chill the dough before rolling for easier handling.
Use thick jam so it stays inside the pastry.
Do not overbake—the pastries should remain tender.
Dust with powdered sugar only after they have cooled.
Homemade apricot or plum jam gives the most authentic flavor.
Variations
Try these delicious fillings:
Apricot jam
Plum jam
Raspberry jam
Cherry preserves
Walnut filling
Poppy seed filling
Sweet cream cheese
Nutella
Storage
Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Freezer: Freeze baked or unbaked pastries for up to 3 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hungarian Kifli?
Kifli is a traditional Hungarian crescent-shaped pastry that can be sweet or savory. Sweet versions are commonly filled with fruit jam, walnuts, or poppy seeds.
Which jam is traditional?
Apricot jam (baracklekvár) and plum jam (szilvalekvár) are the most traditional fillings.
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes. The dough can be refrigerated overnight or frozen for later use.
Why did my filling leak?
The jam may have been too thin or too much filling was added. Use a thick fruit preserve and seal the edges well.
Nutrition (Per Serving)
Calories: 210
Protein: 3 g
Carbohydrates: 24 g
Fat: 11 g
Saturated Fat: 7 g
Fiber: 1 g
Sodium: 90 mg
Final Thoughts
Hungarian Jam-Filled Kifli (Lekváros Kifli) is a timeless Hungarian pastry loved for its buttery, flaky texture and sweet fruit filling. Whether served during the holidays or enjoyed with a cup of coffee, these elegant crescent pastries bring the warmth and tradition of Hungarian baking to every bite.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
