Hungarian Kifli – Traditional Filled Crescent Cookies

Hungarian Kifli are delicate, buttery pastries traditionally made with a tender dough and filled with sweet walnut, poppy seed, coconut, or plum jam. The photo shows several classic variations, dusted generously with powdered sugar and baked until lightly golden.

These traditional Hungarian cookies are especially popular around Christmas and other family celebrations, when several fillings are often prepared together on one platter.

🇭🇺 What Are Hungarian Kifli?

The word kifli refers to a crescent-shaped pastry in Hungarian cuisine. Depending on the recipe, kifli can be savory or sweet.

Sweet filled kifli are particularly beloved for their:

• Tender, crumbly pastry
• Rich traditional fillings
• Delicate crescent or rolled shape
• Light powdered-sugar finish
• Beautiful variety of fillings

The assortment in the photo is especially tempting, with walnut, poppy seed, coconut, and plum fillings.

🧈 Ingredients

For the Dough

• 3 cups (375 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup (100 g) powdered sugar
• 2 egg yolks
• ½ cup (120 g) sour cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• Pinch of salt

Walnut Filling

• 1 cup (100 g) finely ground walnuts
• ⅓ cup (70 g) sugar
• 2–3 tablespoons milk
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon lemon zest

Poppy Seed Filling

• 1 cup (100 g) finely ground poppy seeds
• ⅓ cup (70 g) sugar
• 3 tablespoons milk
• ½ teaspoon lemon zest

Coconut Filling

• 1 cup (90 g) shredded coconut
• ⅓ cup (70 g) sugar
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Plum Filling

• Thick plum jam or szilvalekvár

For Finishing

• Powdered sugar