The Hirshon Hungarian Poppy Seed and Walnut Beigli – Mákos És Diós Bejgli

Hungarian Beigli is one of the country’s most beloved festive pastries, traditionally appearing on Christmas tables alongside other treasured family recipes. With its tender, buttery pastry wrapped around a rich filling of poppy seeds or walnuts, every slice offers a beautiful contrast of textures and flavors.

Mákos Bejgli, filled with sweetened poppy seeds, and Diós Bejgli, filled with walnuts, are the two classic versions. The rolls are baked until beautifully golden, with the characteristic marbled or cracked surface that makes Hungarian beigli so recognizable.

What Is Hungarian Beigli?

Beigli is a rolled Hungarian pastry traditionally prepared for Christmas and other special occasions.

The dough is rolled into a thin rectangle and covered with a generous layer of filling. It is then carefully rolled into a log and baked until golden brown.

The two most traditional fillings are:

• Mákos Bejgli – poppy seed filling
• Diós Bejgli – walnut filling

The combination of rich filling and delicate pastry makes beigli especially satisfying with coffee or tea.

Ingredients

For the Dough

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup unsalted butter, chilled and cut into pieces
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 2 egg yolks
• ½ cup milk
• 1 packet active dry yeast
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Poppy Seed Filling

• 2 cups finely ground poppy seeds
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup milk
• ¼ cup raisins
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon honey
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

For the Walnut Filling

• 2 cups finely ground walnuts
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup milk
• ¼ cup raisins
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon honey
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

For the Egg Wash

• 1 egg yolk
• 1 egg white