Description
Traditional Hungarian chimney cakes made from sweet yeast dough baked into hollow pastries with a crisp caramelized cinnamon sugar coating and a soft fluffy center.
Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup warm milk
- 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup melted butter (for coating)
- 1 cup granulated sugar (for coating)
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts or almonds (optional)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Let sit for 5 minutes until slightly foamy.
- Add the eggs, melted butter, vanilla extract, and salt. Mix well.
- Gradually add the flour while mixing until a soft dough forms.
- Knead the dough for 8 to 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Cover the bowl and let the dough rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Prepare metal cylinders or foil-wrapped oven-safe molds and grease lightly with butter.
- Divide the dough into equal portions and roll each into long thin strips.
- Wrap the dough strips around the prepared cylinders, slightly overlapping the layers.
- Brush the wrapped dough generously with melted butter.
- Mix the sugar and cinnamon together on a plate and roll the dough-covered molds in the mixture.
- Place the molds on a baking tray and bake for 18 to 22 minutes, rotating halfway through baking.
- Remove from the oven once golden brown and caramelized.
- Carefully slide the chimney cakes off the molds while warm.
- Roll again in cinnamon sugar or chopped nuts before serving.
Notes
- Serve warm for the crispiest sugar coating.
- Foil-wrapped cans can be used if special molds are unavailable.
- Reheat briefly in the oven to restore crispness.
- Customize with coconut, cocoa powder, or chopped nuts.
- Store at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Hungarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chimney cake
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 24g
- Sodium: 220mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 64g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
