There are few Hungarian pastries as closely associated with Christmas and family baking as Diós Beigli. This beautiful walnut-filled roll combines a tender, lightly enriched dough with a fragrant filling of ground walnuts, sugar, citrus, and warm spices.
The finished roll is sliced into elegant spirals, making it just as beautiful on a holiday table as it is delicious with coffee or tea. Beigli is traditionally made with either walnut (diós) or poppy seed (mákos) filling. King Arthur Baking
A small correction: despite the “5 minutes” wording often used in social-media posts, traditional beigli is not a 5-minute recipe. The dough, filling, resting, shaping, and baking take several hours overall. The hands-on preparation, however, is quite manageable. King Arthur Baking
🥜 Ingredients
For the dough
375 g (3 cups) all-purpose flour
150 g (⅔ cup) unsalted butter, softened
35–40 g (3 tbsp) powdered sugar
125 ml (½ cup) warm milk
15–20 g fresh yeast or about 7 g dry yeast
1 egg yolk
½ tsp salt
For the walnut filling
250–300 g finely ground walnuts
100–120 g sugar
100 ml milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
Zest of 1 lemon
Zest of ½ orange, optional
½ tsp ground cinnamon
50–70 g raisins, optional
1–2 tbsp honey, optional
For the egg wash
1 egg yolk
1 egg white
👩🍳 How to Make Hungarian Walnut Beigli
1. Prepare the dough
Warm the milk until lukewarm and dissolve the yeast in it.
Mix the flour, powdered sugar, salt, butter, egg yolk, and yeast mixture. Knead until a smooth, soft dough forms.
Divide the dough into two equal portions, shape them into rectangles, cover, and refrigerate for about 1 hour.
2. Make the walnut filling
Place the milk and sugar in a saucepan and bring gently to a simmer.
Add the ground walnuts, cinnamon, lemon zest, vanilla, and honey. Stir until the mixture becomes thick and spreadable. Add raisins if desired.
Allow the filling to cool completely before assembling the rolls.
Traditional walnut beigli commonly combines ground walnuts with sweetener and flavorings such as lemon zest, cinnamon, and sometimes raisins. King Arthur Baking
3. Roll out the dough
Roll each piece of chilled dough into a thin rectangle, approximately 25 × 35 cm (10 × 14 inches).
Spread half of the cooled walnut filling evenly over each rectangle, leaving a small border around the edges.
4. Roll the beigli
Fold the edges slightly inward, then carefully roll the dough into a tight cylinder.
Place each roll seam-side down on a parchment-lined baking tray.
5. Add the traditional egg wash
Brush the rolls with beaten egg yolk and allow the surface to dry.
Then brush with beaten egg white and allow it to dry again.
This two-stage egg wash is one of the techniques traditionally used to create beigli’s characteristic shiny, crackled exterior. King Arthur Baking
6. Make small holes
Use a fork or skewer to make several small holes through the rolls.
These openings allow steam to escape while baking and help reduce the chance of the rolls splitting excessively. King Arthur Baking
7. Bake
Preheat the oven to 175°C (350°F).
Bake for about 20 minutes, then reduce the temperature to approximately 165°C (330°F) and continue baking for another 35–40 minutes, or until beautifully golden brown.
Cool the filling completely before spreading it over the dough.
Don’t make the walnut filling excessively wet.
Roll the dough firmly but don’t squeeze it too tightly.
Don’t skip the small holes; they help steam escape.
Let the finished rolls cool before cutting to get clean spiral slices.
If you prefer a richer flavor, raisins can be added to the walnut filling.
For the most traditional appearance, allow the egg wash to dry between applications.
🇭🇺 A Hungarian Christmas Classic
Beigli is a long, cylindrical Hungarian pastry traditionally filled with walnuts or poppy seeds. It is particularly associated with Christmas and New Year celebrations, when homemade rolls are commonly prepared and shared with family and friends. King Arthur Baking
The walnut version is called diós bejgli, while the poppy-seed version is mákos bejgli. Taste Hungary
☕ How to Serve
Slice the cooled roll into rounds and serve with:
☕ Coffee
🍵 Tea
🥛 Warm milk
🍷 Dessert wine
❄️ A Hungarian Christmas dessert platter
The beautiful spiral of walnut filling makes every slice look special.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make beigli ahead of time? Yes. Beigli keeps well when properly wrapped and can also be frozen for longer storage. King Arthur Baking
Why did my beigli crack? Cracking can happen because of steam, filling moisture, dough thickness, or proofing. Making small holes in the dough before baking helps steam escape.
Can I use only butter instead of lard? Yes. Butter can be used, although some traditional recipes use a combination of butter and lard.
Can I make it without raisins? Absolutely. Raisins are optional, and many families have their own preferred walnut filling.
❤️ Final Thoughts
Hungarian Walnut Roll – Diós Beigli is more than just a sweet pastry. Its combination of tender dough, aromatic walnuts, citrus, and cinnamon makes it a wonderful example of Hungary’s rich baking tradition.
And once you cut into that first slice and see the beautiful walnut spiral, you’ll understand why this pastry has remained a beloved holiday favorite for generations. 🇭🇺🥜✨
Would you make your Diós Beigli with raisins or without raisins? 🍇 TEAM RAISINS or ❤️ NO RAISINS?
Dear Silent 🤫 members, if you love Hungarian recipes, say “HI” in the comments so I know you’re here! 🇭🇺❤️
