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Kürtőskalács

Kürtőskalács — the Hungarian chimney cake: sweet yeast dough spiraled on a spit, roasted over coals until caramelized and crisp, then rolled in sugar.

⏱ 30 minPrep time
🔥 20 minCook time
🍽 6Servings
🏷 DessertCategory
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Kürtőskalács

Kürtőskalács — Hungary’s chimney cake — is a yeasted sweet dough wrapped around a wooden cylinder, rolled in sugar, and roasted until it develops a caramelized, glassy crust. Pulling the warm spiral off the spit is one of the great street-food pleasures of Central Europe.

Bakers in Hungary spin the cakes over glowing coals at fairs and Christmas markets, perfuming the air with butter and caramel. You can recreate them at home with a grill or oven and a metal cone — the crackle of the sugary shell is pure magic.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Dissolve the yeast and 1 tsp of the sugar in the warm milk and let it foam for 10 minutes.
  2. Mix the flour, remaining sugar, and salt. Add the yeast mixture, egg, and melted butter, and knead into a soft, smooth dough. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
  3. Divide the dough into 6 pieces and roll each into a rope about 1/2 inch thick and 20 inches long.
  4. Wrap each rope tightly around a greased chimney-cake mold, spiral-style, brushing lightly with butter between layers.
  5. Brush the cakes with melted butter, roll them in the coating sugar (mixed with cinnamon and nuts if using), and rest for 15 minutes.
  6. Roast over medium coals or bake at 375°F, turning often, for 15-20 minutes until deep golden and caramelized. Slide off the molds and serve warm.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Wind the dough in an overlapping spiral so it bakes into one continuous cake. If you lack molds, foil-wrapped empty cans work in a pinch.

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Recipe details

Prep30 min
Cook20 min
Servings6
CategoryDessert
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →