Beigli is a traditional holiday pastry filled with sweet walnut or poppy seed filling, wrapped in soft yeast dough and baked until beautifully golden with crackled patterns on top.
Ingredients
Dough:
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 packet instant yeast (7 g)
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 cup warm milk
- ½ cup butter (softened)
- 2 egg yolks
- Pinch of salt
Egg wash:
- 1 egg yolk + 1 tablespoon milk
Walnut filling:
- 2 cups ground walnuts
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Zest of ½ lemon
- 1–2 tablespoons honey (optional)
Poppy seed filling:
- 2 cups ground poppy seeds
- ½ cup sugar
- ¾ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Zest of ½ lemon
- Raisins (optional)
Instructions
1. Prepare the dough
Mix flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Add warm milk, egg yolks, and butter. Knead until smooth. Cover and let rest 1 hour.
2. Prepare fillings
Cook walnut or poppy seed filling ingredients in a small pot for a few minutes until thick and spreadable. Let cool.
3. Roll and fill
Divide dough into two parts. Roll each into a rectangle. Spread filling evenly, leaving edges clean.
4. Shape
Roll tightly into logs. Place seam-side down on a baking tray.
5. Rest again
Let rolls rest 30–40 minutes.
6. Bake
Brush with egg wash. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 30–40 minutes until golden.