Hungarian Kifli is a delicate, flaky pastry cookie with a sweet walnut filling that’s absolutely irresistible. It’s a holiday favorite!
This delectable little cookie holds a special place in my heart..
I’ve been making Hungarian Kifli every Christmas for over 30 years. It was my father’s favorite holiday cookie. Even after I moved away from home and had my own family, I always made sure every Christmas my father had his kifli.
These traditional Hungarian cookies have a delicate, flaky cream cheese pastry crust that is nestled around a sweet walnut filling, then sprinkled with additional ground walnuts mixed with granulated sugar. Before serving they’re dusted with a bit of confectioner’s sugar. Honestly, they’re absolutely dreamy.
Rolled cookies always take a little longer to make, but I’ve made it a bit easier for you guys because I know how busy the holidays can be. Instead of making the pastry dough totally from scratch, I use one 8 ounce package of cream cheese mixed with one 11 ounce box of Betty Crocker Pie Crust Mix. That’s it. Just mix them together to make the dough and you’re ready for rolling.
I hope you guys have time to sneak these in this holiday season. They have always been a family favorite at our house and I’m sure they’d be a fave at yours too! Enjoy!
I hope you and your families have a wonderful holiday and a Happy New Year! See you in 2017! I’ll bring the food!
Ingredients
- One 8 oz. package cream cheese room temperature
- One 11 oz. box Betty Crocker Pie Crust Mix
- 2 1/2 cups finely ground walnuts divided
- 1 cup granulated sugar divided
- 2 large egg whites well beaten, separated
- 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- confectioner's sugar for sprinkling
- flour for dusting board
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine cream cheese and pie crust mix until well blended. Divide dough in half and wrap each in plastic wrap. Chill for one hour or up to overnight.
- In a small bowl, combine 1/2 cup nuts and 1/4 cup granulated sugar for topping. Set aside.
- In another medium bowl, combine 2 cups nuts, 3/4 cup granulated sugar, one well beaten egg white, butter and vanilla for filling until well blended.
- In another small bowl, beat last egg white.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Lightly flour a work surface and roll one portion of dough into a rectangle about 1/4" thick. Cut into 2 inch squares. Place about one heaping teaspoon of walnut filling on each square. Fold two corners of square to the middle and press lightly. Brush the pastry with the egg white. Place on prepared sheet.
- Sprinkle with the nut/sugar topping.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from oven. Let cool on tray for 5 minutes then remove from tray to wire rack. Repeat until all dough is used.Before serving sprinkle with confectioner's sugar.
I have never heard of these cookies but they look so delicious. I love that you included a shortcut for us not so great bakers! How easy is that crust? I hope you have the happiest of holidays with your boys. You deserve it, Mary Ann!
The short cut really helps Karen, especially during the holidays when there always seem to be 20 recipes happening at once! I hope you have a wonderful holiday too with your family! I will be thinking of you and hope your parents enjoy their time together with everyone!
These look scrumptious, Mary Ann! Family favourites are always the best, aren’t they? Hope you have a wonderful holiday, my friend! XO
My Dad adored these cookies Dawn! And my son Sean has always loved them too! It wouldn’t be Christmas without them!
OH my gosh! These cookies are a family tradition! I’ve never heard them called Kifli before. My grandmother called these cookies Kolacky. We make the pastry dough from scratch, (very time consuming), but well worth it! We fill them with apricot and walnut filling. They are scrumshious! I’ll have to try your recipe, MaryAnn. I like the idea of the short version you mentioned. What a timesaver! Does your Dad like the Kolach rolls, too? It’s the pastry with the nut filling and poppyseed filling. They are amazing too! Thanks for sharing one of my favorite Christmas cookies!
So funny Nancie! I have heard these cookies called kolacky, but Hungarians call them kifli. And we call the walnut and poppyseed rolls kolach! My dad always loved kolach too! The Hungarian church we went to in town always made Kolach for all the major holidays, so the parishioners could buy it. He loved both these Hungarian delights! I have used the shortcut version quite often and honestly it tastes just delicious! I’m so glad you enjoy these cookies and they’re a tradition at your house too! I hope you have a wonderful holiday Nancie. Thank you so much for following along at the BHK! I have really appreciated all your sweet comments! XO
You talk about bejgli not kalacs.It is not the same.Lot’s of confusion all about Hungarian pastry I see.Ask a real Hungarian before posting somethink.
Hi Gabi. No confusion whatsoever here. I did not say kalacs, I said kifli. And by the way, my father was a “real hungarian”. He spoke the language fluently and we grew up enjoying Hungarian food frequently in our home. Food he grew up on, made from his mother’s recipes, my grandmother, also a “real Hungarian.” Enjoy your night.
Hi my husband was hungarian he came to Britain in 1956. we we also have a home in Hungary. I love all types of hungarian food and make it at home in Wales GB my husband has passed 8 years ago now.
Hungary is my favourite place on this planet Xx
I absolutely love Hungarian food too! I am so excited because I am finally getting to Hungary this fall! Can’t wait!
I have never heard of these delightful cookies, but I am smitten already. Love the flavours, as walnuts are a favourite of mine :) Have a most wonderful Christmas, Mary Ann!!
Oh Jennifer, they’re such a favorite at our house! My son loves them just as much as my dad did! They take a little time to make, but the shortcut version speeds things along and it’s just as delish. I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday too!
Oh wow, it has been AGES since I’ve seen or had these cookies, Mary Ann! I didn’t even know they had a name other than ‘those awesome cookies grams used to make’. Lol. I’m totally not doing my Hungarian roots proud there. Yours look absolutely AMAZING! And I’m seriously loving your pastry short cut!!! You are a genius, dear friend! Pinned! I hope you and your family have a beautiful holiday and New Year!! Can’t wait to see what you bring to the table in 2017! Cheers! <3
I didn’t know you were Hungarian Chey?! As I mentioned in the post, these cookies will always be so special to me. My father adored them and I always loved surprising him with them! My son Sean is just like him. He can never get enough. When I made them for the post, I boxed them and sent them to Sean in Charleston! He was so excited! I hope you have a fabulous holiday. Time to relax and stay in your jammies!!
I have seen similar cookies in Europe but never heard the name. They look absolutely delicious Mary Ann. Have a wonderful Christmas with your family and a happy and healthy New Year.
These really are worth the time to make Gerlinde! The box pie crust mix cuts the time, and tastes delicious! I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy new year!
What a lovely addition these will make to all the cookie trays! Wishing you and your family warm and wonderful holidays, my friend!
Thanks so much Annie! You too! XO
We have traditional holiday cookies that get made every year too, Mary Ann – it’s what makes the holidays so special! Love how easy and flaky these are – with their cute little edges – they look delicious. Have a wonderful holiday, Mary Ann! Here’s to a happy and healthy New Year!
Yes, I totally agree Geraldine! I hope you have a wonderful holiday too! Time to relax and enjoy ourselves!
Thanks for enlightening me with these, I’ve never heard of Kifli and your dough recipe sound beyond easy. Lovely!
It’s so easy Kevin! And honestly tastes just delicious. Rolled cookies are somewhat of an effort, but using the box pie crust mix helps! Have a Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year!
These looks so similar to rugelach! Let’s swap cookies today :)
Let’s! I love the apple butter filling in your roo-ga-la!!
I don’t think I have ever tried one of these – that needs to change! They look incredible!
Thanks Naomi! They don’t last long at our house! Enjoy!
Family favorites are the best, especially this time of year. I seriously can’t wait to make these.
Yes they are Matt! I hope you enjoy them if you give them a go! Happy Holidays to you, Naomi and the boys! Bet it’ll be fun!
These look delicious!! I have never heard of them before, but I cannot wait to try! Have a Merry Christmas!
They are a holiday tradition at our house Tieghan! Hope you have a wonderful holiday too!
Cream cheese and walnuts, it sounds like heaven. I bet this one smells incredible Thanks for introducing me to this family favorite. My dad loves anything walnut, and I know he would love a batch of these. Cheers!
Funny, because I made these for years for my Dad without even tasting one! I really prefer pecans to walnuts. But when I actually tried one, I thought…wow, I’ve really been missing something all these years! They’re delicious! I hope your Dad enjoys them if you give them a try!
I’ve never heard of these, but I that rich walnut filling sounds divine. Is it too late to stuff myself with Christmas cookies (a second time around?)
It’s never too late Annie! Go for it! You won’t be disappointed. Happy New Year!
I’ve never had these delicious sounding cookies. They will definitely be on my list the next time I want a little bite of something sweet.
They are definitely worth the effort Karen! I hope you enjoy. Have a Happy New Year!
I love the ease of this recipe, Mary Ann, it looks so much more complicated than it is!
I hope you give it a try Sue! I think you’ll love them! Happy New Year!
Just gorgeous, these cookies look irresistible! :) Hope you had a wonderful Christmas, and Happy New Year!
Thanks Laura! Happy New Year to you too!
omg!! omg!! these cookies look amazing mary ann! i would LOVE one right now. i hope you had a lovely christmas and new year! Xx
Thanks Thalia! All the best for a great 2017!! XO
I thought I knew about All The Cookies, but this is a new one for me – adding to my gotta-make-these-cookies list! Happy 2017, my friend! :)
They’re such a favorite at our house Kate! I hope you give them a go! You won’t be disappointed! Happy New Year! GO CLEMSON!
I was hoping you would share this recipe! They look lovely!
They’re such a favorite Kathy! I hope you enjoy them as much as we do if you give them a try!
These are so pretty and interesting too, Mary Ann! I’ve never heard of these. That sweet walnut filling tucked inside a pastry- beautiful. It reminds me a little of rugeluch. (which i love!)
Yes, somewhat similar to rugeluch Emily. They were my father’s favorite! It’s not a holiday without these!
These look delicious. Can you recommend a recipe to make the pie crust from scratch? As far as I know pie crust mix doesn’t exist in Australia.
Thanks, Em.
Thanks so much Em! The perfect pie crust from Simplyrecipes.com is awesome!
Thank you. That looks doable – even for this wannabe baker.
Awesome Em!
Hello Mary Ann,
My Aunt who passed years ago use to make these at Christmas time. Dozens and dozens. Us kids would pack them all in decorative tins for her layering them between wax paper. Ya know …eat on pack one. I just loved them. Unfortunately her recipe was in Hungarian and no one could read it and we were all too young to remember watching her making them.
I want to take the easy way with the crust but I have one question. Do you follow the directions on the mix box and add the cream cheese or just add the cream cheese to the mix and omit the water? Just want to make sure I’m doing it right.
Thank you
Cathy
Hi Cathy. So happy you found the blog and my Kifli recipe! To make the easy crust, just add the pie crust mix and the cream cheese together to form the dough. That’s it. It’s so easy. Hope you enjoy these. So glad they brought back fond memories! Happy Holidays!
Ok great I’ll leave out the water. Thank you so much. Went out and bought everything last night.
Enjoy Cathy!! Happy Baking!
What a sweet-sweet memory! we call them Dios Porlos kifli if filled with walnuts or Lekvaros Porlos Kifli if filled with fruit jam and it was always a staple of Christmas deserts back home! Mom still bakes them once in awhile and they disappear in much shorter time than what it takes to make them from scratch :)
Kifli will always remind me of my father. I can still see his face everytime he’d bite into one fresh from the oven! He was always my biggest fan, and loved everything I ever made him! One day we’ll meet again! Happy Holidays to you and your family!