St. Stephen of Hungary’s Chimney Cake 

History

St. Stephen of Hungary is most widely remembered for his strong leadership over Hungary and his work to Christianize his nation. In fact, as mentioned in our post about his feast day, his liturgical commemoration serves double duty as a national holiday for Hungary.

Because of this longstanding connection between St. Stephen and his country, many traditions have cropped up in connection with his remembrance over the course of the last century. When looking into the most significant culinary and cultural traditions, one, however, stands out for its particularly festive nature—the beloved Hungarian Chimney Cake.

St. Stephen of Hungary’s Chimney Cake

Chimney Cake, or Kürtőskalács, is a pastry that not only originates from this area and is thought of as having a strong connection with the Hungarian region but is also perfect for the late-summer commemoration of St. Stephen as it can be baked over a campfire. Its descriptor as “chimney” most likely refers to its cylinder and spiraling shape. Traditionally made over an open fire by wrapping sweet yeast dough around a spit and baking it atop hot coals until crispy and caramelized, this recipe is easy, family-friendly, and delicious! The contrast of doughy and crispy textures and salty and sweet flavors makes this easy-to-make treat especially cravable! 

While the traditional method of making this cake would involve cooking it over an open fire (easy to do with a stick or marshmallow stick atop a campfire or grill in your backyard), you can also do it in your oven. As the recipe is also incredibly simple, it can easily be easily adapted to the ingredients and items you have at home. 

For our version of this special treat, we’re recommending a homemade dough that you bake in the oven. However, you can just as easily use pre-made and store-bought cinnamon dough in place of a homemade dough and, as mentioned, roasted over a late-summer campfire to get a similar result. To achieve the iconic cylinder shape of this cake when baking in the oven, use four empty cans or wooden rolling pins to wrap the dough around.

Ingredients

1 tsp salt

3 cups (360 gms) All Purpose Flour

1.5 tsp Instant Yeast

2 tbsp sugar

1 egg

3/4 cup (180 gms) milk

2 tbsp (28 gms) melted butter

1 tsp vanilla

4 empty soda cans or 2 wooden rolling pins

Instructions

1. Mix flour, sugar, salt, and yeast in a large bowl. Add egg, melted butter, vanilla, and milk. Knead until smooth.
2. Transfer to an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm spot for about 1 hour, until doubled.
3. Wrap clean soda cans or wooden rolling pins in foil and lightly grease. Mix cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl.
4. Roll dough into a thin rectangle, then slice into ½ inch wide strips. Wrap strips around cans in a spiral, pressing lightly so they stick. Oil the wrapped dough and roll in the cinnamon sugar coating then place upright on a parchment-lined tray.
5. Bake at 325°F for 20 minutes, until golden. Cool slightly, twist off the cans, and enjoy plain, dipped in chocolate, or filled with ice cream or whipped cream.