Authentic Hungarian Walnut Rolls

Step 1

Mix filling in a medium bowl using only ¼ cup of the boiled milk. The mixture should be thick.

Step 2

If the filling is not spreadable, use the rest of the milk. I used all of it. It will thicken as it sits.

Step 3

Note: You can make the filling ahead of time and freeze it until you are ready to use it. Just thaw at room temperature when you are ready to use.

Step 4

Sift flour and salt together in a medium bowl and set aside.

Step 5

Beat the cream cheese and butter together with a stand mixer or a hand mixer until completely incorporated and creamy (3-5 minutes).

Step 6

Reduce the speed of the mixer and slowly add in the flour. I used 5 additions and completely mixed in the flour each time. The dough will be soft but not sticky.

Step 7

Divide the dough into 4 equal parts and flatten each to ¾” thick. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until hard, at least 2 hours.

Step 8

Pre-heat the oven to 375°. Move the oven rack one setting higher than the center.

Step 9

Take one of the disks of dough from the refrigerator and lightly flour both sides. Spread granulated sugar on your pastry board or work surface. Place the dough on top and roll out pastry to 1/16” thick or as thin as possible. Most recipes say 1/8” but my Husband remembered them being thinner. Thinner is better. If you roll them too thick, the bottom will burn before the inside has a chance to fully cook and puff up. They still taste good but they taste so much better when properly rolled. Promise. Just trust me here.

Step 10

With a pastry wheel or sharp knife, trim the dough into a square and then cut the square into 16 smaller squares. My dough never rolled out into a perfect circle so I would just cut as many 1 1/2 “ squares a possible, saving the scraps for later.

Step 11

Place a dollop of filling in one corner of each square. I used ½ teaspoon.

Step 12

Starting in the corner with the filling, roll the dough around the filling from corner to corner, gently pressing down as you roll. Grab the roll on both sides and pinch as you bend the roll to create a crescent shape. Gently move it to a parchment covered baking sheet, placing the Rolls no closer than 1” apart.

Step 13

Repeat with all remaining squares.

Step 14

Sprinkle the middles of the Rolls with just a touch of granulated sugar.

Step 15

Bake 12-14 minutes or until the bottom edges are a golden and you can smell them. They should puff up slightly in the middle. With experience you can see when the dough is cooked. Let cool slightly on the pan on a wire rack and then move them gently to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 16

Repeat with all remaining dough. Refrigerate and re-roll your scraps. Amazing.

Step 17

For a more traditional cookie, you can omit the granulated sugar and dust the final, cooled cookie with powdered sugar. I will warn you that it won’t be as divine.