To Hungarian children, of course, it’s all about Mikulás. But for the grown-ups, Christmas celebrations in Hungary focus a lot on the culinary delights. Here are a few of the highlights.

Vanilla Kifli are a common treat made for Christmas in Hungary.

Halászlé (Fish Soup)

As a relic of the earlier church tradition of fasting for Advent, it is still traditional for fish to be eaten by many Hungarians families on Christmas Eve.

Roast Goose

Goose is quite popular in Hungary and many families will prepare the dish for Christmas dinner. Frequently it is stuffed with a mixture of apples and prunes or even sweet chestnuts.

Ham

Ham is likely to feature at one stage or another on the table during the Christmas season. It can be eaten cold, or roasted in the oven. In some rural villages of Hungary, pork butchering still takes place.

Beigli (Poppy Seed Roll)

Beigli is one of the most famous indulgences of Christmas in Hungary. This rich sweet bread contains walnuts, sugar and sultanas. Another popular variation is using poppy seeds as the main filling.

Vanilla Kifli (Crescent Cookies)

Crescent shaped cookies made from ground nuts with confectioners’ sugar sprinkled on top.

Szaloncukor (Candy)

A traditional Hungarian candy that is often hung on the Christmas tree as decoration. It is made of fondant, covered by chocolate and wrapped in shiny coloured foil. The tradition started in the 19th century. It was named Szaloncukor because the tree usually stood in the parlour, the most luxurious room in the houses of the nobility and middle-classes.

Mézeskalács (Honey Cakes)

Similar to gingerbread these cookies are made with honey and spices. Some have decorative shapes which are glazed with red icing and include colorful designs or messages.

Mákos Guba Mézzel (Poppy Seed Bread Pudding with Honey)

A particular favorite around Christmas, this dish contains bread with milk, honey, sugar, and poppy seeds. Originally, poppy seeds were used as a fertility charm to ensure a plentiful harvest in the coming year.

Forralt bor (Mulled wine)

This popular hot spiced wine is served during the cold winter months throughout Europe. It is made with red wine and seasoned with cinnamon, cloves, citrus and sugar. At the markets, vendors will offer various additions to the mulled wine, such as a shot of rum, amaretto, or elderberry cordial.

Related posts:

1. Traditional Czech Christmas Foods
2. Hungarian Christmas honey cookies
3. Hungarian poppy seed bread pudding

Vanilla Kifli. Photo taken by tedkaiserphoto.com.

These crescent shaped cookies known as “Vanilla Kifli” are a common treat made during the Christmas hoildays in Hungary. There also known as “Vanillekipferl” in Austria.

This recipe uses vanilla sugar which is available at most bulk food stores or farmers markets.

Ingredients

1 cup (225 grams) unsalted butter
1/2 cup (115 grams) vanilla sugar, plus extra for dusting
2 large eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup (170 grams) ground almonds
2 cups (220 grams) all-purpose flour

Directions

In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar together. Add the eggs and vanilla until incorporated. Add the ground almonds and flour. Beat until soft and smooth. 

Roll dough into a large ball, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for about 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 400F (200 C) and line a standard baking sheet with parchment paper.

Remove dough from fridge. Cut dough into 1 cm wide pieces, roll and form crescents. 

Bake cookies for about 10 -12 minutes or until light brown on the bottom. Immediately remove to a rack to cool for 5 minutes.

While cookies are still warm, sprinkle vanilla sugar on top. Cool cookies completely on a rack.

Related posts:

1. Traditional Gingerbread Cookies
2. Vanillekipferl: Austrian sugar cookies
3. Linzer cookies