Trdelník (Sweet Spun Pastry)
A popular sweet pastry made from rolled dough, wrapped around a stick, grilled, and then topped with sugar and walnut mixture. While its origins are debated, it's a ubiquitous street food in Prague and other Czech cities.
🧂 Ingredients
- 500 g All-purpose Flour
- 250 ml Milk(lukewarm)
- 100 g Granulated Sugar
- 2 large Egg Yolks
- 50 g Butter(softened)
- 20 g Yeast(fresh)
- 1 pinch Salt
- For Coating:
- 100 g Granulated Sugar
- 50 g Ground Walnuts
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- for brushing Butter
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
In a small bowl, crumble fresh yeast and dissolve it in lukewarm milk with a teaspoon of sugar. Let it sit for about 10 minutes until foamy.
💡 Tip: Ensure milk is not too hot, as it can kill the yeast. - 2
In a large bowl, combine flour, remaining sugar, egg yolks, softened butter, and salt. Add the activated yeast mixture.
💡 Tip: Using softened butter makes it easier to incorporate into the dough. - 3
Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for about 10-15 minutes until it's smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
💡 Tip: A warm oven (turned off) is a good place for dough to rise. - 4
While the dough rises, prepare the coating by mixing sugar, ground walnuts, and cinnamon in a shallow dish.
💡 Tip: You can toast the walnuts lightly before grinding for extra flavor. - 5
Once risen, punch down the dough and divide it into 6 equal portions. Roll each portion into a long rope, about 50-60 cm long.
- 6
Wrap each dough rope spirally around a trdelník mold or a heatproof cylindrical object (like a metal rod or a thick wooden dowel). Press the ends together to secure.
💡 Tip: If you don't have a mold, you can use greased metal cans or even carefully shape around a sturdy stick. - 7
Brush the dough-wrapped molds with melted butter. Place them over a grill, open fire, or in a preheated oven (around 180°C/350°F) and cook, turning frequently, for about 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown.
💡 Tip: Continuous turning is key to even cooking and preventing burning. - 8
Immediately after removing from heat, brush the hot trdelník with more melted butter and roll it in the sugar-walnut mixture until evenly coated.
💡 Tip: Coating while hot helps the mixture adhere better. - 9
Let cool slightly before serving. Trdelník is best enjoyed warm.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Authentic trdelník is cooked over an open flame or grill for a unique smoky flavor.
- ✓If using an oven, a baking stone can help achieve a crispier exterior.
- ✓Experiment with different nut coatings like almonds or pecans.
🔄 Variations
- Fill the cooled trdelník with ice cream, whipped cream, or fruit.
- Add cocoa powder to the dough for a chocolate version.
- Use a sweet cheese filling inside the dough before rolling.