Desserts from Hungary are a must-discuss while talking about Central Europe. From fluffy to crumbly, zesty to fruity, the Hungarian sweet world has an abundance of delicious flavours and textures that are just waiting for you to savour.
You will be enthralled by the multifaceted pleasures here at any moment. Hungary is the land of plums, poppy seeds, and cottage cheese. In addition to being endearing, they make you feel good. Hungarian sweets are hard to choose since there is so much variety and creativity.
Rákóczi Túrós
The Hungarian curd cheese cake is called rakóczi túrós. A thin layer of shortcrust pastry serves as the foundation, and meringue is placed on top of a layer of sweetened curd cheese. This delicious cake bears the name of János Rákóczi, a great patissier from Hungary who created it for the 1958 Brussels World Expo. The dish quickly gained popularity and is now available in practically every pastry store in Hungary.
Krémes
The Hungarian term for the well-known cremeschnitte is krémes, which translates to "creamy." It has two layers of puff pastry sandwiched together by a thick layer of velvety pastry cream. The traditional krémes pastry cream should be light and airy, with a dusting of powdered sugar on top. The dish, which is often served in huge, rectangular pieces, is a Hungarian classic and is a mainstay at many pastry shops around the nation.
Esterházy Torta
Confectioners in Budapest are credited with creating this rich Hungarian dessert in the 1800s. It bears the name of Prince Paul III Anton Esterházy de Galántha, a renowned gourmet as well as a prince and diplomat from the Esterházy dynasty.
A creamy vanilla buttercream with a hint of cognac and many layers of almond meringue comprise the classic Esterházy torta; however, walnuts or hazelnuts are sometimes used in place of almonds in contemporary recipes. The cake is covered in a layer of white fondant icing and adorned with chocolate marbling in the shape of a spiderweb or chevrons.
Somlói Galuska
Though its name literally means "somló dumpling," this traditional Hungarian treat is really a trifle cake composed of many layers of sponge and custard cream, dotted with raisins that have been steeped in Tokaji Aszú wine or rum, and finished with whipped cream.
The 1950s saw the invention of somlói galuska, a unique dessert that was first conceptualised by Károly Gollerits, the head waiter at the renowned Gundel restaurant in Budapest. Later, Gundel's master pastry chef, József Béla Szőcs, created the cake, which went on to win an award at the 1958 Brussels World's Fair.
Aranygaluska
Golden dumplings, or aranygaluska, are a classic Hungarian dish that is thought to have influenced the creation of the well-known American monkey bread. It is made by rolling soft balls of yeasted dough in a combination of sugar and crushed walnuts, dipping them in butter, and then firmly packing them into a circular tray and baking them until they are caramelised and golden brown.
The bread originated in the Jewish culinary heritage and gained popularity in America in the 1950s when Nancy Reagan served it at the White House. Usually, the cake is given whole and lukewarm so that the guests can break off the individual golden dumplings.
Dobostorta
The round Dobostorta cake is made up of five layers of chocolate buttercream and six thin layers of sponge cake. The Dobostorta was originally shown at the National General Exhibition of Budapest in 1885 by the Hungarian confectioner József C. Dobos.
The edges are frequently dusted with crushed nuts, and the cake has a glossy layer of firm caramel on top to keep it from drying out. Using a unique Dobos knife, the caramel layer is sliced before it solidifies and the pieces of caramel are put on top of the cake.
Gundel Palacsinta
Thin, crêpe-like pancakes stuffed with a sweet walnut filling and drenched in warm chocolate sauce make up this traditional Hungarian treat. Traditionally, the filling is made with crushed or ground walnuts, and it's frequently enhanced with raisins, rum, citrus zest, or cinnamon.
This classic's origins are linked to Károly Gundel, a well-known Hungarian restaurateur who first served the pancakes at the well-known Gundel restaurant in Budapest. However, it's thought that he obtained the recipe from Ilona Matzner, the well-known writer Sándor Márai's wife.