Hungarian Golden Coffee Cake (Aranygaluska)

Here’s a luscious Hungarian Golden Coffee Cake (Aranygaluska), a buttery, cinnamon-swirled pull-apart cake soaked in vanilla sugar syrup—perfect with coffee!

Table of Contents

☕ Hungarian Golden Coffee Cake (Aranygaluska)

(A sweet, pull-apart yeast cake with walnut-cinnamon crunch!)

🍯 Ingredients

For the Dough:

4 cups (500g) all-purpose flour
½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
2 ¼ tsp (1 packet) active dry yeast

½ cup (120ml) warm milk (110°F/43°C)
3 large eggs, room temp
½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, melted

1 tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp salt

For the Filling:

½ cup (115g) melted butter (for dipping)
1 cup (200g) granulated sugar + 1 tbsp cinnamon (mix together)

½ cup (60g) finely chopped walnuts (optional)

For the Vanilla Syrup Glaze:

½ cup (120ml) water
½ cup (100g) sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

📝 Instructions

1. Make the Dough

Activate yeast: Mix warm milk, 1 tsp sugar, and yeast. Let sit 5-10 mins until foamy.
Knead dough: In a stand mixer, combine flour, sugar, eggs, melted butter, vanilla, salt, and yeast mixture. Mix 5-7 mins until smooth and elastic.
First rise: Cover and let rise 1-1.5 hours, until doubled.

2. Shape & Fill

Prep: Melt butter for dipping. Mix cinnamon sugar and walnuts in a bowl.
Form balls: Punch down dough, then pinch off walnut-sized pieces (about 1.5-inch balls).
Dip & coat: Roll each ball in melted butter, then cinnamon sugar mix.

Layer: Arrange balls in a greased 9-inch Bundt pan or tube pan (stack loosely).

3. Second Rise & Bake

Rise again: Cover and let rise 30-45 mins.
Bake: 350°F (175°C) for 30-35 mins, until golden.

4. Vanilla Syrup

While cake bakes, simmer water + sugar until dissolved. Stir in vanilla.
Soak cake: Pour warm syrup over the hot cake. Cool 15 mins before inverting.

💡 Tips

Extra crunch: Add raisins or a drizzle of honey to the syrup.

Make ahead: Refrigerate shaped dough overnight for a morning bake.
Serve warm with coffee or tea!

This pull-apart cake is sticky, buttery, and irresistible—just like Budapest’s cafés make it! Want a chocolate twist? Swap cinnamon for cocoa powder. 😊