Trdelnik

Trdelnik

The original recipe is dated to 17th century; perhaps the original is from Hungary or even Eastern parts of Europe. TRDLO - the exact translation is "clodpole, or clodpoll or goofy", but the basic meaning here is the wooden stick, about two feet long and 3 to 4 inches in diameter, which this sweet pastry is supposed to be baked on.

The original recipe and how I had enjoyed it was when it was baked over an open fire (hot coals), wrapped around this buttered wooden stick.

This recipe has been translated from Slovak/Czech and from pounds to kgs - so the measurements aren't exact. 

Dough ingredients:

a little less then 1 kg of all-purpose flour

150grams unsalted butter

½ cup powdered sugar

5 egg yolks

1 1/2 teaspoons or 25 grams of yeast

½ cup milk (milk as needed, nonexistent exact measure)

Icing ingredients:

1 cup walnuts (finely chopped)

½ cup granulated sugar

1 egg  

Method:

1.     Sift into a large mixing bowl flour and powdered sugar.

2.     Make a small hole in the middle and place into it crumbled fresh yeast.

3.     Pour lukewarm milk over the yeast.

4.     Let it rise for about 10 minutes.

5.     Meanwhile melt the butter.

6.     Add egg yolks into the bowl, pour in melted, but not hot butter, add pinch of salt.

7.     Mix together to make fairly firm dough, well worked (use stand mixer, it's easy).

8.     Let the dough rise for 20 minutes in warm place.

9.     Divide into five equal parts, make loafs.

10.  You can let it rise for another 20 minutes (it's better, but not necessary if fresh yeast used, a must with dry yeast).

11.  Roll out each loaf into 2/3 inch diameter to be a thin, cylindrical shape.

12.  Wrap the dough tightly around the buttered "trdlo" wooden stick. Let it stand for ten more minutes (support the ends, so it will be in the air).

13.  Glaze with the last egg, cover all around with chopped walnuts and granulated sugar.

14.  Bake as above over hot coals on the grill.

15.  Results may be achieved with oven, but the pastry need to be turned pretty often during baking, and baked until golden red colour.

16.  Baking time is not determined, since baking over hot coals and on open air, but from my roughly about 20 to 40 minutes and also depends on size you making.

17.  When cooled down a little, slide the baked pastry of the wooden stick, cut into individual servings, sprinkle with powdered sugar, enjoy.

18.  Also you can cover it in various nuts, coconut and such.

Tips:

A round wooden stick is still needed (can be purchased at any hardware store) and then can be wrapped in Alfoil, if you don't trust the bare wood.

For those who have big BBQ’s you could rig this trdlo, (ok, we'll call it wooden stick) over the grill.

Do not try to lay it on the grill as it has to be above in the air!!

You could even take the grilling screen out if possible and bake the trdelnik over the hot coals.  For those of you who have fire pits (and I have been known to toast Marshmallows in the summer over a fire pit) this could also work. 

This easy setup will allow you to bake it the way it was last couple hundred years, no oven or such, this is awesome, fun and not to mention emazingly sweet.