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Aunt Betty’s Hungarian Pecan Honey Roll

Dessert 🍰 Jewish 🇮🇱 Low-CarbLow-SodiumHalal 🕌Comfort-Food

Aunt Betty’s Hungarian Pecan Honey Roll features a tender, enriched dough wrapped around a generous swirl of chopped pecans sweetened with sugar and honey. Warm notes of vanilla and nutmeg make each slice aromatic and rich, ideal for holiday brunches, festive gatherings, or gifting to friends and family. Serve slightly warm to highlight the buttery crumb and fragrant filling.

  • Prep30 mins
  • Cook45 mins
  • Serves48
  • DifficultyHard
Aunt Betty’s Hungarian Pecan Honey Roll
  1. 1

    Dissolve the yeast in warm water in a bowl as directed on the package. Let it sit until the yeast softens and forms a creamy foam, about 5 minutes.

  2. 2

    While the yeast softens, combine the sugar, 1/2 cup plus 1 1/2 tablespoons shortening, butter, egg yolks, egg, vanilla-butternut flavoring, nutmeg, and salt in a mixing bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until creamy and well blended.

  3. 3

    In a separate bowl, combine the flour, milk, and yeast mixture; mix into the egg mixture until well combined and a dough forms. Set aside to rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

  4. 4

    Gently knead down the risen dough; cut it into 4 equal pieces. Set the pieces aside and let them rise for another 20 minutes.

  5. 5

    While the rolls rise, beat the egg whites in a mixing bowl with an electric mixer until stiff. Add the pecans, sugar, honey, and vanilla extract; beat to combine.

  6. 6

    On a lightly floured work surface, roll out each piece of dough with a lightly floured rolling pin into approximately 13x18-inch rectangles, 1/4 inch thick.

  7. 7

    Spread the pecan mixture about 1/4 inch thick over the dough. Roll up the dough starting from the side. Place the rolls 2 1/2 inches apart on a rimmed baking sheet.

  8. 8

    Bake in the preheated oven until golden, about 45 minutes.