Hungarian Poppy Seed Bread Pudding Recipe (Mákos Guba)

Ah, Mákos Guba—Hungary’s ultimate cozy dessert. 🍞✨ Sweet, custardy, and brimming with poppy seeds, it’s the kind of dessert that warms both belly and soul. Traditionally made with leftover kifli or rolls, soaked in milk and layered with poppy seeds and sugar, then baked or steamed.

Here’s a classic, foolproof recipe:

Hungarian Poppy Seed Bread Pudding (Mákos Guba)

Ingredients (Serves 4–6)

6–8 stale rolls or kifli (or any crusty bread, sliced into 1–2 cm / ½ in pieces)
400 ml (1⅔ cups) milk
3 large eggs
100 g (½ cup) sugar (plus extra for sprinkling)
50 g (½ cup) ground poppy seeds
1 tsp vanilla extract
30 g (2 tbsp) butter, melted
Pinch of salt
Optional: raisins or a splash of rum

Method

1. Prepare Bread

Slice rolls into pieces about 1–2 cm thick.
Toast lightly in the oven if the bread is very soft (optional).

2. Make Custard

In a bowl, whisk eggs with sugar, vanilla, and a pinch of salt.
Heat milk gently until warm (not boiling).
Slowly pour warm milk into eggs, whisking constantly to temper.

3. Assemble

Place bread pieces in a buttered baking dish.
Sprinkle ground poppy seeds evenly over the bread. Optional: scatter raisins.
Pour custard mixture over the bread, pressing lightly to soak all pieces.
Drizzle melted butter on top.
Let sit 10–15 minutes to absorb.

4. Bake

Preheat oven to 180°C / 350°F.
Bake 25–35 minutes, until custard is set and top is golden.

5. Serve

Serve warm, dusted with powdered sugar or a drizzle of cream.
Optional: pair with vanilla sauce or a dollop of whipped cream.

Tips & Variations

Bread: Kifli is traditional, but croissants or brioche work for extra richness.
Sweetness: Adjust sugar to taste; poppy seeds can be bitter, so don’t skip the sugar.
Extra flavor: Add lemon zest or a splash of rum to the custard.
Texture: Let the bread soak longer for a denser pudding, or bake immediately for more texture contrast.

Mákos Guba is comfort food at its finest: soft, custardy bread, fragrant poppy seeds, and a gentle sweetness that feels nostalgic in every bite.

I can also give a modern “single-serving microwave version” that’s ready in 10 minutes while keeping that authentic Hungarian flavor.