Trdelník is a sweet pastry in the shape of a hollow cylindrical roll, baked from yeast dough wound around a cylinder. According to Czech Radio, it comes from Transylvania, that is, from the area of present-day Romania.[1]
Origin and related pastries
Because Transylvania was once conquered by the Hungarians, trdelník was reportedly first baked in Hungary. There it is regarded as a national symbol and is called Kürtős kalács, that is, chimney cake. In Luxembourg, under the name Baamkuch, it is a traditional delicacy at weddings and celebrations. Similar pastry baked on a rotating spit is, according to the radio, also found in Sweden, Germany and Austria.[1]
Skalica trdelník from Skalica on the Slovak-Moravian borderland is likewise derived from Transylvania. Slovakia has a registered European Union protected geographical indication for it.[1]
Preparation
The yeast dough is rolled out into strips and wound around a wooden cylinder 8 to 10 centimetres in diameter; a metal one is also used today. It is baked over charcoal, turned during baking and brushed with milk to a golden-red colour. It is then carefully slid off the cylinder so that its shape is preserved. The finished pastry is coated, for example, in cinnamon, sugar, cocoa, coconut or a mix of nuts, depending on the producer.[1]
According to the radio, a properly baked trdelník stays tasty for another four days. The original recipe and method of baking were, it says, passed down from generation to generation.[1]
Trdelník today
It used to be baked only on holidays and celebrations; today, according to the radio, it is available at many markets and fairs.[1] In Prague an innovated version appeared, filled with ice cream, whipped cream with strawberries or hazelnut spread. The radio compares it to modern trends such as the New York cronut, a combination of croissant and doughnut.[1]