Budapest: Chimney Cake Workshop & Kürtőskalács Baking Class

Summary

Learn to bake kürtőskalács with locals in a family-run budapest shop

You’ll knead soft dough by hand, roll it into spirals, brush on butter, and bake three real kürtőskalács inside a lively Budapest family bakery. Local guides share tips (and laughs), then you’ll taste your fresh chimney cakes over coffee or tea before heading out with recipes—and maybe flour on your shirt.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect the smell to hit me first — warm sugar and something yeasty, kind of like a hug you can eat. We ducked into this tiny chimney cake shop just off one of Budapest’s busier streets, and it was instantly louder than I thought it’d be, but not in a bad way. There were two women behind the counter (one was our guide, Zsófi) who waved us in with floury hands. She had that easy Hungarian way of laughing at her own jokes, which helped because I was already nervous about messing up the dough.

Zsófi showed us how to roll out the dough for kürtőskalács — she called it “chimney cake” for us tourists — and honestly, my first try looked more like a lopsided snake than anything edible. She grinned and told me not to worry, “The oven fixes everything.” The workshop is right under the main shop, so you can hear people upstairs ordering coffee and chatting in Hungarian while you work. It felt weirdly comforting. When we finally brushed our cakes with melted butter and rolled them in cinnamon or coconut (I went for classic sugar), the whole place smelled like winter mornings.

We baked three chimney cakes each — which is more than I thought I could eat until I actually tried them warm from the oven. Zsófi handed out paper bags for leftovers (not that I needed one), plus a little printed recipe and even a certificate with my name on it. She joked about how everyone becomes “chimney cake certified” by the end, even if their dough is hopelessly uneven. Afterward, we sat down with coffee at these wobbly tables by the window and watched people pass by outside, some glancing in as if they could smell what we’d been baking. I still think about that view sometimes when I’m back home.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Chimney Cake Workshop Experience

• Arrive at Chimney Cake Shop
• Learn dough preparation
• Make traditional Chimney Cakes
• Bake the Chimney Cakes
• Choose flavors and roll cakes
• Receive paper bags and recipe
• Get certificate from host
• Enjoy coffee or tea with cakes

Top questions

Where is the chimney cake workshop located in Budapest?

The workshop takes place downtown, just minutes from central sights of Budapest.

How many chimney cakes do you make during the class?

You’ll make three kürtőskalács (chimney cakes) yourself during the workshop.

Is this Budapest chimney cake class suitable for kids?

The class is not recommended for children under 7 years old or families with babies.

Are there different flavors for rolling the chimney cakes?

You can choose from sugar, coconut, or cinnamon to flavor your finished chimney cakes.

Do you get to take home what you bake?

Yes, you’ll receive paper bags to take your homemade chimney cakes with you.

Is there anything included after the baking session?

You can order coffee or tea and enjoy your kürtőskalács at tables inside the shop after baking.

Will I get a recipe to try making kürtőskalács at home?

Yes, every guest receives a printed recipe after the class.

Is public transportation available nearby?

Yes, there are public transportation options close to the workshop location.

What’s included

Your experience includes all ingredients and materials for making three kürtőskalács per person during this Budapest workshop; guidance from local experts; paper bags for taking your fresh chimney cakes away; plus a printed recipe and certificate at the end—then time to relax with coffee or tea inside the family-run shop before heading back out into downtown.