Quick and easy Lithuanian Kūčiukai biscuits made without yeast – a festive Christmas Eve treat filled with poppy seeds and a hint of honey. These mini traditional bites symbolize togetherness and are perfect with poppy milk or cranberry kissel!
Ingredients
- 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 tbsp poppy seeds
- 3 tbsp caster sugar (or granulated sugar)
- 2 tbsp honey (or maple syrup for vegan version)
- 4 tbsp sunflower or vegetable oil
- 6 tbsp cold water
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 360°F (180°C fan). Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, poppy seeds, and salt.
- In a separate jug, mix water, honey, oil, and sugar until dissolved.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the flour mixture and stir to combine.
- Knead briefly on a floured surface to form a smooth dough.
- Divide dough into 4 parts. Roll each into a thin rope about 1 cm thick.
- Cut into 1 cm pieces and place on the baking tray.
- Bake for 12–15 minutes, or until golden brown. Rotate the tray halfway through if needed.
- Let cool before serving.
Notes
Bring a touch of Baltic magic to your holiday table with Kūčiukai (also known as "Christmas Eve Biscuits"). These tiny, golden bites filled with poppy seeds are more than just cookies – they are a symbol of prosperity, unity, and centuries-old Lithuanian Christmas traditions ✨. Best of all? This quick version is made without yeast and ready in under an hour!🎄 What Are Kūčiukai?
Kūčiukai (pronounced koo-chiu-kai) are traditional Lithuanian biscuits prepared for Christmas Eve Dinner (Kūčios) – a festive meal that includes 12 meatless dishes, each symbolizing one of the Apostles. These humble, slightly sweet bites are usually flavored with poppy seeds and occasionally dipped into poppy seed milk or served with cranberry kissel. While the old-school recipe uses yeast, this modern, quick recipe simplifies the process using baking powder – no long rising time required!🎓 A Glimpse Into Lithuanian Tradition
Lithuanian families cherish Kūčiukai as a sacred part of their Christmas Eve feast. Historically, they were boiled in milk and water, but over time, baking became the preferred method. Some versions include butter, cream, or eggs – but in keeping with the traditional Christmas Eve fasting, this recipe is entirely dairy-free and egg-free.📆 Quick Kūčiukai vs. Traditional Recipes
While classic Kūčiukai require hours of rising time and yeast preparation, our version skips the wait without sacrificing flavor. These quick Kūčiukai are just as delicious, made with:- Baking powder
- Honey
- Poppy seeds
- No yeast required!
🥜 Ingredients You’ll Need
(See full quantities in the recipe card below)- All-purpose flour (aka plain flour)
- Baking powder (not baking soda!)
- Honey (or maple syrup for a vegan version)
- Caster sugar (or granulated sugar)
- Sunflower/vegetable oil (any neutral oil works)
- Poppy seeds (a must!)
- Water
- Salt, just a pinch
📅 Tip: You can swap up to 1/4 of the white flour for whole wheat flour for a nuttier flavor.
🌧️ Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 360°F (180°C Fan). Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, combine flour, poppy seeds, baking powder, and a pinch of salt.
- Combine wet ingredients: In a separate bowl or jug, mix water, honey, sugar, and oil until the sugar dissolves.
- Make the dough: Create a well in the dry mix, pour in the wet mixture, and gently combine using your hands.
- Knead just until a dough forms. Don’t overwork it.
- Divide dough into 4 pieces and roll each into a rope about 1cm thick.
- Cut into small nuggets (about 1cm each) using a knife or dough scraper.
- Bake for 12–15 minutes or until golden brown. Rotate the tray if needed halfway through.
🫶 How To Serve Kūčiukai
Traditionally served at the end of the Christmas Eve dinner with:- 🧋 Poppy seed milk (a sweet, nutty drink made from ground poppy seeds and honey)
- 🍇 Cranberry Kissel (a jelly-like drink/dessert)
- Or simply on their own with tea!
In olden times, Kūčiukai were often soaked in the drinks and eaten like a sweet soup.
🚴 Storage & Make-Ahead Tips
- Best enjoyed fresh, but can be made 2–3 days in advance
- Store cooled Kūčiukai in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days
-
Can be frozen before or after baking:
- Freeze unbaked: bake from frozen for 15–20 min
- Freeze baked: refresh in the oven for a few minutes after thawing
OMG, these look amazing! My grandma used to make Kūčiukai, but her recipe was, shall we say, *intense*. This quick version is totally calling my name. Definitely making these for Christmas Eve – thanks for sharing! Poppy seed milk sounds divine too!