6Édes Mackó
Édes Mackó is a chimney cake (kürtőskalács) vendor outside the Budapest Zoo, across from Széchenyi Baths. Originating in 17th-century Transylvania, chimney cake is a specialty bread traditionally made for the aristocracy to celebrate birthdays, weddings, and baby showers; I am grateful that this delicious treat has trickled down to us plebs and proles – kürtőskalács is all the rage these days across Budapest.
The preparation: a sugar-coated yeast dough is wrapped around a baking spit and roasted over fire. The result is a tender interior behind a crunchy, caramelized crust. Most Budapest kürtőskalács vendors use an electric oven, but Édes Mackó still makes them over fire. In addition to the classic version, there are new-wave varieties – I kind of love the one layered with plum jam and cinnamon sugar.
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