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Home » Vintage Recipes » Zserbo Szelet Recipe A Hungarian Dessert

Zserbo Szelet Recipe A Hungarian Dessert

Published: Feb 27, 2011 · Modified: Dec 13, 2022 by Arlene Mobley · This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Zserbo Szelet A Hungarian Dessert

I found this old Zserbo Szelet Recipe in one of the vintage recipe binders I own. This traditional Hungarian dessert recipe was written on a lovely piece of parchment paper.

The name of the recipe was not written in English (and I doubt there is an English translation for it because I never came across one) but I am sure if you or your grandmother are from Hungary you know this recipe very well.

Hungarian Zserbo Szelet recipe also known as Gerbeaud Cake

Traditional Hungarian Cake recipes

At the time I made and shared this Zsbero Szelet recipe in 2011 I searched high and low for another recipe like it.

I could not find anything resembling this Hungarian dessert. But today with a quick search on Google I see it is also called Gerbeaud Cake named after Emil Gerbeaud a Swiss-born Hungarian confectioner who is famous for creating several traditional Hungarian cakes.

 

A tray of Zserbo Szelet a traditional Hungarian dessert recipe

 

Check out all the lovely comments from readers who have enjoyed Zserbo Szelet baked by their grandmothers.

 

Zserbo-Szelet-Old-Hungarian-Recipe
Written at the top of the parchment paper is Zserbo Szelet

Sad as it makes me English is the only language I speak. I wish I knew how to speak German like my ancestors did but I grew up in a home where only English was spoken.

I often wonder why if my grandmother's parents immigrated from Germany to the US and German was the language they spoke why didn't they teach it to my grandmother. I wish she was still around so I could ask her.

 

Old Fashioned Hungarian Zserbo Szelet recipe
A cherished Hungarian Grandmother's old family recipe for Zserbo Szelet

After searching the internet so I could figure out what this vinatge recipe was all about I found out that it is a Hungarian dessert recipe.

I am not sure if it would be considered a cookie or a cake like confection. Maybe one of you will have my answer.

Updating old family recipes

There was a bit of confusion on my part since the handwritten recipe called for what looks like 1 ¼ cubes of butter. Again as I researched the recipe I paid attention to the amounts listed in the recipes I found.

Some Zserbo Szelet recipes included sour cream. Others didn't. Some recipes called for baking soda and no yeast.

Others called for baking powder and yeast. Some called for eggs and egg yolk. Others did not list egg as an ingredient.

I used this vintage recipe as my inspiration but I made some slight changes. The vintage recipe used a much smaller amount of flour for a smaller batch compared to the ones I found online.

Most of the recipes made a huge batch which contained 3 or 4 cups of flour.

I would have ended up with tons of this confection so I made my changes based partly on the vintage recipe I had and partly on the recipes I found on the internet.

I also watched a video on youtube of a Hungarian Grandmother making a batch. Since I couldn't understand a word she said or read the recipe that flashed on the video I am not sure if this dessert is supposed to be cake like or cookie like.

Hungarian Zserbo Szelet recipe also known as Gerbeaud Cake

Mine turned out cookie like and I am very happy with it. Matter of fact I couldn't stop eating the Zserbo Szelet while I was taking my photos. So if you see a smudge of chocolate where it isn't supposed to accept my apology for being messy.

It also reinforces my thoughts that vintage recipes our grandmothers made were simple but always delicious.

 

Vintage Zserbo Szelet a Hungarian cake recipe cut into to bars a traditional Hungarian holiday dessert recipe

Zserbo Szelet Recipe

 

Filling Ingredients
  • 1 ½ cups of walnuts
  • ½ cup sugar
  • Apricot Jam or any jam of your choosing  (Apricot jam is the traditional filling for Zserbo Szelet .
Dough Ingredients
  • ¼ cup of warm milk
  • 1 tsp yeast
  • 2 cups all-purpose unbleached flour
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1 stick of unsalted butter, softened and cut into little pieces plus 1 tablespoon to grease the baking pan.
  • ¼ cup sour cream
  • 12 oz bag of bittersweet chocolate chips.
 Directions

 

  1. Grind 1 ½ cup of walnuts in a food processor until they have the consistency of a nut meal.
  2. Put the walnut nut meal into a bowl and mix with ½ a cup sugar, set aside for the filling.
  3. In a small bowl mix the warmed milk and yeast. Stir and set aside until needed.
  4.  In a separate large bowl sift the all purpose flour, ¼ cup of sugar, baking soda and salt together.
  5.   Stir the softened butter pieces into the flour mixture. Use your hands or a pastry cutter to work the softened butter into the dry ingredients until small crumbs have formed.
  6.  Pour the yeast and warm milk into the bowl with the flour crumbs. Add the ¼ cup of sour cream to the bowl mixing with a wooden spoon until the dough comes together and you can form a ball.
  7. Turn the dough ball out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth.
  8.  Separate the dough into 3 equal sized pieces by cutting it into thirds.
  9.  Butter the bottom of an 8 ½ by 13-inch baking sheet pan with one tablespoon of butter.
  10.  Roll out one piece of dough at a time until the piece of dough is large enough to fit into the bottom of your sheet pan.
  11.  Stretching and adjusting the dough as needed so it completely covers the bottom.
  12.  Spread a generous layer of Apricot jam all over the top of the first layer of the dough.
  13. Sprinkle half the walnut and sugar mixture over the jam. Use a spatula or back of a spoon to spread the filling into all corners with the pan.
  14. Roll out the second piece of dough and repeat step by layering the fillings over the top of the dough piece.
  15. Roll out the third piece of dough and carefully lay it on top of the second filling layer.
  16. Stretch the dough if needed so it covers the second layer completely.
  17. Cover the pan with a clean dish towel and let it rise for one hour in a warm spot. After 30 minutes preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  18. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes at 350 degrees then increase the oven temperature to 375 degrees and bake for 10 minutes or until the top is golden.
  19. Remove the baking pan from the oven and immediately scatter the 12-ounce bag of bittersweet chocolate chips over the hot top.
  20. Once the chocolate chips begin to melt after about 8 minutes use a spatula to spread the chocolate over the top.
  21. Allow to cool completely and for the chocolate to harden before cutting into squares with a sharp knife.
  22. You can refrigerate to speed up the cooling process.
  23. Makes about 36 one and a half inch pieces.

Helpful Tip for the Zserbo Szelet Recipe

  • ¾ of the bag of chips would probably have been enough.
  • Allow to cool completely before cutting so the chocolate and the filling can set up or the squares will crush while cutting.
  • I put mine in the fridge overnight because the chocolate just wasn't getting hard quick enough.
  • Once the chocolate is hard you can cut it into 1 ½ or 2-inch square pieces.

 

I wasn't sure whether this dessert is supposed to be cake like or cookie like but I have to tell you the recipe turned out cookie like and it tastes so good!

I can't get enough of it really. I am going to have to share it with family and neighbors because I will eat the entire tray if it stays in my house.

Let me know if you try it out this Zserbo Szelet recipe and what flavor of jam you used for the filling.

This would be a great dessert to make for any family get together, baby shower or birthday party you might be going to. This recipe makes a bunch.

I, of course, ate a bunch but I measured my tray and I figure I cut at least 36 or more 1 ½ to 2-inch square pieces.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed the second recipe in my new Vintage Recipe Project.

Vintage Zserbo Szelet a Hungarian cake recipe cut into to bars a traditional Hungarian holiday dessert recipe

Zserbo Szelet Recipe A Hungarian Dessert

Arlene Mobley - Flour On My Face
I found this old-fashioned Zserbo Szelet Recipe in one of the vintage recipe binders I own. This traditional Hungarian holiday dessert recipe is also known as Gerbeaud cake.
4.95 from 18 votes
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Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 45 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine Hungarian
Servings 36 pieces
Calories 109 kcal

Ingredients  

Filling

  • 1 ½ cups walnuts
  • ½ cup sugar
  • Apricot jam or any jam of your choosing (Apricot jam is the traditional filling for Zserbo Szelet)

Dough

  • ¼ cup warm milk
  • 1 tsp yeast
  • 2 cups all-purpose unbleached flour
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1 stick unsalted butter (softened and cut into little pieces plus 1 tablespoon to grease the baking pan.)
  • ¼ cup sour cream
  • 12 oz bittersweet chocolate chips
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Instructions 

  • Grind 1 ½ cup of walnuts in a food processor until they have the consistency of a nut meal.
  • Put the walnut nut meal into a bowl and mix with ½ a cup sugar, set aside for the filling.
  • In a small bowl mix the warmed milk and yeast. Stir and set aside until needed.
  • In a separate large bowl sift the all purpose flour, ¼ cup of sugar, baking soda and salt together.
  • Stir the softened butter pieces into the flour mixture. Use your hands or a pastry cutter to work the softened butter into the dry ingredients until small crumbs have formed.
  • Pour the yeast and warm milk into the bowl with the flour crumbs. Add the ¼ cup of sour cream to the bowl mixing with a wooden spoon until the dough comes together and you can form a ball.
  • Turn the dough ball out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth.
  •  Separate the dough into 3 equal sized pieces by cutting it into thirds.
  • Butter the bottom of an 8 ½ by 13-inch baking sheet pan with one tablespoon of butter.
  • Roll out one piece of dough at a time until the piece of dough is large enough to fit into the bottom of your sheet pan.
  • Stretching and adjusting the dough as needed so it completely covers the bottom.
  • Spread a generous layer of Apricot jam all over the top of the first layer of the dough.
  • Sprinkle half the walnut and sugar mixture over the jam. Use a spatula or back of a spoon to spread the filling into all corners with the pan.
  • Roll out the second piece of dough and repeat step by layering the fillings over the top of the dough piece.
  • Roll out the third piece of dough and carefully lay it on top of the second filling layer.
  • Stretch the dough if needed so it covers the second layer completely.
  • Cover the pan with a clean dish towel and let it rise for one hour in a warm spot. After 30 minutes preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Bake for 20 to 25 minutes at 350 degrees then increase the oven temperature to 375 degrees and bake for 10 minutes or until the top is golden.
  • Remove the baking pan from the oven and immediately scatter the 12-ounce bag of bittersweet chocolate chips over the hot top.
  • Once the chocolate chips begin to melt after about 8 minutes use a spatula to spread the chocolate over the top.
  • Allow to cool completely and for the chocolate to harden before cutting into squares with a sharp knife. You can refrigerate to speed up the cooling process.

Recipe Expert Tips

Makes about 36 one and a half inch pieces.

Nutrition

Calories: 109kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 2gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 51mgPotassium: 40mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 99IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 11mgIron: 1mg
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About Arlene Mobley

Arlene Mobley author of Flour On My Face-a Food & Lifestyle website helping busy families get dinner on the table by serving easy recipes every week.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Horanyi

    January 09, 2013 at 12:15 pm

    I really like the style of cursive the original recipe was written in. I am from Hungary and I learned to write there. Based on my experience, I am almost positive that the hand written recipe was actually written by a Hungarian person who spoke English. Therefore I am sure that this recipe will satisfy my hankering for some old country flavor.

    Reply
  2. Viki

    December 24, 2012 at 10:00 pm

    Fabulous recipe!!! First time I made it with apricot jam--delicious! This time I am making it with raspberry jam and I am going to top it with dark chocolate. Thanks for posting this recipe. It is now one of my favorites.

    Reply
    • Flour On My Face

      December 26, 2012 at 12:24 pm

      Viki

      Raspberry jam and dark chocolate sounds divine. Let me know how it turns out!

      Reply
  3. Cati

    December 19, 2012 at 3:43 pm

    I'm first generation American - my family is from Hungary. I have a lot of recipes from my grand mother, her sisters, and my great-grand mother. I can read a little Hungarian and I have her original recipe for zserbo szelet. I believe these pastries are traditionally cut in small rectangles instead of the more American brownie-square fashion. The layers look great though! I've always made these with a chocolate topping that glazes to a shiny smooth finish -but any semi-sweet chocolate will complete the flavor you are going for.

    Reply
    • Flour On My Face

      December 19, 2012 at 5:54 pm

      Cati

      Thank you fro stopping by and leaving a comment! I love when someone finds the recipe and comments. I found this recipe and couldn't wait to make it at the time.

      Reply
  4. Kitty

    December 08, 2012 at 7:46 pm

    I just wanted to add that this wonderful dessert originates from a very famous Hungarian pastry maker, Gerbeaud -est. 1858-. This was their trademark pastry and the spelling zserbo is simply phonetic Hungarian for Gerbeaud. They are still around: https://www.gerbeaud.hu/

    Reply
    • Flour On My Face

      December 09, 2012 at 7:39 am

      Kitty

      Thank you so much for the info on this recipe. hat a great history this recipe has!

      Reply
  5. Kerri

    June 20, 2012 at 12:16 pm

    German is spoken in Austria, but the language spoken in Hungary is Hungarian. I grew up listening to it when my mother and grandmother spoke it. I learned a small amount through my life, unfortunately. Wish I learned more. The recipe's name is definitely of Hungarian origin. Perhaps the video you saw could have been in Hungarian.

    Reply
  6. Andi

    December 15, 2011 at 5:38 pm

    Christmas is Zserbó time in Hungary!!
    I was browsing for recipe ideas, and found your project! It's so cool!
    On the cake vs cookie part: we, Hungarians have cakes (torta) and cookies (keksz) and we have sütemény, which I think does not have and english name. Zserbó pastry is not crunchy, but not sponge-cake kind either, and it should not be dry. Hope it helps:)

    Reply
  7. Travis

    March 20, 2011 at 5:32 pm

    Fantastic job! This looks amazing and very interested in trying this out. Thanks for sharing.

    We invite you to share this post and some of your favorite food posts on Food Frenzy.
    Please check out our community at https://blogstew.net/foodfrenzy

    Food Frenzy

    Reply
  8. Tim Vidra

    March 20, 2011 at 2:51 pm

    My Hungarian grandmother always made this. Thanks for this post that brought back some fond memories.

    E.A.T.

    Reply
  9. Judy

    March 12, 2011 at 11:03 pm

    Thanks for sharing this recipe. I liked reading about your process of transforming the recipe. I know that many "mistakes" turn out to be the best recipes so you had a good chance of coming out with a winner.

    Reply
  10. Sarah

    March 07, 2011 at 7:46 pm

    My hungarian grandma died a few years ago, and I've been craving Zserbo like crazy! I found your blog and I have to say it looks like grandma used to make.

    Not sure about the consistency, but I remember it being dense. Can't explain if it was cookie like or cake like. More cake I would think. But good for you, it looks authentic! Thanks for sharing, my mouth is watering. Can't wait to make some.

    Reply
    • Susanne Horvath Barnett

      July 23, 2017 at 8:59 pm

      Yes, it should be more cake like and the chocolate topping should not be hard.

      Reply
  11. Flour On My Face

    March 07, 2011 at 10:20 am

    Thanks for the comments!

    Ms.Bibi

    This is exactly why I started my Vintage recipe project! I am so glad I could help reconnect you to your grandmothers recipe!

    Reply
  12. thelonelyradish.com

    March 07, 2011 at 7:55 am

    Love this recipe! Thanks for sharing it with us 🙂

    Reply
  13. Ms Bibi

    March 03, 2011 at 11:05 am

    This is a dessert my grandma used to make when I was little. I grew up in Slovakia and my grandpa was Hungarian.

    Thanks for sharing it. I can't wait to make it for my kids. I don't have any of my grandma's recipes. They were all in her head.

    Reply
    • Mary Revesz

      July 11, 2016 at 8:42 am

      I don't recall my mother who is HUngarian having ever made this, but then again my mother is 86 so it's been more than 30 years since she may have made it

      Reply
      • Arlene Mobley

        July 13, 2016 at 9:38 pm

        Mary

        Ask your mother if her mother ever made the recipe. I bet she did or another family member made it.

    • Magdolna Varsanyi

      November 21, 2018 at 10:51 pm

      4 stars
      The old handwritten recipe the original. There is no sour cream in it. The walnut have to be " powdered"We have a special grinder.Food processor is good,but you have to do it until it's fine. Apricot jam what you should usest is TOO sweet. The original topping is soo much different, than the choc.chips topping.Use the ssold recipe on the top of the paige .In Hungary you did not have chocolate chips until about 2000

      Reply
  14. Kita

    February 28, 2011 at 11:13 pm

    These look yummy!!

    Reply
  15. foodblogandthedog

    February 28, 2011 at 4:50 am

    This looks amazing! When I first saw the photos I thought it was Millionaires Shortbread but when I saw the recipe it isn't. Millionaires Shortbread is a layer of shortbread biscuit topped with a layer of caramel topped with a layer of chocolate. It's my favourite thing but I don't make it too often because I eat it all!!

    Reply
  16. Amy

    February 27, 2011 at 8:18 pm

    This looks wonderful! I especially love the walnuts in the filling!

    Reply
    • Liz Nagy

      December 13, 2016 at 9:38 am

      I made the recipe. My husband is Hungarian. He had never had it as a child, but friends in Budapest knew quite well what it is. I had no problems with any of it except the frosting. It cracked when cut. I think next time a ganache would be a better choice. I am sharing and getting good reviews . It was a fun time as my daughter was here visiting and we did together. I have been married for 54 years and have been making Kiflie another Hungarian dessert and nut roll ever since. Thanks for bringing this recipe to me.

      Reply
      • Arlene Mobley

        December 13, 2016 at 9:50 am

        Liz

        So glad you enjoyed the recipe!

      • Alice

        January 19, 2023 at 1:46 pm

        I am first generation American and I make this dessert all the time from a recipe that was given to me by my mother. What do I do for the chocolate topping is I mix equal portions of bitter sweet chocolate or semi sweet chocolate bits with the same quantity of butter. I mailed them together and use that to spread on the Zserbo. I then put that into the refrigerator until it set and I cut it. It still cracks a bit but not too badly. This is a desert my family insists on every Christmas and would insist on it more frequently but I am now approaching 80 and I’m tired so I don’t make it that often! It was my favorite dessert growing up along with Dobos torte.

      • Arlene Mobley

        January 24, 2023 at 10:33 am

        Alice

        Thanks for sharing your tips. I am sure your family appreciates it when you can make it!

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Hi, I'm Arlene Mobley the cook & photographer here at Flour On My Face. I have been cooking for my family for over 40 years. I love sharing recipes to help busy families get dinner on the table.

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