Makowki (Silesian Poppy Seed Bread Dessert)

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Custards puddings creams Vanilla: Extract Easy

Makowki (Silesian Poppy Seed Bread Dessert)

Makowki layers thin slices of sweet white bread with a warm poppy seed, milk, honey and dried fruit mixture and chills until soft and spoonable. It is a make-ahead holiday dessert, not to be confused with the baked poppy seed roll. Makes 10 servings in about 8 hr 45 min.

Prep 30 min

Cook 15 min

Cooling 8 hr

Total 8 hr 45 min

Servings 10

Ingredients

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servings

10 ½ oz (300 g)sweet white bread (challah or brioche), a day old, sliced 1/4 inch thick
1 cup (150 g)poppy seeds, finely ground
2 cups (500 ml)whole milk
2 tbsp (30 g)unsalted butter
⅓ cup (60 g)granulated sugar
3 tbsp (60 g)honey
1 tsp (5 ml)vanilla extract
¾ tsp (2 g)ground cinnamon
2 tbsp (30 ml)dark rum, optional
⅓ cup (50 g)golden raisins
7 tbsp (50 g)dried figs, finely chopped
⅓ cup (40 g)blanched almonds, chopped
1 ½ tsp (3 g)orange zest

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Instructions

Grind the poppy seeds to a fine, damp paste in a spice grinder, in batches.
In a saucepan, heat the milk and butter until steaming. Add the ground poppy seeds and simmer on low 10 minutes, stirring often, until thick and spreadable.
Off the heat, stir in the sugar, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, rum, raisins, figs, half the almonds and the orange zest. Let it cool 10 minutes until warm.
Line the bottom of a glass dish with a layer of bread slices, trimming to fit with no gaps.
Spread about one third of the warm poppy mixture over the bread.
Repeat with bread and poppy mixture two more times, ending with poppy mixture.
Scatter the remaining almonds on top. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours so the bread soaks through.
Serve cold, scooped in layers with a spoon.

Tips

Day-old bread absorbs the mixture without turning to mush.
Grind poppy seeds fresh; they are oily and go stale fast.
If the layers seem dry after chilling, loosen with a splash of warm milk.
This milk-based dessert must stay refrigerated; do not leave it out more than 2 hours.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make makowki (silesian poppy seed bread dessert)?

Plan on 30 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of cooking, plus 8 hours to chill. The recipe makes 10 servings.

How should I store makowki (silesian poppy seed bread dessert)?

Refrigerate, covered, up to 4 days.

Can I make makowki (silesian poppy seed bread dessert) ahead?

Yes. It needs time to chill and set, so it is a good one to make the day before you serve it.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 1 tsp vanilla extract (5 ml). Each teaspoon of pure vanilla extract can be swapped for 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, the seeds of half a vanilla bean, or 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder. Paste and seeds add the classic dark specks.

Traditional in Silesia, where it is served almost exclusively on Christmas Eve. Serve it with hot tea.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 10 servings this recipe makes.

327 Calories / serving

16.4g Fat

38.3g Carbs

8.3g Protein

21.3g Sugar

Whole recipe (10 servings): ~3270 cal · 164g fat · 383g carbs · 83g protein · 213g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.