Tahinli Çörek (Turkish Tahini Walnut Buns)

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Quick breads Medium

Tahinli Çörek (Turkish Tahini Walnut Buns)

A soft yeast dough rolled around a sugary tahini and walnut filling, coiled and finished with a sesame topping. This is a sweet, spiral version of the classic. Makes 8 buns in about 2 hr 40 min.

Prep 35 min

Cook 25 min

Cooling 1 hr 40 min

Total 2 hr 40 min

Yield 8 buns

Ingredients

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buns

3 ½ cups (450 g)bread flour
¼ oz (7 g)instant yeast
3 tbsp (40 g)sugar, for the dough
1 tsp (6 g)fine salt
1 cup (230 ml)warm milk
3 tbsp (45 ml)olive oil
1 (50 g)egg
½ cup (120 g)tahini
½ cup (100 g)sugar, for the filling
¾ cup (100 g)ground walnuts
¾ tsp (2 g)ground cinnamon
1 (18 g)egg yolk, beaten with 15 ml milk
3 tbsp (25 g)sesame seeds
1 tsp (3 g)nigella seeds

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Instructions

Mix the flour, yeast, sugar and salt, add the milk, oil and egg and knead 8 minutes until smooth. Cover and rise 60 minutes until doubled.
Stir the tahini, sugar, walnuts and cinnamon into a thick paste.
Roll the dough to a 12 by 24-inch (30 by 60 cm) rectangle, spread the filling to within 1/2 inch (1.2 cm) of the edges and roll up tightly from the long side.
Cut into 8 equal slices.
Place the rounds cut-side up on a parchment-lined sheet, spaced apart, and press them flat gently.
Cover and let rise 30 minutes while the oven heats to 375 F (190 C).
Brush with the yolk-milk wash and sprinkle with the sesame and nigella seeds.
Bake 22 to 25 minutes until deep golden and cooked through. Cool 10 minutes on a rack and serve warm.

Tips

Roll tightly so the spiral stays visible when cut.
If the tahini is stiff, warm it slightly before mixing.
Do not over-proof or the filling will leak.
Good with turkish tea.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make tahinli çörek (turkish tahini walnut buns)?

Plan on 35 minutes of prep and 25 minutes of cooking, plus 1 hour 40 minutes to chill. The recipe makes 8 buns.

How should I store tahinli çörek (turkish tahini walnut buns)?

Store airtight at room temperature 2 days; rewarm in a 300 F (150 C) oven for 8 minutes. Freeze up to 1 month.

Can I make tahinli çörek (turkish tahini walnut buns) ahead?

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

Çörek is a broad family of Turkish sweet and savory breads; tahinli (tahini) rolled versions with walnuts are common in central Anatolia. Serve it with turkish tea.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 8 servings this recipe makes.

489 Calories / serving

27.0g Fat

52.7g Carbs

12.5g Protein

22.3g Sugar

Whole recipe (8 servings): ~3912 cal · 216g fat · 422g carbs · 100g protein · 178g sugar

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