Tahinopita (Cypriot Tahini Spirals)

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Quick breads Medium

A soft olive oil dough is rolled thin, spread with sweet tahini, coiled and baked until golden and glazed with cinnamon icing. It is traditionally vegan. Makes 8 spirals in about 3 hr 20 min.

Prep 40 min

Cook 40 min

Cooling 2 hr

Total 3 hr 20 min

Yield 8 spirals

Diet Dairy free, Vegan

Ingredients

Adjust yield

spirals

4 cups (500 g)all-purpose flour
¼ oz (7 g)instant yeast
¼ cup (50 g)sugar
¾ tsp (5 g)fine salt
1 ½ tsp (4 g)ground cinnamon, for the dough
1 ¼ cups (300 ml)warm water, for the dough
2 tbsp (30 ml)olive oil
1 cup (250 g)tahini, well stirred
½ cup (120 g)light brown sugar
1 ½ tsp (4 g)ground cinnamon, for the filling
3 tbsp (45 ml)warm water, to loosen, for the filling
⅓ cup (40 g)powdered sugar
1 ½ tbsp (20 ml)water
½ tsp (1 g)ground cinnamon, for the glaze

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Instructions

Mix the flour, yeast, sugar, salt and cinnamon. Add the water and oil and knead 8 minutes into a smooth, soft dough. Cover and rise about 1 hour, until doubled.
Stir the tahini, brown sugar, cinnamon and warm water into a thick spreadable paste.
Divide the dough into 8 pieces. Roll each into a thin rectangle about 8x12 inches (20x30 cm).
Spread with about 2 tablespoons filling, roll up like a jelly roll, then twist the rope and coil it into a spiral. Flatten gently to about 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick.
Place on lined baking sheets, cover and rise 30 minutes. Heat the oven to 350 F (175 C).
Bake 35 to 40 minutes, until golden brown.
Whisk the glaze, brush on the hot spirals and return to the oven for 2 minutes. Cool on a rack.

Tips

Stir the tahini well first; it separates in the jar.
Roll the dough thin enough to see the layers once baked.
Brush with glaze while hot so it soaks in a little.
Good with strong coffee.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make tahinopita (cypriot tahini spirals)?

Plan on 40 minutes of prep and 40 minutes of cooking, plus 2 hours to chill. The recipe makes 8 spirals.

How should I store tahinopita (cypriot tahini spirals)?

Store airtight at room temperature up to 3 days, or freeze up to 2 months.

Can I make tahinopita (cypriot tahini spirals) ahead?

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

Is this recipe vegan?

Yes, as written. Check that packaged ingredients such as chocolate, sprinkles and plant butter are labeled vegan.

Tahinopita is a Cypriot spiral bread with a cinnamon-sugar tahini filling, eaten during Lent because it has no dairy or eggs. Serve it with strong coffee.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 8 servings this recipe makes.

551 Calories / serving

21.1g Fat

81.1g Carbs

12.0g Protein

26.1g Sugar

Whole recipe (8 servings): ~4408 cal · 169g fat · 649g carbs · 96g protein · 209g sugar

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