The cake of Hungary 2026
Selecting the cake of Hungary
The contest is organized by the Hungarian Confectioners Guild, while the jurors are always some of the most skilled confectioners of the country. The contest is usually announced around January, and entries are accepted until the end of March or so. The contestants are confectioners, confectionaries, and other hospitality establishments where you can normally expect to be served cake (mainly cafés or restaurants). Winners are selected around the end of July or early August, just in time before the August 20 celebrations.
At the same time, another contest is organized to choose a sugar-free cake. This is done to raise awareness to diabetes, in cooperation with the Egy Csepp Figyelem Foundation for diabetics.
Requirements for the cake of Hungary
Each year, contestants are required to meet specific requirements, and use special ingredients for their cakes. In 2026, the topic was “Rögös túró és tejföl”. Both are dairy products specific to Hungary and the region, and they are staples of Hungarian cuisine. They are used as a raw ingredients for both sweet and salty foods.
- “Rögös túró” is a type of cottage cheese characterized by its lumpy cauliflower-like texture, made in the Carpathian basin at least since the 16th century. In 2019, it was added to the list of traditional specialties guaranteed by country, which is a registry of traditional food products protected under EU law.
- “Tejföl” is usually translated as sour cream. In Hungary, it is typically sold with a fat content of either 12% or 20%. It is such an important cooking ingredient that in 1611, the Hungarian Archbishop asked for (and received) an exemption for it so people could continue to eat it during Lent.
Contestants were required to use one or both of these ingredients in a way that their presence remains prominent in the cake. Of course, other obvious ingredients were also allowed, such as fruits, chocolate, spices, and nuts.
Traditional recipes for such cakes often involve apricots, strawberries and raspberries, and even citrus fruits, which were present in many of the applications. More surprising ingredients included fruits like red and black currants, rosehips, sea buckthorn, yuzu, kaffir limes, and kumquats as well as spices like tonka-beans, Timut peppercorns, thymes, and even dills. Some cakes were made with pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, or millets, while some had Kápia peppers, chamomiles, or elderflower tea. Without doubt, the most startling ingredient this year was bacon.
This year, a record number of 60 entries were submitted altogether, including one from Transylvania.
The cake of Hungary in 2026
This year, the cake of Hungary is “Bíborfehér” (meaning Purple White), combining sweet and tart flavors, a respect for traditions and the spark of innovation. The most obvious element of the cake is a silky mousse made with cottage cheese and sour cream, complemented by a jelly made of forest berries. The taste is made exquisite by the addition of roasted almonds, the chocolate, vanilla, and lemon – while the “cherry on top” is a slice of lyophilized raspberry. The cake was created by the same masters who won the contest last year with their “DCJ: Exercise in Style” (DCJ Stílusgyakorlat) cake, László Balogh and Roland Kis from Kézműves Cukrászda in Gyula.
The sugar-free cake of Hungary in 2026
In 2026, the title of the sugar-free cake of Hungary was awarded to a creation called “Szilvafácska” (meaning Little Plum Tree), chosen out of 29 entries. The cake is meant to recall childhood memories common in Hungary: the fragrances of grandma’s garden, ripe plums, and freshly made jam. You can taste not only the savory plums, but also the crisp walnuts and chocolate, all held together by a light mousse made with cinnamon and a touch of green tea. The cake was created by Alena Puchovszki, Jenő Vadócz and Gábor Pethő from Promenád Kávéház in Balatongyörök.
Where to try the cake of Hungary?
Both the regular and the sugar-free cake of Hungary is available starting from August 20, primarily at the Street of Hungarian Flavors in Várkert Bazárt, right under the Buda Castle. The cakes will also be available in hundreds of confectionaries all over Hungary – look for signs advertising these cakes in the shopwindows. The list of participating locations are available on the website of the Hungarian Confectioners Guild and of the Egy Csepp Figyelem Foundation for diabetics.
Get a taste of Hungary
Check out the regular and the sugar-free cake of Hungary this year, and decide for yourself if they deserve the praise. If you are not in Hungary right now, don’t worry: the cakes stay around for a few weeks or months after the August 20 festivities (depending on their popularity).
If you are from a Hungarian family, a slice of the cake of Hungary can also make you feel closer to your roots. If you have at least one Hungarian parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, or other ancestor, you might also be eligible for Hungarian citizenship and take advantage of everything it offers, including free movement in the EU. Not sure if you are eligible? Then take our free online test, and get an answer in a matter of minutes.
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