Humble, but delicious Lithuanian Christmas Eve Biscuits, known as Kūčiukai represent the taste of Lithuanian tradition over the festive period. Symbolizing prosperity and togetherness, these tiny, golden-hued treats with poppy seeds are a cherished part of the country's holiday celebrations! Our version of these Christmas Eve Cookies is extremely quick and easy to make!
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Lithuanian Christmas Eve Tradition: Kūčiukai
No Christmas Eve can go by without Kūčiukai and Cranberry Kissel enjoyed at the end of the night.
Lithuanians traditionally have 12 dishes for their Christmas Eve Dinner, and these Christmas cookies typically represent a sweet course. Whilst an authentic original recipe typically calls for a yeast/ or naturally leavened dough, these days people often make a quick version, using baking powder.
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For a traditional version of these, head to our Traditional Lithuanian Kūčiukai (Mini Yeast-Leavened Christmas Breads) recipe.
And if you're looking for something a little bit more retro, head to the oldest Lithuanian Christmas Eve recipe - Kūčia!
How Is This Recipe Different?
As with many recipes that are steeped deeply within the Lithuanian culture, there are many different variations of Kūčiukai. Whilst the first recorded Lithuanian recipe of these Christmas Eve biscuits called for the stiff dough to be boiled in hot water and milk mixture, the more modern varieties are always baked.
The most common Kūčiukai are actually made with yeast and they take over a couple of hours to prepare. Other recipes use butter or sour cream to enrich the dough and make these Christmas Cookies more decadent and, perhaps, more suitable for the festive occasion.
Here we opted to share a quick and simple recipe, that comes together in under an hour. These Kūčiukai without yeast, are made using baking powder and are full of poppy seed flavour and aromas of honey.
Ingredients and Substitutes
Here's a list of ingredients you will need as well as some substitutes to consider. You can find the quantities and full method in the recipe card below.
- all-purpose flour: also known as plain flour in the UK. You are welcome to substitute up to ¼ of white flour with whole wheat flour, but note that it may absorb more water.
- baking powder: not to be confused with baking soda (bicarb of soda).
- honey: can be replaced with maple syrup if you are looking to make these Lithuanian Christmas Eve Biscuits vegan.
- oil: use odourless oil, like sunflower, vegetable, rapeseed (canola) oil.
- caster sugar (sometimes spelt castor sugar): also known as superfine sugar, and may be replaced with white granulated sugar.
- poppy seeds: dried. Poppy seeds are actually a very popular ingredient during the festive periods (particularly Christmas and Easter) in Lithuania and other countries in Eastern Europe.
You will also need a pinch of salt and water.
Step-By-Step Method
Preheat the oven to 360°F (180°C Fan). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, mix four, poppy seeds, baking powder and a pinch of salt.
In a separate bowl (or a jug), mix cold water, oil, sugar and honey, until sugar has dissolved.
Make a well in the centre of your flour and pour the wet ingredients in.
Using your hands, mix the dough just enough to combine.
Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured worktop, and knead just long enough to bring it into a cohesive ball.
Divide the poppy seed dough into 4, and roll out each piece into a thin string-like piece (about 1cm in diameter).
Using a dough scraper or a sharp knife (careful not to scratch worktops) cut the strings of dough into small 1 cm pieces.
Transfer the poppy seed biscuits onto the tray and bake in the oven for 12-15 minutes, until golden brown (you may need to rotate the tray).
Storage
Kūčiukai are the most delicious on the day that they are baked, but they are rarely cooked on a busy Christmas Eve in Lithuania, so you can make them 2-3 days in advance.
Let Christmas cookies cool down to room temperature, then transfer them into an airtight container and store them in a cool dark cupboard.
Recipe FAQs
The word Kūčiukai is a derivative of the word Kučia or Kučios, which means Christmas Eve.
Unbaked Kūčiukai can be frozen and cooked from frozen for 15-20 minutes in a preheated oven. Cooked Christmas Eve biscuits may also be frozen in airtight bags, but they will taste better if they are reheated and refreshed in the oven after thawing for a few minutes.
How To Serve Lithuanian Christmas Biscuits?
Traditionally, Kūčiukai are served on Christmas Eve, as one of the 12 dishes on the table. They typically represent a humble dessert and are served with one of the two traditional drinks: Lithuanian poppy milk or Cranberry Kissel (Kisielius). Back in the day, they were actually thrown into these drinks and served in small bowls with a spoon (to be eaten as a sweet soup), but it is more common these days to simply enjoy them alongside a glass of drink.
Another super-retro option is Fermented Oat Kissel, served with Kuciukai until the mid-XXth century!
Other Lithuanian Christmas Eve Foods
Lithuanian Christmas Eve Biscuits (Kūčiukai)
Ingredients
- 250 g (2 cups) all-purpose flour
- 1 heaped teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 20 g (2½ tbsp) poppy seeds
- 100 ml (6½ tbsp) water
- 40 ml (2¾ tbsp) odourless oil like vegetable (canola) or sunflower
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1.5 tablespoon caster (superfine) sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 360° F (180° C Fan). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix four, poppy seeds, baking powder and a pinch of salt.
- In a separate bowl (or a jug), mix cold water, oil, sugar and honey, until sugar has dissolved.
- Make a well in the centre of your flour and pour the wet ingredients in.
- Using your hands, mix the dough just enough to combine.
- Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured worktop, and knead just long enough to bring it into a cohesive ball.
- Divide the poppy seed dough into 4, and roll out each piece into a thin string-like piece (about 1cm in diameter).
- Using a dough scraper or a sharp knife (careful not to scratch worktops) cut the strings of dough into small 1 cm pieces.
- Transfer the poppy seed biscuits onto the tray and bake in the oven for 12-15 minutes, until golden brown (you may need to rotate the tray).
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