Easy Hungarian Cheese Sticks – Sajtos Rúd
Yield: 1 large baking tray
Some recipes prove that you don’t need complicated ingredients or hours in the kitchen to make something truly irresistible. These Hungarian cheese sticks—**sajtos rúd**—are buttery, tender and covered with a generous layer of beautifully golden cheese.
The dough comes together in just a few minutes, requires no yeast and needs no time to rise. Simply mix, roll, add the cheese and bake. In approximately 35 minutes, you’ll have an entire tray of warm, savoury cheese sticks ready to disappear!
Serve them alongside a comforting bowl of soup for a quick and easy dinner, add them to a party platter, pack them into lunchboxes or enjoy them straight from the baking tray. Just be warned: it’s almost impossible to stop after the first one!
Yield: 1 large baking tray
Ingredients
For the dough
300 g all-purpose flour
1 coffee spoon salt, approximately ½ teaspoon
6 g baking powder
150 g butter, softened
1 egg yolk
3 tablespoons sour cream
For the topping
1 egg yolk
130 g grated cheese
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 180°C / 350°F and line a large baking tray with parchment paper.
Place the flour, salt and baking powder in a large mixing bowl and combine.
Add the softened butter, egg yolk and sour cream. Knead everything together until a smooth, soft dough forms. If the dough feels slightly sticky, dust your work surface with a little flour.
Roll the dough out to approximately 1 cm / ⅜ inch thickness.
Brush the entire surface with the remaining egg yolk, then sprinkle generously with the grated cheese.
Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut the dough into sticks approximately 1.5 cm wide and 8–10 cm long.
Arrange the sticks on the prepared baking tray and bake for approximately 15 minutes, or until puffed and beautifully golden.
Allow them to cool for a few minutes before serving—although they are especially irresistible while still slightly warm.
Recipe Notes
Use a flavourful cheese that melts well, such as cheddar, Gouda or a Hungarian-style Trappista cheese.
There is no yeast in this recipe, so the dough does not need time to rise.
Watch the cheese sticks closely near the end of baking, as the grated cheese can brown quickly.
Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days.
To refresh them, warm them briefly in the oven or air fryer.
The baked cheese sticks can also be frozen for up to two months.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these sajtos rudak with Hungarian mushroom soup, alongside a charcuterie board, or simply enjoy them as a warm savoury snack. They are also perfect for parties, lunchboxes and family gatherings.