Klopotenko shared recipes for festive baked goods for Honey Spas 2026
Makovia, or Honey Spas, is one of the most important Ukrainian summer holidays, traditionally associated with the blessing of the first honey, poppies, and fragrant bouquets. To mark this occasion, Yevhen Klopotenko invites us to revisit Ukrainian culinary traditions and bake authentic festive treats.
Golden Buns with Poppy Seed Sauce
These delicate yeast buns, fried until golden brown and dipped in a fragrant honey-poppy seed sauce, will be a wonderful treat for the whole family.
Ingredients:
- For the buns: 400 g wheat flour, 220 ml warm water, 14 g compressed yeast, 1 tbsp sugar, ½ tsp salt, 300 ml oil for frying.
- For the sauce: 4 tbsp honey, 100 ml warm water, 100 g ground poppy seeds.
Preparation:
- In a bowl, dissolve the yeast and sugar in warm water. Add the flour and salt, and knead the dough by hand for at least 3 minutes. Cover with a towel and let rise in a warm place for 50 minutes.
- Knead the dough again, shape into balls weighing 15–20 g each, and let them rest for another 10–15 minutes.
- Heat the oil in a heavy-bottomed pot and fry the dough balls in shallow oil for 2–3 minutes until golden brown.
- Separately, bring water to a boil. Place the cooked balls on a sieve, dip them in the boiling water for just 4–5 seconds, and transfer them to a bowl.
- For the sauce, grind the poppy seeds in a blender or mortar, then mix with honey and warm water. Whisk until smooth, pour over the dough balls, and serve.
Fluffy Yeast Roll with Poppy Seeds
A classic festive dish—a fragrant roll filled with plenty of juicy poppy seed filling.
Ingredients:
- For the dough: 20 g compressed yeast, 200 ml milk, 2 tbsp sugar, ½ tsp salt, 350 g flour (+25 g for dusting), 2 egg yolks (and 1 egg yolk for brushing).
- For the filling: 450 g poppy seeds, 3 egg whites, 5 tbsp sugar.
Preparation:
- Starter: Crumble the yeast into a bowl, add warm milk, sugar, and 1 tbsp flour. Let stand for 20 minutes.
- Add the remaining flour, salt, and 2 egg yolks to the starter. Knead into a soft dough, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place for 40 minutes. Then knead for another 5 minutes and let rise again for 20 minutes.
- For the filling, grind the poppy seeds, combine them with the egg whites and sugar, and mix well.
- Roll out the dough into a rectangle 0.5–0.7 cm thick. Spread the filling evenly, fold the side edges in 2–3 cm, and roll into a log.
- Transfer the roll to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, seam-side down, brush with beaten egg yolk, and bake at 180 degrees for 40–45 minutes.
Traditional Shuliki (Lamanets) with Poppy Seeds and Cinnamon
Crispy, crunchy cookies soaked in a warm milk-poppy seed sauce—the most beloved Ukrainian treats for Honey Spas.
Ingredients:
- For the dough: 250 g flour, 75 g butter, 100 g sugar, 1 egg, 100 g sour cream, 1 tbsp poppy seeds, ½ tsp baking powder, a pinch of cumin and salt.
- For the sauce: 100 g poppy seeds, 250 ml milk, 2 tbsp honey, 1 tsp ground cinnamon.
Preparation:
- Mix the flour, baking powder, cumin, salt, poppy seeds, and sugar. Add the butter and rub in with your hands.
- Add the egg and sour cream, and knead into a firm dough.
- Roll out the dough between two sheets of parchment paper to a thickness of 3 mm, prick it frequently with a fork, and bake at 185 degrees for about 15 minutes.
- For the sauce, combine the poppy seeds, milk, honey, and cinnamon in a saucepan. Heat over low heat for 7–10 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Break the baked flatbread into pieces with your hands, place them in a deep plate, pour the sauce generously over them, and serve with warm tea or milk.
These three recipes from Klopotenko will help you celebrate a true Ukrainian Honey Spas—delicious, aromatic, and with a touch of tradition.
Honey Spas 2026: When Makoviya Is Celebrated and What Traditions to Observe.
On Saturday, August 1, 2026, Orthodox Christians in Ukraine will begin the Dormition Fast—one of the four multi-day fasts of the church year. It will last through August 14, and on August 15, believers will celebrate the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God according to the New Julian calendar.
