Make scrumptious pastries filled with my favorite poppy seed filling. Make it and you’ll see what I mean.
Perhaps try my bite-sized poppy seed roll. It’s a warm pull-apart bread that’s loaded with poppy seed filling!
This recipe was originally posted on Mar 18, 2016, we’ve tweaked it a bit since then. This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.
Perfect Poppy Seed Filling
Poppy seed filling is used in many pastries, especially European ones like sweet poppy seed pull-apart buns. We typically incorporate it into most of our yeast breads. There is something so delicious about this sweet paste. Most grocery stores carry pre-made poppy seed filling, but you can’t compare it to a homemade filling. It’s so easy to make it at home, after all, there are only 4 ingredients in this recipe
Ingredients for poppy seed filling:
- dry poppy seeds
- milk
- chopped walnuts
- honey
How to make poppy seed filling
It is so simple and this filling can go inside almost any pastry. Here are the directions.
1.) Simmer poppy seeds and milk
Add dry poppy seeds and milk into a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer (not a boil) continuously stir until most of the milk is absorbed. (About 6-8 minutes)
2.) Strain the poppy seeds
Strain the poppy seeds through a cheesecloth.
3.) Grind the poppy seeds
Using a coffee grinder, grind the poppy seeds in small batches.
4.) Combine everything and store
In a bowl, combine the ground poppy seeds, honey, and walnuts. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.
That is it! It is ready to be filled inside pastries. Here are some questions about poppy seed filling you might have:
Do you need to soak poppy seeds?
Poppy seeds have a rough exterior. Soaking them breaks them down and makes them softer. The first step of simmering them in milk is enough of a soak to break down this coating.
Can you grind poppy seeds in a food processor?
Yes, you can grind them in a food processor. I used my coffee grinder in small batches. But you can do them all at once in a food processor. Just make sure to use the fine grinding plate.
Do you have to grind them?
Yes, you definitely need to grind the poppy seeds. Since this is going to make a pastry filling, you want it to resemble a paste, not a bunch of individual seeds.
Sweet Poppy Seed Filling
Ingredients
- 1 cup dry poppy seeds
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/2 cup honey
Instructions
- Add dry poppy seeds and milk into a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer (not a boil) continuously stir until most of the milk is absorbed. (About 6-8 minutes)
- Strain the poppy seeds through a cheese cloth.
- Using a coffee grinder, grind the poppy seeds in small batches.
- In a bowl, combine the ground poppy seeds, honey, and walnuts. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.
Nutrition
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Tara says
Have you tried grinding the seeds before the cooking? I want to try this ASAP, but am wondering about a wet mess in my coffee grinder.
simplyhomecooked says
Hi Tara, I have actually never tried grinding the seeds prior to cooking. I would be curious to see how they would turn out. If you try that method let me know how they turn out 🙂
Joanne says
Looks so easy! Do i need to refrigerate it if I make it a day before I need it? Thanks.
simplyhomecooked says
Hi Joanne, I would refrigerate the poppy seed filling to preserve freshness 🙂
Anita says
Thank you! Now my pastries will be even better. I’m going to add a little to my baklava. Hope it turns out!
simplyhomecooked says
Delicious idea Anita! 🙂
Ti says
Thank you, currently looking for the best method to make paste. I tried coffee grinder without success. My Brass Pestle and Mortal works but it is a workout I can do without. Thank you, been thinking about using condensed milk in lieu of regular milk.
simplyhomecooked says
You’re welcome Ti, enjoy!
Ti says
Thank you, just a bit curious why do you simmer with milk?
I would like to forego the milk.
simplyhomecooked says
Hi Ti, I simmer the milk so that it cooks enough to absorb into the poppy seeds.
D Muthukumar says
Exlant Recpies
simplyhomecooked says
Thank you.
Anna says
Never knew it was so simple to do it yourself 😉