Loupáky – Czech Poppy Seed Breakfast Rolls

Loupáky are one of my morning favorites, spread with butter, I enjoy them with my morning coffee. They are traditional Czech sweet rolls made from soft yeast dough and generously topped with poppy seeds. They are shaped into crescent-like rolls, somewhat similar in appearance to a small croissant, but the dough itself is soft and bread-like rather than flaky.

The name loupák comes from the Czech word loupat, meaning “to peel.” The dough is tender and slightly layered, so it can be gently pulled apart piece by piece when eaten, which is where the name comes from.

Loupáky are most often enjoyed for breakfast or as a simple snack. Fresh from the bakery, they are delicious on their own, but they are just as good sliced and spread with butter and jam. Their light sweetness and the nutty flavor of poppy seeds make them one of the most familiar pastries in Czech bakeries.