Aunt Frans Polish Kolaezki Food

KOLACZKI - TRADITIONAL POLISH COOKIES

Steps:

• Mix cream cheese and softened unsalted butter in a stand mixer. Add in three cups of flour. Mix well. Wrap and place in the fridge for 1 hour.
• Place a quarter of the dough on a dough board and roll out to a thin layer. Cut into 1 1/2 inch squares. Place jam in the center and pinch together opposite sides. Rub a little water on the place where you pinched together in order to keep them together when baking.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place the cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove to cooling rack. Dust with powdered sugar. Store in airtight container.

POLISH KOLACHKI (KOLACZKI)

Steps:

• 1. Mix the first 4 ingredients. Add flour and baking powder.
• 2. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a 12 by 10 rectangle. Cut into 2-inch squares. Overlap two opposite corners of the dough and pinch tightly to seal.
• 3. Place 1 inch apart on greased cookie sheet.Bake Drain the maraschino cherries. Cut each cherry in half and put on the halves opposite sides of the pinched center.Bake in 375 F for 10- 13 minutes. After you bake you can sprinkle the cookies with powdered sugar. Enjoy!

KOLACZKI (POLISH COOKIES)

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl cream together butter and cream cheese until smooth at medium-high speed. Beat in the almond extract.
• Add the salt and all-purpose flour in 3 additions, scraping down the bowl as needed to combine. Do not over mix to keep the pastry light and flaky.
• Once the dough is combined form it into a ball and dump it onto a large piece of plastic wrap. Flatten the dough down into a square shape and cover it completely with plastic wrap. Place it in the refrigerator to chill for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper (or bake one batch at a time if you only have one baking sheet) and set aside.
• When the dough has chilled, sprinkle a clean work surface and a rolling pin with powedered sugar.
• Divide the dough in half (return the other half to the refrigerator until ready to use) and roll the dough into a large square, 7½ x 7½, 1⁄4 inch thick. Trim the edges with a pizza cutter. Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut the dough into 2 1⁄2 inch squares. (Re-roll the scraps to cut more cookies.)
• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Carefully transfer the squares to the prepared baking sheets and spoon 1⁄2 teaspoon of jam in the middle of each square.
• Cross one corner of the pastry square over the jam filling. Rub a small drop of water on the corner of the pastry square and then seal the cookie by overlapping with the opposite pastry square corner. Carefully pinch the dough to seal it with your thumb and index finger. Continue until all the cookies are sealed.
• Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the edges are just slightly golden. Transfer the cookies to a cooling rack after 3 minutes to cool completely.
• Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving and enjoy!

HOMEMADE POLISH KOLACZKI

Steps:

• : In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment mix the cream cheese and butter together on medium speed until smooth, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary.
• Turn the mixer to low and slowly add in the flour, mixing until just combined.
• Remove the dough from the bowl and flatten into a disk shape. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and chill the dough for 2 hours, or overnight.
• : Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
• Remove the dough from the refrigerator and divide into 4 equal parts. Working in batches, using a rolling pin, roll each dough out into a thin rectangle about 1/2- centimeter thick. Using a wheel pastry cutter, knife, or pizza cutter, cut the dough into 2- inch squares.
• Fill a small bowl with water and set aside.
• Spread 1/2 teaspoon of the preserves into the center of the dough squares. Using your fingers, wet two diagonal corners of the dough and fold over the top of each other, pinching the dough together to seal. Repeat with the remaining dough.
• Place the cookies onto the prepared baking sheet 1 1/2- inches apart and bake for 12- 13 minutes until lightly golden.
• Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. When the cookies are cooled, sprinkle them with powdered sugar. You can use as much or as little as you like.

AUNT FRAN'S POLISH KOLAEZKI

Steps:

• Mix cream cheese and butter.
• Add flour until well combined.
• Roll into balls about the size of walnuts; flatten with bottom of floured drinking glass.
• Make depression in center with floured shot glass.
• Fill indentation with desired filling.
• Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes.
• Sprinkle liberally with powdered sugar when cooled.