Aunt Hatties Polish Raised Pineapple Squares Mazurek Food

MAZUREK (POLISH EASTER CAKE)

Steps:

• Combine 1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons butter, sugar, and egg in a bowl; beat with an electric mixer until creamy. Beat in mashed egg yolks. Add flour, ground almonds, and lemon zest. Knead into a dough. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Roll out 2/3 of the dough on a lightly floured surface into a rectangle the size of the baking sheet. Lay onto the prepared baking sheet. Roll remaining dough into finger-thick rolls. Press dough rolls onto the cake in a diamond-shaped pattern. Brush rolls with beaten egg.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Pour 1/4 cup water into a saucepan. Sprinkle gelatin powder on top. Let stand until softened, about 1 minute. Place over low heat; stir constantly until granules are completely dissolved, about 3 minutes.
• Heat cherry and apricot preserves in 2 small pots over low heat until hot. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve. Mix half of the dissolved gelatin into each flavor. Alternate filling the diamond shapes of the cake with the 2 different flavors. Arrange sliced almonds and candied cherries into flower shapes on top.

AUNT HATTIE'S POLISH RAISED PINEAPPLE SQUARES, MAZUREK

Steps:

• To start, make a pineapple filling by mixing a large can of crushed pineapple with cornstarch and simmering until thick. Might need a little fresh lemon juice to make tastier. Cool.
• Mix together and set aside yeast, milk, egg yolks; this is the sponge. If using dry yeast, dissolve it in a little water first.
• Mix as for pie crust: butter, flour, sugar, salt
• Mix with the sponge.
• Divide dough in half. Roll out half of the dough and line a 15 x 11 jellyroll pan.
• Cover with the pineapple filling. Yes, it's a pretty thin layer. Supposed to be!
• Roll second half, cut in strips and lattice over top
• Let raise 1 hour. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes.
• Drizzle with following frosting and sprinkle with chopped nuts if desired.
• Frosting: 1 T butter, /2 t vanilla, powdered sugar.

PINEAPPLE SQUARES

Steps:

• Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Cut in butter using a pastry cutter or your hands until coarse crumbs form.
• Whisk milk, egg, and vanilla extract together in a small bowl. Add to flour mixture and knead until just combined, adding a little more flour if too wet or a little more milk if too dry. Divide the dough into thirds; 2/3 will be for the bottom, save 1/3 for the top.
• Roll 2/3 the dough out onto a lightly floured surface into an 11x15-inch rectangle. Place dough into the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking pan, making sure it comes at least halfway up the sides.
• Combine pineapple and sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, pour reserved pineapple juice into a bowl and add cornstarch; stir until dissolved. Add to the saucepan and stir until thickened, about 5 minutes more. Remove from heat and let filling cool in the refrigerator, about 15 minutes.
• Scrape filling onto the bottom dough in the baking pan and smooth out.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Roll remaining 1/3 dough out onto a lightly floured surface into a 9x13-inch rectangle. Roll the dough onto the rolling pin and unroll on top of the pineapple filling, making sure edges of the dough reach the edges of the pan.
• Combine flour and sugar in a small bowl. Add vanilla extract and cut in butter until coarse crumbs form. Sprinkle streusel topping over dough.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool on a rack. Cut into 24 squares.

MAZUREK MIGDALOWY OR ORZECHOWY (ALMOND OR WALNUT MAZURKA)

Steps:

• Sift 2 cups flour and sugar together into a deep mixing bowl.
• Use a spoon to push the egg yolks through a fine sieve into the flour mixture; mix well.
• Add the almonds, vanilla, and cream to flour mixture; and beat in 1/2 lb of butter, a few tablespoons at a time.
• Knead with your hands until dough is smooth and can be formed into a compact ball.
• Wrap in waxed paper and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Grease a large cookie sheet with the remaining tablespoon of butter; sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons of flour, tipping from side to side to cover completely and evenly.
• Turn the sheet upside down and tap on the bottom to shake off any excess flour.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll dough out to 1/4" thin and place on buttered cookie sheet, using fingers to spread dough so it completely covers the bottom of the pan.
• Brush entire surface with egg, then sprinkle evenly with sliced almonds, gently pressing them into the dough (or if you used walnuts in the dough, you may prefer to use the meringue topping: if you do, beat the egg whites until stiff, then gradually add the powdered sugar and vanilla, beating continuously; spread over the dough instead of the egg and nuts).
• Bake until pastry is golden brown (20-25 minutes).
• Remove from oven, and with a lightly buttered knife, cut into 2"x1" bars.
• Carefully transfer to a wire rack and let cool to room temperature.