Kiflie Hungarian Cookies Food

HUNGARIAN KIFFLES

Steps:

• Whisk the flour and salt together in a medium bowl and set aside.
• Beat the cream cheese and butter with an electric mixer on medium speed until very smooth and creamy, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the flour mixture, 1/4 cup at a time, mixing just until combined. The dough will be quite moist, but not sticky.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and flatten into a square approximately 1/2-inch thick. Cut into 4 equal pieces and wrap each separately in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, a minimum of 2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 375°F and position a rack in the center of the oven. Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper.
• Remove one portion of the dough from the refrigerator and place it on a liberally floured surface.
• Dust the top of the dough with flour and cover with a sheet of wax or parchment paper. Working from the center toward the corners, roll the dough out to a 1/8-inch-thick square. It should measure about 9 inches.
• For best results, see our recipe notes below to learn how to roll your dough into a perfect square.
• Using a pastry wheel or a sharp knife, cut your dough both lengthwise and crosswise into small squares.
• Your total yield will depend on how large you make them. We recommend 1-1/2-inches which will give you 36 kiffles per square of dough or about 12 dozen total.
• The best way to keep the size even is to use a ruler and mark all 4 sides of the dough square at intervals with the tip of a knife. You can use the handle of a spatula to guide you as you cut to keep your lines straight as well (similar to drawing straight lines on a sheet of paper).
• Working as quickly as possible, place a small mound of filling (about 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon) in the center of each square. If the filling flavor you're using is relatively smooth you can spoon it into a small freezer bag, snip off a tiny bottom corner and squeeze the filling onto the squares. This works particularly well with the poppy and almond flavors.
• Lift two opposite corners of the dough over the filling and gently pinch them together. Fold that "point" over to one side, moisten the tip of your finger with a bit of water and smooth it down gently on one side of the kiffle. This prevent the kiffles from popping open as they bake.
• Important Note: The various filling flavors spread a bit differently during baking so you may want to fill a few "test" kiffles and bake them to gauge the right amount of filling for each type.
• Arrange the kiffles 1 inch apart on the parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake until barely golden, 12 to 14 minutes. Cool on the baking sheet for 1 minute, then carefully transfer the kiffles to cooling racks.
• Repeat the process with the remaining 3 portions of dough, using different filling flavors if desired.
• Store kiffles between layers of waxed paper in a tightly closed container and refrigerate. Bring them to room temperature (30 minutes out of the fridge), arrange on a plate and dust lightly with powdered sugar just before serving. It's not advisable to top them with powdered sugar before storing.
• Makes 8 to 12 dozen

HUNGARIAN KIFLI II

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, cream butter and cream cheese. Stir in the egg yolks and vanilla. Stir together the flour and baking powder. Add the flour mixture a little at a time until it is fully incorporated. Divide dough into 5 parts, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate overnight.
• in a medium bowl, beat egg whites to soft peaks, add sugar a little at a time while continuing to beat to stiff peaks. Fold in ground walnuts, and set aside. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4 to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut into 3 inch squares, place 1/2 teaspoon of filling in the center of each square and roll up from corner to corner. Place on cookie sheets and refrigerate until hardened.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bake cookies for 10 to 12 minutes, until lightly browned. Roll in confectioners' sugar when cool.

HUNGARIAN KIFFLES

Steps:

• Beat butter and cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer until pale yellow and creamy. Gradually add 2 cups flour to butter mixture until the dough is too thick for the mixer. Stir remaining 2 cups flour into the butter mixture by hand and knead until dough falls off hands easily. Roll dough into a ball, place in bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for 8 hours or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Stir walnuts and sugar together in a bowl. Pour milk into walnut mixture and stir to form a paste.
• Turn dough onto a floured work surface and roll to desired thickness. Cut dough into 2-inch squares. Place about 1 teaspoon walnut filling in the center of each square. Roll the dough from 1 corner to the other corner around the walnut filling and transfer to a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until light brown, 10 to 15 minutes.

KOSSUTH KIFLI (HUNGARIAN CAKEY COOKIE AKA HALF MOONS)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Butter and flour bottom and sides of a 9-by 13-inch cake pan.
• In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, cream together butter and granulated sugar.
• Add egg yolks, one at a time, and beat until fluffy.
• Add vanilla, lemon rind and lemon juice and beat to combine.
• Gradually add in baking powder and flour.
• In a medium bowl using electric mixer on high speed (with clean beaters), beat egg whites until stiff.
• Fold egg whites into batter.
• Gently spread batter into prepared pan.
• Evenly sprinkle top with finely chopped walnuts and bake 25 to 30 minutes.
• Remove to a wire rack.
• Cool until cake shrinks away from sides of pan (about 15 minutes).
• With a small round biscuit cutter (or a glass), periodically dipped in powdered sugar, cut one circle (don't remove it), then cut another circle halfway down the first one, making two crescents and one oval scrap.
• Remove from pan and repeat (you can eat the oval scraps;).
• Cool crescents completely and dust with powdered sugar.
• Store in a tightly covered container for up to 2 days.

KIFLIE, HUNGARIAN COOKIES

Steps:

• Lay out puff pastry on floured board.
• Combine grated walnuts and the sugars, mix thoroughly.
• Add cream until mixture is a thin paste, spreadable but not runny.
• Form cookies.
• Method 1. spread filling on top of pastry, edge to edge in one direction but leave 1 inch uncovered on both edges in the other direction.
• Starting with an uncovered edge roll the pastry into a cylinder. Wet the uncovered edge when you reach it and seal it to the side.
• Place rolled dough in freezer for no more than 20 minutes to firm it for cutting.
• Cut dough cylinder into 1/2 inch circles and place on greased cookie sheet.
• Method 2. Cut pastry sheets into squares 2 inches by 2 inches.
• Place a 12 teaspoon of the filling into the center of the square and bring two opposite points of the square together over the top of the filling.
• Either method, bake cookies at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 minutes. .
• Allow to cool and enjoy.

KIFLIES

Steps:

• Mix flour and butter until mixture is like cornmeal.
• Beat together sour cream, egg yolks, lemon rind and sugar, add to flour mixture.
• Knead the dough until smooth and elastic. Dough will have a satiny appearance and all the dough will come off your hands. Knead at least 20 minutes. The longer you work the dough the flakier the finished product will be. Do not cheat on kneading time.
• Pinch off pieces of dough no larger than a walnut and form into balls. Place balls side by side in a cake pan. Separate layers with wax paper. This should make about 85 balls.
• Cover tightly with aluminum foil and refrigerate overnight. (Dough balls may be frozen for up to 6 months. Freezing seems to make the dough even more tender when baked. Thaw in refrigerator overnight, not at room temperature.)
• Remove 1 dozen balls from the refrigerator at a time. If dough is too warm or too cold it is difficult to roll out. Roll each ball into a 4" circle. Circles will be tissue paper thin. Use as little flour as possible to keep dough from sticking to pastry board. It is best to make a mixture of 6 tablespoons flour and 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar for sprinkling the board.
• Lay rolled out circles of pastry on a large tray just barely overlapping so they will not stick together. Use waxed paper between layers. When a dozen balls have been rolled, refrigerate the tray so dough does not become too soft. If this happens kieflies will not be attractive.
• It is easier to assemble if you roll out about 36 balls, fill and bake. All the balls may be rolled at one time, but keep pastry circles refrigerated until ready to fill. Work with only as many circles as will it an one cookie sheet at a time.
• To assemble kieflies, place a semi-heaping tablespoon of filling across the middle of each circle, but not quite to the edge. Fold 1/3 of the dough over filling, overlapping about half way; fold the remaining 1/3 of the dough so it overlaps the first 1/3. Use a gentle hand when overlapping the filling so that when it bakes the filling will have room to expand. Shape the rolls into crescents, using thumbs and fingers. When forming the crescents the edges might curl up slightly. Do not try to smooth out the dough. To do so would not allow the dough to expand and become flaky.
• Always place filled kieflies on a cool, ungreased cookie sheet. Bake no more than 1 sheet at a time. Preheat oven to 400 degrees, reduce heat to 375 degrees and bake 10 to 12 minutes or only until lightly browned.
• While kieflies are still warm generously coat with confectioners' sugar by sprinkling it through a small sieve or shaker.
• Filling; Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar and lemon juice. Use a spatula to fold in ground nuts until thoroughly blended. If filling seems a bit "weepy" add about 3 crushed graham crackers.
• NOTE Kieflies will keep up to a week if kept in a cool spot. DO NOT cover tightly.
• These kieflies freeze beautifully. They will thaw at room temperature (uncovered) in about 3 hours. Freshen with confectioners' sugar when ready to serve.

HUNGARIAN KIFLI (CHRISTMAS COOKIES) WITH DATES

Steps:

• For the dough: mix butter, cream cheese and flour in food processor. Split into two balls, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
• For the filling: Mix all ingredients in food processor, let stand at room temperature.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove the dough from refrigerator, roll out on floured cutting board, cut into about 2 inch squares. Put about one teaspoon filling onto each square. Roll diagonally, then crimp in the middle to make a crescent. Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes or until golden. Sprinkle with powdered sugar as soon as removed from oven.
• All of the recipes I searched agreed that letting the dough rest overnight is key to getting it nice and flaky.
• Enjoy!

KIFLI (CRESCENT COOKIES)

Steps:

• DOUGH:
• Blend flour and butter thoroughly using a pastry blender if desired.
• Add egg yolks and yeast cake which has been dissolved in cream.
• Add sugar and vanilla.
• Chill dough if it is too soft to roll out easily.
• Divide into 2 parts and roll each into a 12-inch circle or larger. Cut into 16 or more pie-shaped pieces.
• Place a small amount of nut filling or jam on each wedge and beginning at the rounded edge, roll up.
• Place on greased baking sheet, point underneath. Let stand for 20 minutes.
• Brush top of crescents with beaten egg.
• Bake at 350°F for 15 to 18 minutes or until light brown on bottom.
• FILLING:.
• Mix all ingredients listed for filling together, mixing well.

VANILLA KIFLI -- A VANILLA COOKIE (HUNGARY)

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter & granulated sugar, then beat in the egg yolks & vanilla extract, before gradually beating in the flour.
• Form the dough into a ball & let it stand at room temperature for 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• To form the crescents, roll about 1 tablespoon of the dough in the palms of your hands, continuing to roll & form a rope about 3 inches long & 1/2 inch thick. Bend the rope to form a crescent, then repeat with the remaining dough, while placing the crescents on ungreased cookie sheets about 1 inch apart.
• Bake about 10-12 minutes (Cookies will STILL be white in color.), then let them cool on the cookie sheets for 5 minutes to prevent breaking.
• While cookies are still warm, carefully roll each one in vanilla sugar, before letting them cool completely.
• In a double boiler, melt chocolate over low heat, & when cookies are cool, dip one tip of each cookie into the melted chocolate, then set on waxed paper to dry.