Kołaczki Food

KOLACZKI

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl combine the softened cream cheese and butter. Beat until thoroughly combined, light and fluffy.
• Add the flour into the creamed butter mixture 1 cup at a time until your dough is fully mixed. Wrap the dough in cling film and flatten slightly so that it chills quickly. Chill for an hour.
• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line your baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
• Dust your working surface with an equal combination of sugar and confectioners' sugar, then roll out the cream cheese dough until it is 1/4-inch in thickness. *I use a quarter portion of the dough at a time, meanwhile, it is important that the remaining dough is returned to the refrigerator and kept chilled.
• Cut the dough into 2-inch squares or rounds then place 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of your pastry filling into the centerline of each cut square or round of the dough.
• Overlap the opposite corners or sides and brush the bottom corner with water or egg white to seal the dough. Pinch or press the dough together to seal securely.
• Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 12-15 minutes, or until the cookie bottoms just begin to show a light golden color. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
• Once your cookies are completely cooled, dust with confectioners' sugar (or just before serving).

KOLACHKY COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl blend margarine and cream cheese together, by hand with a metal spoon. Slowly add flour until it is all incorporated and a dough is formed. The dough will be soft and sticky. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and put in refrigerator overnight, or for several hours (until hard to the touch).
• Flour the countertop. Take a handful of dough out of bowl returning the unused portion to the refrigerator (continue this process until all mixture is used). Roll handful of dough out into an approximately 1/4-inch thickness. Take a 2 by 3-inch diamond shaped cookie cutter, and cut as many diamonds as possible (size of kolachky should be two bites, so the cutter cannot be large). Take leftover dough and roll out again, cutting more diamonds. Repeat until all the dough is used.
• Place the diamond cut out onto the palm of hand. Put a 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of fruit filling (apricot or strawberry or raspberry or prune flavors) into the center of the diamond shape.
• Dip your finger in a little bit of water, put on one side of diamond. Fold lengthwise and seal the tops of the kolachky together to create a 3-dimensional diamond shape. Place on cookie sheets and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 10 to12 minutes.
• DO NOT USE Super heat cookie sheets or any of the new non-stick coated cookie sheets. They will bake too quickly and burn the bottoms of the kolachky before you realize it. YOU MUST USE ANY KIND OF CHEAP COOKIE SHEETS usually bought at a grocery store. Cover the cookie sheet with foil or parchment paper. Do not grease the foil.
• Look at your kolachky every few minutes, while baking, as ovens vary in heat distribution. The later batches may cook faster than the first ones. Check the BOTTOMS of the kolachkys. They are done when the BOTTOMS are soft golden brown. The tops may not look done, but they ARE! Remove from oven, wait 3 minutes, then remove to a cooling rack. When ready to serve, sprinkle with powdered sugar.

KOłACZKI: POLISH CHRISTMAS COOKIES FILLED WITH JAM

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 356°F / 180°C
• Sift the flour onto a pastry board and chop the butter in (like you would do for a shortcrust pastry).
• Add cream cheese and egg yolk and knead the dough quickly. If necessary - sprinkle with flour. To make the dough easier to roll out, wrap it into cling film and place in the fridge for 20-30 minutes.
• Roll out the dough into a thickness of 3-4 mm (1/8 inch). Cut the dough in 2 1/2 inch squares. Transfer the squares to a parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Put a teaspoon of jam on the centre of each square, and wrap the corners -one on top of the other - to create an open envelope.
• Bake for 20 minutes until golden. Leave to cool. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

KOLACHKY

Steps:

• In a standing mixer fitted with a paddle, or in a bowl using a hand-held beater, cream the butter, cream cheese, and sugar until well blended. Add the egg and mix until incorporated. Add the flour and mix until incorporated.
• Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill overnight.
• On a work surface sprinkled with confectioner's sugar, divide the dough into 4 equal pieces. Working in 4 batches, roll the dough out to 1/4-inch thick. Using a 2 1/2-inch biscuit cutter, cut out small rounds and transfer them to a parchment-lined cookie sheet.
• Using your thumb, make a slight indentation in each cookie. Fill each indentation with the filling of your choice.
• Chill the cookies while you preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Bake the cookies until lightly browned, about 15 to 17 minutes.
• Dust with confectioners' sugar before you serve.

KOLACZKI

Steps:

• Warm milk to just above room temperature. Dissolve the yeast in the milk, set aside. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, salt and baking powder. Cut in the shortening until the mixture is mealy. Stir in the egg yolks and milk mixture. Knead the dough together and then refrigerate overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Dust a clean, dry surface with confectioners' sugar. Knead the dough for a few minutes. Carefully roll out your dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut out circles with a cookie cutter. Place a teaspoon of jam on the center of each circle, fold the dough over, and seal the edge with a fork.
• Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Do not store in an airtight container or they will become soggy.