Kolaczki The Greatest Polish Cookie Food

KOLACZKI RECIPE (POLISH COOKIES)

Steps:

• Gather all your ingredients. While you can use any jam you like, raspberry and apricot work particularly well.
• Using a stand mixer or a hand mixer, beat the softened butter, flour and cream cheese until it turns fluffy.
• On a well-floured surface, roll the dough into a big ball, wrap it in plastic wrap, and let it rest in the fridge for at least an hour.
• On a well-floured surface, roll the dough out into a thin, flat piece. Cut the piece into even-sized squares. Place a dollop of jam in the center of each square. Fold the sides of the squares in, pinching the corners together to secure the jam inside.
• Bake the cookies at 350°F for 15 minutes. Once the cookies completely cool, dust them with powdered sugar. Enjoy!

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.

POLISH CREAM CHEESE COOKIES

Steps:

• Beat the cream cheese, butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes, scraping down the bowl as needed. Reduce the mixer speed to low and beat in the flour and salt until combined. Divide the dough between 2 large pieces of plastic wrap. Flatten into 1/2-inch-thick disks and wrap. Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour or overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 350˚. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll out 1 disk of dough on a lightly floured surface until about 1/8 inch thick, dusting with more flour as needed. Cut out 2 1/2-inch squares using a sharp knife or a 2 1/2-inch square cutter. Lift the cutouts using an offset spatula and arrange 2 inches apart on one of the prepared pans. Gather the scraps and refrigerate.
• Spoon 1 teaspoon preserves onto the center of each cutout. Fold in two opposite corners to overlap in the middle and press down to seal, spreading the preserves slightly. Sprinkle the dough with coarse sugar.
• Bake, rotating the pan halfway through, until the cookies are puffed and the edges are golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes on the pan, then remove the cookies to a rack to cool completely.
• Repeat with the other disk of dough, plus the reserved scraps, to make more cookies.

POLISH KOłACZKI

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with butter until light and fluffy.
• Add the flour, 1 cup at a time, and mix well.
• Wrap dough in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
• Heat oven to 350 F. Roll out dough to a 12 x 18-inch rectangle-1/4-inch thick-on a silicone mat or a surface that has been dusted with equal parts confectioners' and granulated sugars (not flour), because the granulated sugar will act as ball bearings and help keep the dough from sticking.
• Cut into 2-inch squares. Place 1/2 to 1 teaspoon filling on center of each square. Brush a tiny bit of beaten egg white on one corner and press the opposite corner on it, pressing the dough together lightly to seal.
• Using a spatula, transfer the filled cookies to a parchment-lined sheet pan and bake for 15 minutes (longer if baking from frozen) or until corners start to brown.
• Using a spatula, remove cookies from the baking sheet and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before dusting with confectioners' sugar. Serve and 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!

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.