Mazurek Topped With Apple Food

MAZURKAS (POLAND)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Coat a 9 by 13-inch baking pan with butter or nonstick spray. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper.
• For the cookie: Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl.
• Beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl, with an electric mixer, at medium-high speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides and add the egg and vanilla extract. Beat well, and then scrape down the sides.
• While mixing on low speed, add the dry ingredients in 3 batches. Scrape down the bowl between each addition, and mix until just blended.
• Transfer the dough to the prepared pan and spread evenly with a spatula. Bake until light golden brown with spots of darker golden brown and darker edges, about 30 minutes. Cool completely, about 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare the fruit: Whisk the cornstarch and sugar together in a small saucepan. Whisk in orange juice until mixture dissolves. Stir in the fruits and candied orange peel. Bring to a simmer over medium, stirring often; continue to cook, stirring until thickened into a compote, about 3 minutes more. You should be able to draw the spoon along the bottom of pan and see the pan with no liquid seeping back. Remove from heat and transfer to a bowl. Stir in the nuts and lemon zest.
• Spread fruit evenly over the top of the cooled crust.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake mazurkas until golden brown around edges and fruit sets but is still slightly glossy and jewel-like, about 10 minutes. Cool in pan on rack.
• Cut, using an oiled knife, into 24 bars. Serve.

MAZUREK TOPPED WITH APPLE

Steps:

• Mazurek base:.
• Sift together all dry ingredients by pulsing in food processor.
• Add chilled butter into flour pulse until crumbly.
• Add beaten yolks with cream and add to flour mixture, just till it comes together when squeezed with fingers, but still will be crumbly.
• Press dough into pan.
• Lay on buttered 8 inch square cake pan, pressing in to evenly cover the base.
• Chill for 5 minutes.
• Bake for 20 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven.
• Mix apples and Southern Comfort together.
• Remove base from oven and cover with apple topping.
• Bake 20 minutes longer.
• Cool dust with powdered sugar or top with a sugar icing and garnish with sliced toasted almonds.
• Cut into 16 finger size servings.

MAZURKA

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Stir in raisins, plums and walnuts; toss to coat evenly. In a bowl, beat egg whites on high speed until stiff peaks form. Stir about a third of the egg whites and vanilla into flour mixture. Fold in remaining egg whites. Transfer to a 9-in. square baking dish coated with cooking spray., Bake at 300° for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool. Cut into squares.