Traditional Hungarian Apricot Kolaches Food

TRADITIONAL HUNGARIAN APRICOT KOLACHES

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, use a hand-held mixer to beat together the butter and the cream cheese until light and fluffy.
• Add the flour and salt. Beat into the butter mixture.
• Divide the cookie dough into four equal portions and flatten each portion to 1/2 inch thick. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours.
• When ready to assemble and bake, preheat oven to 375 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
• Remove one portion of the dough from the fridge and roll to 1/8th of an inch thick on a lightly floured surface. The dough is sticky so be sure to flour your rolling pin too.
• Cut the rolled dough into 2 inch squares. Remove scrap dough to the side to use later once the currant batch is baking.
• Place one tablespoon of the apricot preserves into the center of each square of dough. Gently fold up two opposite corners so that the slightly overlap. Push down just slightly with your finger to seal the dough together.
• Transfer the cookies to the baking sheet, leaving at least 2 inches of space between each cookie.
• Sprinkle each cookie with a little sanding sugar and bake for 12 minutes or until the edges are a light golden brown.
• Remove from oven and allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Then, remove the cookies from the baking sheet to a wire cooling rack to finish cooling.
• Repeat steps 5 to 10 with the remaining 3 portions of dough in your fridge.

APRICOT KOLACHES

Steps:

• Place dried apricots in a small saucepan and pour in just enough water to cover the apricots. Boil until the apricots are soft. Do not let all the water evaporate. Add a little bit more to keep the filling from burning.
• Add the sugar and continue to cook until thick.
• Either puree in a food processor or with an immersion blender in a bowl. If the filling is too runny, return it to the sauce pot to continue to cook.
• You can make the filling ahead of time and freeze it until you are ready to use it. Just thaw at room temperature when you are ready to use.
• Sift flour and salt together in a medium bowl and set aside.
• Beat the cream cheese and butter together with a stand mixer or a hand mixer until completely incorporated and creamy (3-5 minutes).
• Reduce the speed of the mixer and slowly add in the flour. I used 5 additions and completely mixed in the flour each time. The dough will be soft but not sticky.
• Divide the dough into 4 equal parts and flatten each to ¾" thick. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until hard, at least 2 hours.
• Pre-heat the oven to 375F. Move the oven rack one setting higher than the center.
• Take one of the disks of dough from the refrigerator and lightly flour both sides. Spread granulated sugar on your pastry board or work surface. Place the dough on top and roll out pastry to 1/16" to 1/8" thick. Most recipes say 1/8" but my Husband remembered them being thinner.
• With a pastry wheel or sharp knife, trim the dough into a square and then cut the square into 16 smaller squares. My dough never rolled out into a perfect circle so I would just cut as many 1 1/2 " squares a possible, saving the scraps for later.
• Place a dollop of filling into the center of each square. I used ½ teaspoon to ¾ teaspoon for each.
• Gently grab two opposite corners and fold one over the other, gently pressing down to try and seal them together. Gently move it to a parchment covered baking sheet. Repeat with all remaining squares.
• Sprinkle the middles of the kolaches with just a touch of granulated sugar.
• Placing the kolaches no closer than 1" apart.
• Bake 12-14 minutes or until the bottom edges are a golden and you can smell them. Let cool slightly on the pan on a wire rack and then move them gently to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Repeat with all remaining dough. Refrigerate and re-roll your scraps. Amazing.

APRICOT KOLACHES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine 2 cups flour, sugar, yeast and salt. In a saucepan, heat milk and 1 cup butter to 120°-130°. Add to dry ingredients; beat until moistened. Add egg yolks; beat on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on high for 3 minutes. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough., Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. , Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface. Shape into 1-1/2-in. balls; roll each into a 2-1/2-in. circle. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes., Using the end of a wooden spoon, make a 1-1/2-in. indentation in the center of each roll; fill with about 2 teaspoons apricot filling. Melt remaining butter; brush over dough., Bake at 350° for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks. Combine glaze ingredients; drizzle over warm rolls.

GRANDPA'S HUNGARIAN KOLACKY

Steps:

• Combine butter and cream cheese completely, add flour and mix well.
• Divide dough into 4 balls; wrap each in plastic wrap and chill 24 hours.
• Roll out each ball (on floured surface) to 1/8". (Be sure to keep them thin, as this keeps them "light!")
• Cut out silver-dollar sized cookies; place on ungreased cookie sheets.
• Drop 1/2 teaspoon jelly in center of each cookie and bake at 350* for 7-8 min. (Just until edges begin to brown.) I always bake the cookies flat; however, the edges may be pinched or rolled together as well!
• Lightly sift powdered sugar over cookies and serve.

HUNGARIAN KOLACHE (NUT ROLL)

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Wait until it is activated before adding to dry ingredients.
• Mix together the flour sugar and salt.
• Stir in eggs, melted butter, sour cream and dissolved yeast.
• Mix well.
• Let dough rest for 10 minutes, covered with a mixing bowl with some flour underneath to prevent dough from sticking.
• Divide into 4 egual parts.
• Roll out separately onto a floured board into a 14 x 12 rectangle.
• Spread with 1/4 of nut mixture and cover dough to within one inch from the edge.
• Begin to roll up jelly roll fashion from the 12 inch side.
• Seal edge.Tuck ends under Put seam side down on cookie sheet covered with parchment paper.
• Cover with clean cloth.
• Continue to roll and fill dough covering each with cloth.
• Let rise for one hour or until double in bulk.
• You can place 2 rolls on one cookie sheet.
• Bake at 325 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Transfer to a wire rack and cool.
• Can be frozen.