Kolaczki

KOLACZKI (POLISH FILLED COOKIES)

As you might expect there multiple spellings for this pastry, but Kolaczki seems the most Polish to me.

Normally, I’d expect to see these on a Christmas cookie tray, but I made them recently.  I made apricot, probably the most popular and cranberry.  A couple of recipes in particular inspired this baking: Allrecipes and The Spruce.

I cooked the dried fruit in a little water with a squirt of lemon juice and just a smidge of sugar until if was soft, then I blitzed it with an immersion blender. You could also use a canned filling or jam if you’re pressed for time.

The hard part was getting them to stay folded over while baking. I’m a pretty experienced baker and I was surprised by how stubbornly many of the Kolaczki opened up like a blooming flower while baking. 

Ingredients:
For the Pastry
8 ounces cream cheese
1 1/2 cups butter3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
For the filling:
3/4 cup dried apricots (or other dried fruit)
1 1/2 cups water
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Directions:

Cream the cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy
Stir in flour and salt
Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for an hour
Preheat oven to 350*F
Roll out the dough by first dusting the surface (mat or counter top) with sugar
Roll to 1/4 inch and cut into 2 inch squares
Place a teaspoon of filling in the center of each square
Fold over opposite corners and seal well
Bake for 15 minute or until corners just begin to brown
Cool and dust with powdered sugar
For Filling:
Add apricots and water to a saucepan
Add 2 tablespoons sugar
Simmer until apricots are tender, about 15 minutes
Mash or puree with immersion blender