Kolaches

Serves: 5 dozen, Prep time: 30 mins, Fridge time: 2 hr Cook time: 15 mins Total time: 2hr 45 mins

Ingredients

Pastry Dough:

2 1/4 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

8 oz cream cheese

2 cups butter , softened

1/2 cup granulated sugar, for rolling

Filling:

Jam of your choice

Directions

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. 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.

Assembling the Kolaches:

Pre-heat the oven to 375.

Take one of the disks of dough from the refrigerator. Spread granulated sugar on your work surface. Place the dough on top and roll out pastry to 1/16” to 1/8” thick.

With your hands, shape dough into a square, then with a pastry wheel or sharp knife, cut the square into 16 smaller squares. Save any scraps for later.

Place a dollop of filling into the center of each square. Use 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. Make sure that dough is firmly pressed together or they will come apart when baking. Carefully move it to a parchment covered baking sheet. Repeat with all remaining squares, 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.

When cooled, dust with powdered sugar. Serve and enjoy!

Recipe Author/Source:

https://www.americanheritagecooking.com/2013/12/apricot-kolaches-hungarian-christmas-cookie/#tasty-recipes-8764

Photo property of Hofstede’s Country Barn.