Kołaczki Cookies

A tender, puffy dough surrounds a slightly sweet pecan filling in these Polish Kołaczki cookies, but they can also be filled with jam!

This post was created for #ChristmasCookies week, for which I was provided complementary products by the event sponsors. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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To any of you with Eastern European backgrounds, what do you envision when you see the word “kolache/kolacky/kolaczki”? 

Being of Czech/Yugo decent kolache brings to mind puffy, sweet yeast buns typically filled with sweet cream cheese or some fruit/jam, sometimes savory meats. I’ve even shared recipes for a few: pumpkin, black cherry cheesecake, buckeye, sausage egg & cheese, and even a caramelized apple & onion version. 

It’s basically the same dough as my grandmas’s/dad’s potica (which can also be stuffed with various fillings) just in a different shape.

But apparently in Poland it can also be used to describe these little cookies, where a tender puffy dough is usually folded over a jam filling. I see the similarities, but they really could not be more different. 

Either way, I decided to try my hand at making these for my second recipe of #ChristmasCookies week, using the Anolon cookie sheets, Adams Extract vanilla extract, and Millican Pecans from our sponsors. 

As you can tell, I decided to fill them with the same nut filling that I use for potica, which resulted in a slightly less sweet end result, but the powdered sugar dusted on top is just the right amount of added sweetness.

Tuesday Christmas Cookie Recipes

• Butter Pecan Icebox Cookies by Simply Inspired Meals
• Chocolate Cake Mix Snickerdoodles by Family Around the Table
• Caramel Cashew Cookies by Making Miracles
• Dark Chocolate Orange Biscotti by Sweet Beginnings
• Fruit Cake Cookies with Rum Glaze by Books n’ Cooks
• Christmas Pinwheel Cookies by Swirls of Flavor
• Kołaczki Cookies by The Spiffy Cookie
• Mexican Wedding Cookies by Lemon Blossoms
• Pumpkin Gingerbread Cookies by Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
• Raspberry White Chocolate Pecan Christmas Cookies by Our Sutton Place

Two years ago: Peanut Butter & Chocolate Charcuterie Board

Six years ago: Friendsgiving & CorningWare

Seven years ago: Mini Cranberry Pistachio Cheese Ball

Eight years ago: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream

Nine years ago: Gluten-Free Bacon-Swiss Penne

KOLACZKI COOKIES

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Yield: 4 dozen Prep Time: 1 Hour 30 Minutes Cooking Time: 12 Minutes 12 Minutes

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

DOUGH

• 6 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 Tbsp granulated sugar
• 2-2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

FILLING*

• 1 lb pecans (4 cups if you don’t have a scale), ground fine in food processor
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3 egg whites beaten to soft peaks
• 1/2 cup hot milk
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

1. Make the dough: In a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat together the cream cheese, butter, and sugar on medium speed until light and creamy, about 2 minutes. On low speed, gradually beat in the flour 1/2 cup at a time, just until mixed and forms a soft and sticky dough.
2. Divide the dough in half, form two discs. and wrap separately in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour or overnight.
3. When ready, preheat the oven to 350°F. Line cookie sheets with parchment or silicone baking mats.
4. Make filling: in a medium bowl mix ground nuts, hot milk, sugar, and vanilla. Cool before folding in the fluffy egg whites. Set aside.
5. Dust a clean surface with flour. Remove 1 dough disk from the refrigerator and roll out the dough into a square or rectangle 1/8 inch thick. Cut into 2 1/2-inch squares.
6. Place a heaping teaspoon of the filling in the center of each square. Pull 2 opposite corners of the square into the middle, pinch the edges together to seal, and press down gently to flatten slightly. Place 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheets. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling.
7. Bake in the center of the oven until lightly golden, about 10-12 minutes. Let cool on the cookie sheets for 2 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely. Dust the tops with powdered sugar before serving.

Notes

* You may also use jam instead

Did you make this recipe? I want to see!
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Welcome to #ChristmasCookies week where more than 25 bloggers are sharing cookie recipes perfect for your holiday celebrations. Hosted by Ellen from Family Around the Table, Christie from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures and Heather from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks, we invite you to not only check out the recipes but enter the amazing giveaway.

Don’t miss one delicious cookie recipe! Follow along on Pinterest.

Prize 1: Tower of Treats from Millican Pecan Company

Originally founded as the West Texas Pecan Nursery in the late 1800’s, Millican Pecan is now in 5th generation ownership. Located in San Saba, TX, the family continues the tradition of pecan farming while also branching the business into the online world. The family also enjoys educating people about pecans. One winner will receive The Tower of Treats Gift Tins. The tower includes 3 decorative gift tins stacked on top of each other. The bottom tin includes our 2 lb. Chocolate Pecan Sampler, the middle tin is our Flavored Pecan Sampler and the top tin is an 8 oz. tin of Milk Chocolate Caramillicans (similar to Turtles). An $80 value.

Prize 2: An Assortment of Flavored Extracts from Adams Extract and Spices

 In January 2013, Adams, one of the oldest continuously operated companies in Texas and one of oldest spice and extract companies in the United States, celebrated its 125th birthday and was awarded the Texas Treasure Business Award, an award sponsored by State Bill 920 that recognizes the accomplishments of Texas businesses that have provided employment opportunities and support to the state’s economy for at least 50 years and pays tribute to the state’s well-established businesses and their exceptional historical contributions toward the state’s economic growth and prosperity.

Today, Adams proudly manufactures and markets under several Adams Brand banners, including Adams Best®, Adams Extract®, Adams® Seasoning & Spice, Adams Reserve®, Flavor King™, Pantry Basics™, Sear-n-Crust®, ClearVan™, Carniceria®, Cocina del Rey®, Naturals™, and Urban Canner™ along with the Adams Frozen Skillet Desserts and Adams Premium Ice Cream lines. In addition, Adams is proud to manufacture for some of the nations most respected Private Label Brands as well as other legacy Regional Seasoning Brands and is used to flavor many commercially produced food products around the nation.

Prize 3: A Set of Baking Pans from Anolon

Established in the 1950’s, Meyer Manufacturing started by making and selling flashlights. In 1971 they started their journey into selling cookware. By 1986 they released the world’s first hard-anodized nonstick cookware which revolutionized the world of home cooking. Their nonstick surface didn’t flake or scratch easily.

Today they sell bakeware with nonstick interior and exterior made with a special sapphire-reinforced blend that is triple coated. NOTE: Color may vary from the photo above.

Prize 4: An Assorted Baking Box from Sweets & Treats

Make Sweets & Treats your one-stop shop for all your holiday sprinkle needs. In addition to fun, festive and colorful sprinkles, Sweets & Treats offers cupcake liners, edible glitters, sugars, and more.

Founded in 2010 by Shannon Harvey out of an industry need for bold, bright cupcake liners and baking supplies that are the life of the party! Based in Louisiana, Sweets & Treats is a designer cupcake liner manufacturer and party supply company that creates exclusive greaseproof cupcake liners, sprinkles, sprinkle mixes, paper straws, and other baking supplies. 

Four (4) winners will be selected. The prize packages will be sent directly from the giveaway sponsors. Bloggers are not responsible for prize fulfillment. Winners have 24 hours to respond once notified by email, or they forfeit the prize and an alternate winner will be chosen. The #ChristmasCookies bloggers are not responsible for the fulfillment or delivery of the prize packages. Bloggers hosting this giveaway and their immediate family members living in the household cannot enter or win the giveaway. Entries will be verified. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. Giveaway open to US Residents only who are 18 years of age or older to enter giveaway. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter or any other social channel mentioned in the #ChristmasCookies posts or entry.

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