Kolachke (Glazed Polish Pastry)

(46)
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Yield:
4 dozen

Kolachkes-claimed by both Poles and Czechs-are round pastries topped with either poppy seeds, nuts, jam, or a mashed fruit mixture. Karen Maderich's heirloom recipe was a first-place winner of Martha Stewart Living Television's Cookie of the Week Contest.

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup sour cream, room temperature

  • 1 (2 ¼ teaspoons) package active dry yeast

  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting

  • 1 cup fruit preserves

  • Easy Sugar Glaze

Directions

  1. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Combine sour cream and yeast in a small bowl. Set aside until slightly bubbly, about 10 minutes. Using a wooden spoon, stir in egg until smooth. Set aside.

  2. Using two knives or a pastry cutter, cut butter into flour until it resembles coarse meal. Stir in sour-cream mixture until dough comes together.

  3. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4 inch thick. Cut into 2 1/2-inch rounds. Transfer to ungreased cookie sheets, about 1 1/2 inches apart. Cover with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap. Let sit for 15 minutes.

  4. Make a thumbprint in the center of each cookie. Fill each thumbprint with 1 teaspoon preserves. Bake until edges are golden, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer pans to rack to cool. Let cookies cool on pans for 5 minutes. Remove cookies to rack. While cookies are still warm, drizzle with sugar glaze.

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