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Tray full of kolachkes
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4.84 from 12 votes

Kolachkes

Traditional Czech cookies filled with jam, cheese or nuts and dusted with powdered sugar.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Overnight chill time12 hours
Total Time12 hours 30 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Czech
Servings: 96 pastries
Calories: 57kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 sticks unsalted butter softened
  • 6 ounces cream cheese softened
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour sifted
  • 6 tablespoons whipping cream
  • Confectioners' sugar for rolling and sprinkling
  • Jam jelly or preserves of choice
  • Cream cheese filling optional, recipe follows
  • Nut filling optional, recipe follows

Instructions

  • Beat butter and cream cheese in bowl of electric mixer until light. Beat in the flour and cream, alternating the flour and cream, until well mixed. The dough will be very soft. Divide into 4 portions and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight.
  • Preheat oven to 350º and have ungreased cookie sheets ready.
  • Sprinkle work surface and rolling pin with powdered sugar. Roll out dough portion to about ¼-inch thickness. The dough is really hard to roll at first but then gets easier. If it tears a little in spots, just pinch it back together. Use a small round cutter (2-inch diameter) to cut out cookies and place on baking sheet, about 1 - 2 inches apart.
  • Make a small depression in the center of each with your fingertip. I used, and prefer, the bottom of a shot glass which I dipped in powdered sugar so it wouldn't stick. Works better for me than with my fingertip. Fill cookies scantily with jam, jelly, preserves, cheese or nut filling. If you use too much filling, it will run out onto the baking sheet.
  • Bake until bottoms are lightly browned, about 12 - 15 minutes. Cool on wire rack and sprinkle generously with powdered sugar while still warm.

Notes

Cheese Filling:  Beat together 1 (8-ounce) package softened cream cheese, 1 egg yolk, ½ cup powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla until well mixed and smooth.
Nut Filling:  Cook 1 cup coarsely ground walnuts in 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, ⅓ cup granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla until the nuts turn golden.  Let cool.
Makes 7 to 8 dozen, recipe can be halved. Nutrition information is for dough only.

Nutrition

Calories: 57kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 9mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 155IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg