Kolatkikolacki Ukrainian Christmas Cookies Via Czechoslovakia Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Cream together butter, cream cheese, sugar, egg yolks and lemon zest.
• Stir in flour, creating stiff dough.
• Mold dough into hamburger-size patties and refrigerate for at least 8 hours.
• Roll patty out 1/8-1/4 inch thick, preferably on chilled marble or glass cutting board.
• Cut dough into 2 1/2 inch squares.
• Place squares on cookie sheet (ungreased is OK).
• In each square, dab about 1/3 teaspoon pastry filling.
• Fold one corner halfway over pastry so that it points to opposite corner.
• With pastry brush, dab egg white onto folded corner.
• Fold opposite corner onto folded corner.
• Press lightly to fix with egg white.
• Optional: Brush egg white over top of cookie and dust with confectioners' sugar.
• Bake cookies for 15-20 minutes or until edges are slightly brown.

Steps:

• Dissolve 1 teaspoon sugar in water and sprinkle yeast over it.
• Add 1 tablespoon sugar, stir, and let stand 10 minutes.
• Combine yeast with milk, lightly beaten eggs, salt, 2 tablespoons sugar, oil, and 3 cups sifted flour.
• Beat until smooth.
• Cover and let rise in a warm place until light and bubbly, about 1 hour.
• Mix in remaining flour and knead until smooth and elastic and dough leaves the side of the bowl easily.
• Form into a ball and place in lightly oiled bowl, turning once to oil the top.
• Cover with towel and let rise in a warm place until double in bulk.
• Punch down and allow to rise again slightly.
• Divide dough into 3 parts.
• On a floured work surface, divide one part into thirds, rolling each into a rope 8 to 10 inches long and 1 1/2 inch thick.
• Braid together, starting at the middle, and turn ends under.
• Repeat to make other two loaves and place on buttered baking sheets.
• Do not crowd, since loaves will double in size.
• Cover with damp towel and let rise until almost double.
• Brush with egg glaze and sprinkle with poppy seeds.
• Bake in preheated oven at 375 degree F.
• at least 1 hour, until golden.
• Test by rapping the bottom; there should be a nice hollow sound.
• Cool on racks.
• Makes 3 medium loaves.

Steps:

• Sift together flour, spices, powdered sugar, and baking powder. Note: powdered sugar sometimes called icing sugar, confectioners' sugar or XXX sugar, all the same thing.
• Add eggs, honey, and orange peel to make a stiff dough.
• On a floured work surface, roll out dough about 1/2 inch thick.
• Cut shapes with cookie cutter, place on nonstick baking sheet, and brush with glaze.
• Place 1/2 almond in the middle of each, sprinkle with coarse sugar, and bake in preheated 350 degrees oven until done, about 15 minutes.
• Cool on racks.
• Store in tightly covered tins.