Description
Kolacky cookies are delightful Eastern European pastries made with a tender cream cheese and butter dough filled with sweet fruit preserves. This recipe features a rich, flaky dough wrapped around smooth fruit filling, baked to perfection and dusted with powdered sugar for a delicate finish, perfect for sharing at gatherings or enjoying as a sweet treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- 8 oz Cream Cheese, cold
- 1 cup Cold Butter
- 2 cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
Filling
- 12 oz Can of Fruit Pie Filling (Apricot, Raspberry, Cherry, or other; if chunky, blend smooth in a food processor)
Topping
- Confectioners’ Sugar (for dusting)
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: In a stand mixer, combine cold butter, cream cheese, and vanilla extract. Slowly add in the all-purpose flour while mixing until the dough is well blended and smooth. Shape the dough into a ball, wrap it in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour to firm up.
- Preheat the Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it to prevent sticking.
- Roll and Cut Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough evenly until it reaches about 1/8 inch thickness. Using a pastry cutter or knife, cut the dough into squares, roughly 2 to 3 inches on each side.
- Add Filling and Shape Cookies: Place a small spoonful of fruit pie filling in the center of each dough square. If the filling contains large fruit pieces, blend it until smooth before use. Fold two opposite corners of each square toward the center, overlapping them to close the cookie securely. For better adhesion, place a little filling between the overlapping corners to act as glue.
- Bake the Cookies: Arrange the shaped cookies on the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes. Check halfway through baking to ensure the cookies have not opened; if so, gently press the corners back together.
- Cool and Finish: Once baked, transfer the cookies to cooling racks and allow them to cool completely. Once cooled, dust the tops generously with confectioners’ sugar before serving.
Notes
- For a smoother filling texture, blend any chunky fruit filling in a food processor before using.
- Ensure the dough is chilled well to make it easier to roll and shape.
- Use parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Check cookies halfway during baking to keep them closed and maintain their shape.
- Feel free to experiment with different fruit fillings to vary the flavor.
- Store baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Eastern European
Keywords: Kolacky cookies, cream cheese pastry, fruit-filled cookies, Eastern European dessert, vanilla cookies, fruit pie filling cookies, holiday cookies
