Hungarian Kifli Christmas Cookies With Dates Recipes

HUNGARIAN KIFLI (CHRISTMAS COOKIES) WITH DATES

Steps:

• For the dough: mix butter, cream cheese and flour in food processor. Split into two balls, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
• For the filling: Mix all ingredients in food processor, let stand at room temperature.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove the dough from refrigerator, roll out on floured cutting board, cut into about 2 inch squares. Put about one teaspoon filling onto each square. Roll diagonally, then crimp in the middle to make a crescent. Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes or until golden. Sprinkle with powdered sugar as soon as removed from oven.
• All of the recipes I searched agreed that letting the dough rest overnight is key to getting it nice and flaky.
• Enjoy!

HUNGARIAN KIFLI II

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, cream butter and cream cheese. Stir in the egg yolks and vanilla. Stir together the flour and baking powder. Add the flour mixture a little at a time until it is fully incorporated. Divide dough into 5 parts, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate overnight.
• in a medium bowl, beat egg whites to soft peaks, add sugar a little at a time while continuing to beat to stiff peaks. Fold in ground walnuts, and set aside. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4 to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut into 3 inch squares, place 1/2 teaspoon of filling in the center of each square and roll up from corner to corner. Place on cookie sheets and refrigerate until hardened.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bake cookies for 10 to 12 minutes, until lightly browned. Roll in confectioners' sugar when cool.

KOSSUTH KIFLI (HUNGARIAN CAKEY COOKIE AKA HALF MOONS)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Butter and flour bottom and sides of a 9-by 13-inch cake pan.
• In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, cream together butter and granulated sugar.
• Add egg yolks, one at a time, and beat until fluffy.
• Add vanilla, lemon rind and lemon juice and beat to combine.
• Gradually add in baking powder and flour.
• In a medium bowl using electric mixer on high speed (with clean beaters), beat egg whites until stiff.
• Fold egg whites into batter.
• Gently spread batter into prepared pan.
• Evenly sprinkle top with finely chopped walnuts and bake 25 to 30 minutes.
• Remove to a wire rack.
• Cool until cake shrinks away from sides of pan (about 15 minutes).
• With a small round biscuit cutter (or a glass), periodically dipped in powdered sugar, cut one circle (don't remove it), then cut another circle halfway down the first one, making two crescents and one oval scrap.
• Remove from pan and repeat (you can eat the oval scraps;).
• Cool crescents completely and dust with powdered sugar.
• Store in a tightly covered container for up to 2 days.

HUNGARIAN KIFFLES COOKIES/DATE NUT FILLING

Steps:

• 1. Combine dates with sugar and water. Cook over low heat until thick, stirring constantly (about 5 minutes).
• 2. Add 1/2 cup nuts and mix well.
• 3. ***Add a little more water to filling if needed, to make a soft paste consistency.