Various Central European countries have their own variations on these popular filled cookies, sometimes spelled kolache or kolace. Some are made with a yeast dough, others with cream cheese or even ice cream. The cream cheese dough is the most popular for the Polish version of these rich cookies.

　　

Ingredients

Makes 36 cookies

　　6 ounces (about 3/4 cup) cream cheese, at room temperature

　　1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature

　　1 tablespoon granulated sugar

　　2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

　　About 3/4 cup prepared poppy-seed, apricot, or prune filling or thick jam of choice

　　Sifted confectioners' sugar for dusting

　　

Step 1

1. In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, beat together the cream cheese, butter, and sugar on medium speed until light, about 2 minutes. On low speed, gradually beat in the flour just until mixed. The dough will be soft and sticky.

　　

Step 2

2. Divide the dough in half. Pat each half into a thick disk and wrap separately in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm enough to handle, at least 1 hour or up to 1 day.

　　

Step 3

3. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease or spray cookie sheets.

　　

Step 4

4. Dust a pastry cloth or board with flour or confectioners' sugar. Remove 1 dough disk from the refrigerator and place it on the pastry cloth. Keep the remaining dough disk refrigerated. Roll out the dough into a square or rectangle 1/8 inch thick. Cut into 2 1/2-inch squares.

　　

Step 5

5. Place 1 teaspoon of the filling in the center of each square. Pull 2 opposite corners of the square into the middle, and pinch the edges together to seal. Place the cookies on the prepared cookie sheets, spacing them about 1 1/2 inches apart. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling.

　　

Step 6

6. Bake in the center of the oven until lightly golden, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool on the cookie sheets for 1 to 2 minutes, then transfer to wire racks. Dust the tops with sifted confectioners' sugar while still warm, then let cool completely.

　　Cookie Exchange Tip:

　　The sweet fillings of kolacky peek through the golden dough and resemble beautiful stained glass windows in a cathedral. Play up this resemblance by using different fillings and arranging the cookies on a tray in a starburst pattern.

　　From Very Merry Cookie Party: How to Plan and Host a Christmas Cookie Exchange by Barbara Grunes & Virginia Van Vynckt. Text copyright © 2010 by Barbara Grunes and Virginia Van Vynckt; photographs copyright © 2010 by France Ruffenach. Published by Chronicle Books, LLC.