Czech Walnut Pastries Recipe 395

WALNUT PASTRY ROLLS

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, cook and stir 1-1/2 cups sugar and 1 cup evaporated milk until mixture comes to a boil. Transfer to a large bowl; stir in walnuts and honey. In a small bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold into walnut mixture. Cover and refrigerate filling at least 2 hours. , For dough, in a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. In a large bowl, combine 3 cups flour, salt and remaining sugar; cut in butter until crumbly. Add the yeast mixture, egg yolks and remaining evaporated milk; beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a firm dough., Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Turn onto a floured surface. Punch dough down; divide into four portions. Roll each portion into a 15x11-in. rectangle. Spread walnut filling to within 1/2 in. of edges. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; pinch seams to seal and tuck ends under. Place seam side down on greased baking sheets. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 30 minutes., Preheat oven to 350°. Brush 2 tablespoons milk over tops and sides of rolls. Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire racks., Combine confectioners' sugar and enough remaining milk to achieve desired consistency; drizzle over warm rolls.

WALNUT PASTRY DOUGH

Steps:

• Cut butter into pieces and soften to cool room temperature. In a food processor pulse walnuts until finely ground. Add confectioners' sugar, flour, and salt and pulse until combined. Transfer mixture to a large bowl and add butter.
• With your fingertips or a pastry blender blend together flour mixture and butter until most of mixture resembles coarse meal with remainder in small (roughly pea-size) lumps. Stir together yolk and ice water and add to mixture. With a fork toss mixture until liquid is incorporated. Gently form mixture into a ball and on a lightly floured surface smear dough in 3 or 4 forward motions with heel of hand to help distribute fat and make dough easier to work with. Form dough into a ball and flatten to form a disk. Chill dough, wrapped in plastic wrap, 1 hour, or until firm but not hard. (Dough may be covered and chilled 1 day ahead or frozen 1 month.)

CZECH PASTRY CALL KOLACKY

Steps:

• Let butter and cream cheese soften in a bowl.
• When very soft mix together.
• Add salt and sugar.
• Add flour last and mix by hand. To get dough to the consistency of pie dough.
• Put the dough in wax paper in the refrigerator overnight.
• If you want to bake it today leave the dough in the refrigerator at least for 3 hours.
• Then take it out and divide it into 3 parts.
• Take 1 part of the dough and put it on a floured table. Flatten the dough to a 1/8 of inch thick.
• Then take a small juice glass and cut round circle in the dough. (Put some flour on the rim of the glass if the dough starts to stick). Take your thumb and make a dent in the middle of the dough. Fill it with apricot or any jam.
• Bake at 350 for about 15-20 minutes or until lightly brown.