Demeter Kieflies Recipes

GRAM'S HUNGARIAN KIFFLE

Steps:

• 1. 1) Cream butter and cream cheese till fluffy; gradually blending in sugar.
• 2. 2) Stir together flour and salt, stir into a creamed mixture. OR...like me, you could just use a food processor for this step to form the dough.
• 3. 3) Divide in half and roll with your hands to form a "Ball" and Cover; chilling dough several hours or overnight. Be advised; the less you handle the dough the more delicate and flakier it will be when it's baked.
• 4. 4) On lightly floured surface, roll each portion into rectangles, THEN cut them down into about 2 1/2-inch squares. (There WILL be "odd triangle" sizes left. You'll USE them too! - Kiffles are a ROLLED, 'cresent-shape".)
• 5. 5) Place a dollop (about one rounded teaspoon) of filling in the center of each square.
• 6. 6) Lift up two diagonal corners of the dough to center, pinching together to seal into crescents.
• 7. 7) Preheat oven to 375°.
• 8. 8) Place dough on ungreased cookie sheet. (I'd STILL spray them with BUTTER FLAVORED PAM! - Better 'safe' than STUCK!) Bake till firm until golden brown (about 12-15 minutes).
• 9. 9) Cool on wire racks. Sift powdered sugar over slightly warm pastries.
• 10. 10) Store loosely covered in a cool dry place.

HUNGARIAN KIFFLES

Steps:

• Beat butter and cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer until pale yellow and creamy. Gradually add 2 cups flour to butter mixture until the dough is too thick for the mixer. Stir remaining 2 cups flour into the butter mixture by hand and knead until dough falls off hands easily. Roll dough into a ball, place in bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for 8 hours or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Stir walnuts and sugar together in a bowl. Pour milk into walnut mixture and stir to form a paste.
• Turn dough onto a floured work surface and roll to desired thickness. Cut dough into 2-inch squares. Place about 1 teaspoon walnut filling in the center of each square. Roll the dough from 1 corner to the other corner around the walnut filling and transfer to a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until light brown, 10 to 15 minutes.

KIFLIES

Steps:

• Mix flour and butter until mixture is like cornmeal.
• Beat together sour cream, egg yolks, lemon rind and sugar, add to flour mixture.
• Knead the dough until smooth and elastic. Dough will have a satiny appearance and all the dough will come off your hands. Knead at least 20 minutes. The longer you work the dough the flakier the finished product will be. Do not cheat on kneading time.
• Pinch off pieces of dough no larger than a walnut and form into balls. Place balls side by side in a cake pan. Separate layers with wax paper. This should make about 85 balls.
• Cover tightly with aluminum foil and refrigerate overnight. (Dough balls may be frozen for up to 6 months. Freezing seems to make the dough even more tender when baked. Thaw in refrigerator overnight, not at room temperature.)
• Remove 1 dozen balls from the refrigerator at a time. If dough is too warm or too cold it is difficult to roll out. Roll each ball into a 4" circle. Circles will be tissue paper thin. Use as little flour as possible to keep dough from sticking to pastry board. It is best to make a mixture of 6 tablespoons flour and 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar for sprinkling the board.
• Lay rolled out circles of pastry on a large tray just barely overlapping so they will not stick together. Use waxed paper between layers. When a dozen balls have been rolled, refrigerate the tray so dough does not become too soft. If this happens kieflies will not be attractive.
• It is easier to assemble if you roll out about 36 balls, fill and bake. All the balls may be rolled at one time, but keep pastry circles refrigerated until ready to fill. Work with only as many circles as will it an one cookie sheet at a time.
• To assemble kieflies, place a semi-heaping tablespoon of filling across the middle of each circle, but not quite to the edge. Fold 1/3 of the dough over filling, overlapping about half way; fold the remaining 1/3 of the dough so it overlaps the first 1/3. Use a gentle hand when overlapping the filling so that when it bakes the filling will have room to expand. Shape the rolls into crescents, using thumbs and fingers. When forming the crescents the edges might curl up slightly. Do not try to smooth out the dough. To do so would not allow the dough to expand and become flaky.
• Always place filled kieflies on a cool, ungreased cookie sheet. Bake no more than 1 sheet at a time. Preheat oven to 400 degrees, reduce heat to 375 degrees and bake 10 to 12 minutes or only until lightly browned.
• While kieflies are still warm generously coat with confectioners' sugar by sprinkling it through a small sieve or shaker.
• Filling; Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar and lemon juice. Use a spatula to fold in ground nuts until thoroughly blended. If filling seems a bit "weepy" add about 3 crushed graham crackers.
• NOTE Kieflies will keep up to a week if kept in a cool spot. DO NOT cover tightly.
• These kieflies freeze beautifully. They will thaw at room temperature (uncovered) in about 3 hours. Freshen with confectioners' sugar when ready to serve.

KEEFLIES

Steps:

• 1. For Filling: Beat egg whites and sugar until smooth. Add walnuts. Chill until firm.
• 2. For Dough: Mix flour and butter like pastry. Add beaten yolks and sour cream. After mixing, knead dough. Refrigerate until firm.
• 3. Generously flour table or board when rolling dough. Form dough into small balls and roll out paper thin. Take a teaspoon of filling and place on dough. Fold into a crescent shape.
• 4. Bake @ 350 on parchment paper until golden brown (about 18-20 min). After cooling, dust with powdered sugar.

KIFFLES

Steps:

• Beat butter and cream cheese together in a bowl using an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Stir 1/2 the flour into creamed butter mixture until incorporated; mix in remaining flour until dough is just combined. Refrigerate dough until chilled, at least 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Stir jam and cornstarch together in a small bowl until cornstarch is dissolved and jam is slightly thickened.
• Turn dough onto a floured work surface and roll into 1/4-inch thickness. Cut dough into 3-inch circles using a cookie cutter or the rim of a coffee mug. Spoon about 1 teaspoon jam down the center of each circle. Fold dough circles in half and crimp edges together using a fork. Arrange folded dough on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cookies are golden brown, about 15 minutes.

PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH COOKIES KIFFELS

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, combine butter, cream cheese, egg yolks and flour; beat until smooth.
• Shape into 1-inch balls; place in a container with waxed paper separating each layer.
• Cover and refrigerate overnight.
• FOR THE FILLING, combine walnuts and 3 3/4 cups sugar (the mixture will be dry).
• In a small mixing bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form; fold into nut mixture.
• Add extracts and a few drops of water if necessary until filling reaches a spreading consistency.
• Place remaining sugar in a bowl; roll cream cheese balls in sugar until completely covered.
• Place a few balls at a time between two sheets of waxed paper.
• Roll balls into 2 1/2-inch circles.
• Gently spread about 2 teaspoons of filling over each.
• Roll up; place seam side down on ungreased baking sheets.
• Curve the ends slightly.
• Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Cool on wire racks.
• Yield: about 8 dozen.

DEMETER KIEFLIES

Steps:

• Mix flour and butter like for pastry. Add beaten yolks and cream. Work until dough is smooth. Roll into long rolls, as for icebox cookies. Chill for 24 hours minimum. Cut into 1/4 inch slices. Cut these into four pieces and roll each into a ball. Put on lightly floured surface and roll each paper thin. Fill with nut filling and bake at 350 for 20 minutes. To make filling: Mix filling in bowl using only 1/4 cup of boiled milk, It should be thick. If not spreadable use the rest of milk. Use for filling Kipfils, Kalachki, or Cream cheese cookies. Can be stored in freezer. Keeps well.