Hungarian Nut Crescents Recipes

HUNGARIAN NUT CRESCENTS

Steps:

• In a bowl, cut the butter and shortening into the flour until the mixture is crumbly.
• In a separate bowl, mix the yeast into sour cream, then add egg yolks and salt.
• Combine with the flour mixture.
• Mix until smooth and the sides of the bowl are clean.
• Form into a large ball and chill, covered, overnight.
• To make filling, mix walnuts, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla and stiffly beaten egg whites together in a bowl.
• To make egg wash mix egg yolk and few drops of water in a small bowl.
• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Sprinkle granulated sugar onto a pastry board.
• Divide the dough into six portions.
• Work with one portion at a time, refrigerating the dough you are not using.
• Roll out the dough to 1/8-inch thick and sprinkle with more sugar.
• Cut into 2 x 2-inch squares.
• Place a bit of the nut filling along one end of the square and roll up.
• Form into a crescent.
• Place seam side down on a greased cookie sheet.
• Paint with egg wash.
• Bake at 350° for 15-20 minutes.
• Remove from oven and cool on wire racks.

HUNGARIAN WALNUT COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and cream cheese until blended. Gradually beat flour into creamed mixture. Divide dough into 3 portions. Shape each into a disk. Wrap and refrigerate 1 hour or until firm enough to roll., Preheat oven to 375°. For filling, in a small bowl, beat egg whites and vanilla on medium speed until foamy. Gradually add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on medium after each addition until well blended. Stir in walnuts., Generously coat a work surface with confectioners' sugar. Roll 1 portion of dough into a 12-in. square about 1/8 in. thick, sprinkling with additional confectioners' sugar as necessary to coat well. Cut into sixteen 3-in. squares., Shape 2 teaspoons filling into a small log about 2 in. long. Place diagonally onto a square. Overlap opposite corners of dough over filling; pinch tightly to seal. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Repeat with remaining dough and filling., Bake until bottoms are golden brown, 9-11 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Dust with confectioners' sugar., To Make Ahead: Dough can be made 2 days in advance. Wrap and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. , Freeze option: Freeze cookies in freezer containers. To use, thaw before serving. If desired, dust with additional confectioners' sugar.

MOM'S NUT HORNS

Steps:

• Cut butter into flour in a bowl using 2 knives or a pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add sour cream and egg yolk; mix well. Shape the dough into a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate, 8 hours to overnight.
• Combine walnuts, sugar, and cinnamon in a small bowl.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease 2 baking sheets.
• Cut dough into 4 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a 1/8-inch thick circle on a lightly floured surface. Spread 1/4 of the walnut mixture on each circle; cut each circle into 12 wedge-shaped pieces with a pizza wheel.
• Shape each piece of dough into a crescent by rolling dough from the wide end of the wedge into the center. Transfer cookies carefully to the baking sheets.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Watch cookies carefully as they bake; their bottoms tend to brown faster than their tops.

HUNGARIAN NUT ROLLS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm milk. Add the sugar, salt, butter, sour cream, eggs and 3 cups flour. Beat on medium speed for until smooth, 3 minutes. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough (dough will be sticky). , Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, combine the sugar, butter, egg and cinnamon. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove from the heat; gently stir in walnuts and apple. Cool completely., Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide into 4 portions. Roll each into a 12x10-in. rectangle. Spread filling to within 1/2 in. of edges. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; pinch seams to seal. Place seam side down on greased baking sheets. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes., Bake at 350° for 30-40 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool. Combine icing ingredients; drizzle over loaves.

KIFLI (CRESCENT COOKIES)

Steps:

• DOUGH:
• Blend flour and butter thoroughly using a pastry blender if desired.
• Add egg yolks and yeast cake which has been dissolved in cream.
• Add sugar and vanilla.
• Chill dough if it is too soft to roll out easily.
• Divide into 2 parts and roll each into a 12-inch circle or larger. Cut into 16 or more pie-shaped pieces.
• Place a small amount of nut filling or jam on each wedge and beginning at the rounded edge, roll up.
• Place on greased baking sheet, point underneath. Let stand for 20 minutes.
• Brush top of crescents with beaten egg.
• Bake at 350°F for 15 to 18 minutes or until light brown on bottom.
• FILLING:.
• Mix all ingredients listed for filling together, mixing well.

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.