Kieflies Recipes

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.

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.

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.

KIEFLIES

Steps:

• Mix flour and butter for pastry. Add sugar, salt and beaten egg yolks. Add sour cream. Knead until smooth. Form into balls. Chill overnight. Roll each ball thin. Fill at base, roll and seal. For Filling: Beat egg whites and add sugar and beat until stiff. Add flavoring and nuts. Place filling into dough and roll. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes or until slightly brown. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

GRANDMA GOOD'S KEEFLIES

Steps:

• • Mix flour and butter until crumbly. Do not overmix. There should be small pieces of butter in the flour. Mix egg yolks and sour cream. Add to flour and butter mixture. Do not overmix. Chill for 24 hours. • Take a handful of chilled dough and roll into 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into triangles. • Put a teaspoon of filling on each triangle of dough. Roll up like a jelly roll and curve into a crescent on ungreased baking sheet. • Bake at 350 degrees until lightly browned, about 20 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

EASY SOUR CREAM KIFLI

Steps:

• For dough:.
• Cut butter into flour.
• Mix egg yolks with sour cream and add to flour mix.
• Mix well.
• Divide dough into 6 or 8 parts.
• Flatten each into small patty shape.
• Wrap each patty in plastic wrap and chill at least 6 hours or overnight.
• For filling:.
• Combine nuts, sugars, and lemon rind and set aside.
• Beat egg whites a little with a fork and set aside.
• To assemble:.
• Remove one patty at a time from fridge and roll out on a floured board to a 9" circle.
• Now smear some egg white over the circle of dough.
• Sprinkle about 2 tablespoons of sugar/nut mixture over that.
• Cut into 12 pie-shaped wedges.
• Roll up, curve into crescent shape, dip tops in egg whites, then in nut mixture and arrange on prepared cookie sheets.
• Repeat with balance of dough.
• Bake at 350 degrees F. for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Makes 72, 96, or more, depending on how many times you divide the dough.