Easy Kolacky Recipe - Polish Christmas Cookies You Need To Try! (2024)

You may be surprised that the most famous Polish cookies, kolacky, are… not that famous in Poland. I was shocked by how popular are kolacky among Poles living abroad (especially Americans). Being born and raised in Poland, I’ve tried these cookies several times, however, they definitely weren’t the most popular among my family and friends.

When I tried to bake kolacky for the first time, I quickly understood why so many people love these cookies. The dough is easy to make, you can use any fruit or cheese for the filling. You don’t need to spend a lot of time forming the cookies, just take the opposite corners and pinch them together.

Tips For Baking Kolacky

Easy Kolacky Recipe - Polish Christmas Cookies You Need To Try! (1)

Use ONLY Solid Jam.

Make sure your filling is not watery, otherwise the cookies may fall apart in the oven.

What Type Of Cheese Is Best For Kolacky?

Although you can choose any type of white cheese to make the dough, it is best to opt for the more creamy one, the Philadelphia type. Farmer’s cheese might be a little bit too dry for it.

Add An Egg If You Want.

You can add one egg yolk to the dough and use the egg white to brush kolacky before baking (they will have a slightly better color).

Don’t Be Afraid To Use Icing Sugar.

Dust your cookies with a good amount of powdered sugar, but do it just before serving. Icing sugar tends to melt on moist surfaces, and although the sweet taste will

Pinch The Opposite Corners Of The Square REALLY Tight.

Easy Kolacky Recipe - Polish Christmas Cookies You Need To Try! (2)

The first time I was baking kolacky, they opened up in the oven. Even though the taste was still great, they didn’t look good. Make sure you pinch the opposite corners of the square really tight.

Use The Cookie Cutter To Make Kolacky Faster

This cookie cutter will help you make kolacky faster.

How To Make Kolacky When You Are In A Hurry?

The process of making kolacky is really time-consuming. You need to make a dough, wait until it’s cold, then roll it out, cut, and form the cookies.

If you don’t have time (or you don’t want to clean up the entire kitchen), you can make lazy kolacky. Here’s how I do it:

  1. Make dough according to the kolacky recipe above.
  2. Tear off a piece of dough and form a small ball (it should be the size of a walnut).

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3. Place the ball into the muffin/cupcake form.

4. Press the ball with your fingers to form a small dimple.

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5. Place the jam inside.

6. Repeat the process with the entire dough.

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7. The baking time should be about 20-25 minutes.

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How To Store Kolacky Cookies?

Even though kolacky cookies taste best fresh, you can still make larger batches and store them for later. You need to store them in an air-tight container, though.

You might also freeze your cookies. Just make sure to lay them in a way, so they do not touch each other Once frozen, store them in batches one on top of the other, separating the layers with parchment paper.

Can I Make The Dough Ahead Of Time As Baking Prep Work?

Kolacky might be a bit time-consuming, and it would be best to split the work when making them for Christmas. Plan ahead of time, prepare the thought a few weeks earlier, and freeze it. Wrap it well in a cling film and keep it in the freezer for up to 3 months. For defrost, leave it in the fridge overnight.

Serving Tips

Traditionally kolacky cookies are served simply dusted with icing sugar, but they also taste great with these few add-ons:

  • ice cream on the side
  • whipped fresh cream
  • decorated with melted echolocate
  • or dipped in a fruit moose

Easy Kolacky Recipe

Yield: 20 servings

Easy Kolacky Recipe - Polish Christmas Cookies You Need To Try!

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Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Additional Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 50 minutes

Ingredients

Kolacky Dough

  • 2 cups of unsalted butter
  • 2 cups of cream cheese
  • 2 cups of flour
  • 2 tbsps of sugar (optionally)

Kolacky Filling

  • 2 small jars of jam (20 oz)

Optionally

  • Egg
  • Powdered sugar

Instructions

  1. Beat the butter with cream cheese. [both should be in room temperature]
  2. Start adding the flour gradually. Form the dough using a hand or food processor. Beat until the flour is incorporated and pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Do not overmix.
  3. Wrap the dough in the plastic wrap and chill for at least one hour (may be overnight). Easy Kolacky Recipe - Polish Christmas Cookies You Need To Try! (8)
  4. Preheat the oven to 356°F (180°C).
  5. Roll out the dough on a floured pastry board. It should be about ⅛'' thick.
  6. Cut into small squares (about 2-3''). Easy Kolacky Recipe - Polish Christmas Cookies You Need To Try! (9)
  7. Place the jam in the center of each square (½ teaspoon for each).Easy Kolacky Recipe - Polish Christmas Cookies You Need To Try! (10)
  8. Pinch the opposite corners of the squares to form the cookie.
  9. Place kolackys on the pan lined with baking paper.
  10. Bake for about 15-20 minutes.
  11. Cool off. If you want the cookies to be sweeter, sprinkle them with powdered sugar.

Notes

  1. Be sure to pinch the opposite corners of the squares REALLY tight, otherwise, the cookies may open up in the oven.
  2. Kolacky are sweet enough without the powdered sugar, I didn't use it at all.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

20

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 324Total Fat: 27gSaturated Fat: 16gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 82mgSodium: 80mgCarbohydrates: 19gFiber: 0gSugar: 9gProtein: 3g

These data are indicative and calculated by Nutritionix

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Did you like this Polish kolacky cookies recipe? Let us know in the comments below!

Easy Kolacky Recipe - Polish Christmas Cookies You Need To Try! (2024)

FAQs

Are kolaches Polish or Czech or Polish? ›

In fact, this staple of Central Texan gastronomy actually hails from Czech Republic, where a koláček (the diminutive form of koláč, pronounced kolach; plural koláčky) is a round yeast pastry with a sweet filling in the center!

What is kolaczki made of? ›

Ingredients
  1. 8 ounces cream cheese (room temperature)
  2. 1 1/2 cups salted butter (room temperature)
  3. 3 cups all-purpose flour.
  4. Granulated sugar (for rolling out dough)
  5. Confectioners' sugar (for rolling out dough)
  6. 8 to 10 ounces cake and pastry filling (raspberry, apricot, prune, etc.)
  7. 1 large egg white.
Mar 7, 2024

Why do my kolaches pop open? ›

Kolacky pop open in the oven when they have too much filling, the dough was chilled before baking, or they are not properly sealed.

How far ahead can you make Christmas cookies and freeze them? ›

If properly frozen, you can freeze unfrosted cookies for up to 12 months. If cookies are frosted, they can be stored frozen for up to three months.

Are kolaches German or Polish? ›

Kolaches are Czech pastries made of a yeast dough and usually filled with fruit, but sometimes cheese.

Are kolaches German or Czech? ›

Kolaches are a traditional Czech dessert. The name originates from the Czech word “kolo,” which means “circle.” In Czech, a single one is called a kolache, and more than one is called kolaches – though in America, you may hear them called kolaches.

What flavors are Kolachkes? ›

The most common flavors are: prune, poppy seed, cream cheese, and apricot. I've also seen blueberry, cherry, and lemon. I'm willing to talk about savory kolaches with eggs, bacon and sausage, but honestly, I didn't grow up on those.

Do Polish people eat kolaches? ›

The Ministry writes that the custom of kolach/korovai making has been present in present-day eastern Poland (particularly in Podlachia, Suwałki Region, Lublin Voivodeship, Mazovia) since the Middle Ages and is also celebrated by Serbs, Bulgarians, Ukrainians, and Belarusians.

Where did kolaczki originate? ›

These sweet treats originated in Poland and have become popular not only within Polish communities but also around the world. The exact origin of Kolaczki is somewhat elusive, as they have been part of Polish culinary tradition for centuries.

Why is my kolache dough sticky? ›

Kolache dough is enriched with A LOT of butter and A LOT of egg. It is a pretty sticky dough and because of that, I find that it benefits from a long overnight rise in the refrigerator. This makes the dough much easier to handle, shape and work with so that it is not over-floured and tough.

Can kolaches be left out overnight? ›

If kept at room temperature, kolaches should be eaten within 24 hours.

How long does a kolache stay fresh? ›

The kolache can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 1 month.

Is it better to freeze or refrigerate Christmas cookies? ›

While cookies can last in the fridge for two weeks, eating them sooner is better. (We recommend storing a few in the refrigerator for eating in a few days and freezing the rest if eating more than four days after baking.)

Can you leave Christmas cookies out overnight? ›

Curious how long cookies last at room temperature? Most homemade cookies will maintain their taste and texture for up to 3 days. If you leave them out for too long, the cookies begin to harden or dry out. To prevent cookies from becoming stale, cover them with plastic wrap or keep in an airtight container.

Are kolache Czech? ›

Kolache are a sweet Czech pastry made of yeast dough. Kolache are flat, generously filled in the middle with fruit, poppy seed, or cream cheese filling. They always have a round shape and are about 3–4 inches (8–10 cm) in diameter. Before baking, the sides of the pastry are brushed with a beaten egg.

What heritage are kolaches? ›

This is the new world of the kolache, a food that now straddles several constituencies: the descendants of Czech immigrants, who still make the pastry in the broad swath of central Texas known as the Czech Belt; the highway commuters who have made it a coveted road food; and the artisans and entrepreneurs around the ...

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