Kifli (Hungarian Crescent Cookies

crescent photo

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup butter, chilled and cut into pieces
  • 3 egg yolks, lightly beaten
  • 1-½ Tbsp cream
  • 2 Tbsp grated lemon peel
  • Confectioners’ sugar
  • Fruit pie filling (recommend Solo brand if you can find it), or your favorite flavor jam

Method:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Place the flour in a large bowl and work in the butter using pastry cutter or fork. Gradually add the egg yolks, cream, and lemon peel.

Mixture will be crumbly. Gather dough into a ball. Turn out onto lightly floured surface. Working with hands, squeeze dough until well blended.

With palms of hands, shape dough into smooth roll. Slice into approximately 48 pieces. (If dough is too soft and sticky to handle, chill for a short time.) Shape pieces into balls.

Lightly sprinkle a small area of working surface with some confectioners’ sugar. Roll one ball at a time into a circle approximately 1/16 inch thick.

Spread dough with 2 tsp. of fruit filling in your choice of flavor. (use several different flavors and make assorted cookies.) Gently lifting nearest edge, roll; shape into crescent by curving ends of roll slightly.

Place crescents onto cookie sheet lightly sprayed with nonstick cooking spray, with overlapping edge underneath. Brush crescents with slightly beaten egg.

Bake at 375 degrees 15 to 20 minutes; remove to cooling racks. Just before serving, sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar.