Vegan Kolaczki Polish Cookies Recipe

Ever wanted to impress your vegan friends (or just yourself) with a batch of melt-in-your-mouth cookies? Grab your favorite apron and let’s get to it; these dreamy vegan apricot jam-filled treats are calling your name, promising a sweet escape in every delightful bite!

Creating vegan versions of traditional recipes is something I love to do, and putting my spin on Polish Kolaczki was an exciting challenge. These cookies are made with chilled vegan butter and cream cheese, which gives them the perfect flaky texture.

They’re filled with apricot preserves, which makes them subtly sweet. After the cookies are baked, you dust them with powdered sugar, which makes them, um, well, even sugarier.

This is a good thing.

Ingredients

– All-purpose flour: A versatile ingredient providing structure; it’s mainly composed of carbohydrates.

– Vegan butter: Adds richness and moisture without dairy; it’s plant-based and cholesterol-free.

– Vegan cream cheese: Contributes a tangy flavor and creamy texture, offering dairy-free indulgence.

– Powdered sugar: Sweetens the cookies and provides a delicate texture; used for dusting too.

– Apricot preserves: Adds natural sweetness and fruity flavor; contains vitamins and fiber.

Ingredient Quantities

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup vegan butter, chilled
• 1/2 cup vegan cream cheese, chilled
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar plus extra for dusting
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup apricot preserves or any other favorite fruit preserves or jam

How to Make this

1. In a big bowl, blend the flour and salt together with a wire whisk. Put it aside.

2. In a separate bowl, whisk the cooled vegan butter and the vegan cream cheese together until soft and smooth.

3. Slowly combine the sugar in its powdered form and the vanilla extract until they are well mixed in.

4. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients gradually, mixing until a soft dough forms.

5. Split the dough into two equal parts, encase each part in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for a minimum of 60 minutes.

6. Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) to warm up while you prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper.

7. On a surface dusted lightly with flour, roll out one part of the dough to approximately 1/8-inch thickness.

8. Slice into squares measuring
2.5 x
2.5 inches, and put approximately 1/2 teaspoon of fruit preserves in the middle of every square.

9. To prepare each dumpling, fold two opposite corners of each square over the filling, slightly overlapping them, and press gently to seal.

10. Move the cookies to the baking sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes until they’re just lightly golden. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.

Equipment Needed

1. Large mixing bowl
2. Medium mixing bowl
3. Wire whisk
4. Measuring cups
5. Measuring spoons
6. Plastic wrap
7. Rolling pin
8. Pastry cutter or knife
9. Baking sheet
10. Parchment paper
11. Wire rack
12. Oven

FAQ

• Q: Can I use a different type of flour instead of all-purpose?Sure, you can use an all-purpose, gluten-free flour blend if needed, but it might slightly alter the texture.
• Q: Is it necessary to chill the dough before baking?A: Yes, keeping the dough cool helps the shape stay when the cookies are baked and ensures that the texture is flaky.
• Q: What can I use instead of apricot preserves?A: You can fill the cookies with any preserve or jam you like, such as raspberry or strawberry.
• Q: How do I prevent the cookie edges from splitting?A: Do not underfill or overfill the cookies. Press the edges together very well before baking.
• Q: Can I freeze the unbaked dough for later use?A: Of course! Wrap the dough securely in plastic wrap and stash it in the freezer for as long as a month. Before rolling, thaw it out in the refrigerator.
• Q: Should I dust the cookies with powdered sugar before or after baking?A: After baking, and when the cookies have cooled, dust them with powdered sugar to add an extra sweet touch.
• Q: Can I make these cookies ahead of time?A: You can indeed bake them one or two days ahead of time. Once they’ve cooled completely, just pop them into an airtight container. They will hold up well. Trust me. I did this to test the method. Didn’t want to risk a Pinterest fail on the day of serving.

Vegan Kolaczki Polish Cookies Recipe Substitutions and Variations

All-purpose flour: Use a gluten-free flour blend to replace all-purpose flour for a gluten-free version.
Coconut oil or margarine can be used for vegan butter, resulting in a different texture and flavor.
Cream cheese, vegan: For a creamy, lighter texture that still spreads nicely, use silken tofu blended until smooth. Substituting half the amount of silken tofu with coconut cream also makes a richer-tasting spread.
Coconut sugar that has been processed into a very fine powder can be used instead of powdered sugar. This delivers a less refined sugar substitute that still offers a sweet taste and texture to baked goods and frosting.
Jam made from apricots: Use any of your favorite fruit preserves instead, like raspberry or strawberry jam.

Pro Tips

1. Chill Time Ensure the dough is well chilled before rolling it out. If it becomes too warm, it can become sticky and difficult to work with. You can even chill it for up to 24 hours for enhanced flavor development and easier handling.

2. Prevent Sticking To prevent the dough from sticking while rolling, lightly flour both your rolling pin and work surface. If the dough starts sticking, a gentle dusting of flour will help.

3. Uniform Size and Shape Use a ruler or a square cookie cutter to ensure even 2.5 x 2.5-inch squares. This helps the cookies bake evenly and look uniform.

4. Sealing the Edges To keep the preserves from leaking out during baking, firmly press the dough corners together and use a dab of water to help seal them if needed.

5. Flavor Variation Experiment with different fruit preserves or jams like raspberry, blueberry, or strawberry to offer a variety of flavors. You can also add a small amount of finely chopped nuts to the filling for added texture and flavor.