Polish Shortbread Cookies {Ciastka Kruche}
I am not a big sweets person. Ok, correction, I’m not a big commercial sweets person. Store bought cakes and cookies are just too sweet for my European pallet. However, put a plate of fresh, home baked cookies or a chocolate babka in front of me, and I have no limits. For that reason, I don’t bake often.
I have been thinking about my grandma’s shortbread cookies for about a week now. In Polish, they are called Kruche Ciastka, meaning crumbly cookies, because of their delicate, buttery and flaky nature. They are not super sweet, so please keep an open mind, but that just means you can eat a lot more.
My grandma would make these for us often, and it seems there was always a parchment-paper-lined shoebox full of them in her cupboard when we came to visit for a Sunday dinner.
To make these delights, you will need:
2 cups of flour
3 egg yolks (reserve whites)
10 tbs of butter
½ cup of powdered sugar
½ tsp of vanilla extract
¼ cup of sour cream
2 tsp of baking powder
Pinch of salt
Place flour in a mixing bowl, add butter cut into small pieces, and the rest of the ingredients. Gently mix with hands until just combined and form a dough ball. Don’t work it too much, as it will make for a dense cookie. When combined and you still see bits of butter, it’s okay. Butter will melt while baking and make for a flaky cookie. Wrap the dough ball in plastic and refrigerate for an hour.
When ready, preheat over to 350 degrees F, divide the ball into smaller portions and roll out onto a floured surface to about a ⅜ – ¼ inch thickness. Using your favorite cookie cutter cut out shapes and place onto a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Slightly beat egg whites with a fork and using a kitchen brush, brush each cookie with egg whites and sprinkle with a pinch of sugar.
Bake for about 8-10 min, or until golden brown.
Store in a parchment-paper-lined shoe box if there are any left. Just kidding :)
What is your favorite cookie? Please share below!
Smacznego!
Anna
