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Christmas Cookies

Ischel’s Cookies (Išelske Kolačky)

25 - 30 cookie sandwiches
Vegetarian Diet, Czech Baking

Ischel’s Cookies (Išelske Kolačky) are great cookies to make! It is a little more work than a regular cookie, but it is totally worth it! The smooth taste of almonds, the undertone of cinnamon, the fruit texture from the preserve, and the final layer of chocolate coating all make this...

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... cookie irresistible.

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Chef Tom Chef Tom Founder
December 14, 2023
  • 40 min.
  • 100 min.
  • 1/5
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Ingredients:

Cookie dough:

Filling:

Coating:

Tools:

Directions:

1. Almond preparation:

1.1. Place into a small food processor:

1 ¼ cups of almonds

Process on high speed until fine texture is reached – no larger chunks are present (about 2 minutes).

2. Dough:

2.1. Place into a kitchen mixer with a flat beater attachment:

Processed almonds from previous step
3 cups of all-purpose flour
2 cups of confectioners’ sugar
1 TSP of ground cinnamon
½ TSP of baking powder
Lemon zest from one lemon

Shortly stir together using a hand whisk until nicely combined (about 1 minute).

2.2. Add:

3 ½ sticks of butter – soft
2 large eggs

Process on slow speed until all ingredients are partially combined.

2.3. Then increase the speed to medium-high and process until the dough is formed (about 2 – 3 minutes).

Note:
The cookie dough will be sticky after processing. It will harden during the following resting time in the fridge.

3. Resting time:

3.1. Wrap the dough with plastic wrap (scoop it on the wrap and then cover it with the wrap).

Tip:
If you want to work with the dough soon, form it into a disk, not into a roll shape.

3.2. Let cool in the refrigerator until partially, but not totally, hardened (about 1 hour).

Important:
If the dough in the refrigerator fully hardens (if left for a longer time, for example, overnight), remove it from the refrigerator about an hour before cookie cutting.

4. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

5. Cut the cookies:

Notes:

  • Work one-by-one on a lighly floured surface. The dough needs to always sit on a floured surface during flattening to be able to separate the cut cookies that are ready to bake.
  • It is essential to work fast with the dough.
  • If it becomes hard to work with the dough after a while (it will become too soft to form the crescents), place it back in the refrigerator for further processing to let it cool and harden.
  • Optionally, you can keep placing scraps from the dough into the fridge before further processing to prevent the dough from softening.

 

5.1.

Place the dough on a floured surface and lightly flour the top of the dough.

5.2.

Using a rolling pin, flatten the dough to about 3/16 to 1/4″ thickness (based on your preference).

5.3.

Cut the cookie using a round cookie cutter.

5.4. Gently place cookies on the baking sheet with parchment paper.

Important:
Ensure they are not touching each other (about 12 – 15 on each baking sheet).

Tip:
Make manipulation with the vanilla bottoms easier by using an icing spatula.

5.5.

With the leftovers from the cut dough: quickly form the dough from them (with your hands) and roll them again with a rolling pin to cut more cookies.

6. Bake:

6.1.

Bake in a preheated oven until fully baked. The surface turns from a doughy texture to a solid but slightly fluffy (about 10 minutes).

6.2. Rotate the baking sheets in the middle of baking.

Notes:

  • If flattened unevenly (even just slightly), each cookie can have a slightly different baking time, so closely watch when you get close to the end of baking and remove each, one by one if necessary.
  • Right after baking, the cookies have a soft texture, which can make some people confused and think it is a sign of underbaking; and is why some people tend to extend the baking time and overbake cookies. To ensure cookies are properly baked, watch the surface texture, and bake the cookies for at least 8 minutes to reach the best results.

6.3.

Let totally cool on the baking sheet before assembly (or using an icing spatula, move to the cooling rack).

7.1.

Spread the preserve on one cookie and cover it with the other.

7.2.

Place into the refrigerator for at least one hour before the next step.

Kitchen Guide

Chocolate Coating and Dipping

October 19, 2023

Chocolate coating or dipping is a very fun process. If you follow a few simple rules, you will succeed. In this section we will be looking at techniques for coating a cake or dipping fruit or cookies into the chocolate.

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Chef Tom Chef Tom Founder

8. Chocolate coating:

8.1.

Prepare ½ of the recipe for chocolate coating and then dip the top part of each cookie.

8.2.

Let the dipped cookies rest in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes before serving.

Refrigeration of the cookies is not necessary, but it is better to keep the chocolate coating hard (not melted).

  • If parts of the ingredients stick to the side of the kitchen mixer during processing, stop the mixer, and use a spatula to mix it back in. Then, continue processing.
  • You can leave the dough to rest in the refrigerator longer (up to 3 days) – Remove and leave at room temperature for about 1 hour before processing.
About the Author:
Chef TomFounder
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  • Published Recipes: 240
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  • Location: Iowa, USA
  • Member since: 2023-02-02
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