Chrusciki, also known as Polish crescent cookies, are a traditional pastry enjoyed by many. These crispy, flaky cookies are often associated with the holiday season, especially Christmas and Easter, but they can be savored anytime. With a simple dough made from flour, sugar, butter, eggs, and flavorings, chrusciki are shaped into crescents or other decorative forms before being fried until golden brown. The result is a delicious treat that is both visually appealing and incredibly tasty. If you're looking to create these delightful cookies, here are some tips to ensure success.
Let's cook with our recipes!
CHRUSCIKI WITH MRS. KOSTYRA
These crisp, sugar-dusted Polish cookies made with twists of dough quickly fried in hot oil are also known as angels' wings or bow ties. Martha likes to stack a tower of chrusciki on a pressed-glass cake stand, largest chrusciki first, to make a Christmas-tree formation.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dessert & Treats Recipes Cookie Recipes
Yield Makes about 6 dozen cookies
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Put melted butter, eggs, egg yolks, granulated sugar, sour cream, salt, extracts, vinegar, and rum in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until mixture is pale, about 3 minutes. With mixer running, add zests. Reduce speed to low, and gradually add up to 3 cups flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until a fairly stiff dough forms.
- Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface, and knead, dusting with flour if it seems sticky, until dough becomes smooth, soft, and elastic, about 10 minutes. Halve dough, and wrap each piece in plastic wrap. Let dough rest at room temperature, 30 minutes.
- Working with 1 piece at a time, roll out dough on a lightly floured surface until very thin (about 1/16 inch thick). Using a straightedge as a guide, cut the dough into 5-by-1 1/4-inch strips. Trim ends on the diagonal.
- Lay dough strips vertically in front of you, and cut a 1 1/4-inch-long opening through the middle of each strip. Working with one strip at a time, push one end through the cut, then pull through to make a bow-tie shape. Transfer formed chrusciki to a large parchment-lined baking sheet, and cover with a clean, slightly damp kitchen towel. Repeat process with remaining dough.
- Heat shortening in a large (6-quart) pot over medium-high heat until it registers 375 degrees on a deep-fry thermometer.
- Working in small batches of about 7, fry chrusciki, turning once with a slotted spoon, until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Transfer fried chrusciki with slotted spoon to two paper-towel-lined baking sheets to drain. (Adjust heat between batches as necessary to keep oil at a steady temperature.)
- Just before serving, dust chrusciki with confectioners' sugar.
CHRUSCIKI I
This is the Polish version of angel wings.
Provided by Sue Peters
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Eastern European Polish
Time 1h30m
Yield 40
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- In a medium bowl, whisk egg yolks, egg, sugar, salt, vanilla, and whiskey. Stir in 2 cups of the flour. If dough is sticky, add the rest of the flour. Knead dough for 5 minutes; divide into three parts. Keep dough pieces covered with plastic wrap until ready to use.
- Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Or, alternately, melt 2 pounds lard(see Editor's Note). Oil should be about 1 inch deep.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out one piece of the dough until it's paper-thin. Cut into parallelogram (long diamond) shapes, and use a sharp paring knife to cut a slot in the centers. Pull one point of the diamond through the slot; set aside and repeat with remaining pieces.
- Fry 2 to 4 pieces at a time, depending on the size of your pan, about 5 to 10 seconds on each side. The cookies should not be browned. Remove from oil and drain on paper towels; dust with confectioners' sugar when cool. Store any remaining cookies in an airtight container.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 255.8 calories, Carbohydrate 9.8 g, Cholesterol 66.1 mg, Fat 23.5 g, Fiber 0.2 g, Protein 1.8 g, SaturatedFat 3.4 g, Sodium 62.5 mg, Sugar 3.6 g
FAWORKI (POLISH CHRUSCIKI)
Traditional Polish crispy pastry twists made for Carnival time. They are deep-fried and sprinkled with confectioners' sugar. Light and delicious!
Provided by jacekf
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Eastern European Polish
Time 22m
Yield 20
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Combine flour, egg yolks, sour cream, sugar, butter, rum, and salt in a large bowl; mix to form a dough.
- Knead dough lightly and roll out on a floured surface. Cut into strips 4 inches long and 3/4 inches wide. Cut a slit in the middle of each strip. Twist and pull one end through the slit.
- Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan. Test the temperature by dropping in a pastry twist; the oil is ready when it browns and float to the surface.
- Fry pastry twists in batches until golden brown, about 1 minute per side. Drain on a plate lined with paper towels. Dust with confectioners' sugar.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 125.5 calories, Carbohydrate 16.6 g, Cholesterol 65.5 mg, Fat 5.3 g, Fiber 0.4 g, Protein 2.5 g, SaturatedFat 1.8 g, Sodium 19.8 mg, Sugar 4.4 g
CHRUSCIKI - POLISH ANGEL WING COOKIES
This delightful pastry was made by my Polish Grandmother every year for Christmas. Traditionally they were made for the last Thursday before Lent. They take a while to make but the time you put in to making these is well worth the reward!
Provided by Chef Shilale
Categories Dessert
Time 2h30m
Yield 72 cookies, 36 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Using a stand mixer, whisk whole eggs, egg yolks, butter and salt until thick and lemon colored.
- Slowly beat in the confectioner's sugar and brandy.
- Change to the dough hook and slowly mix in the flour a 1/4 cup at a time until the dough forms and pulls away from the bowl.
- Using the dough hook, knead the dough for 3-5 minutes. It should be thick like bread dough.
- Keep the dough in the bowl covered with a damp towel to keep it from drying out.
- Snip off a baseball sized piece of dough. On a floured surface, roll to 1/8 inch thick at the most!
- Using a sharp knife cut the dough into 1 1/2 inch wide strips. Then cut the other way in a diagonal to make pieces of dough that are about 1 1/2 X 4 inches.
- Next use your knife to cut a slit in the center of each piece.
- To form the wing shape, take one pointy end and poke it through the slit. Very gently pull the end through the slit to form a bow shaped cookie.
- In a heavy pot or deep skillet, heat the fat of choice (I like lard) to 350°F Use a thermometer!
- Drop the cookies, 3 cookies at a time, into the fat. Drop 3 cookies at once not 1 at a time. The cookies will sink to the bottom at first then they will puff up and float a couple of seconds later. As soon as this happens use a couple of forks to turn them.
- Immediately after you turn them use a deep fry strainer to remove them from the fat to drain on brown paper bags.
- Dust the still hot cookies with confectioner's sugar and repeat, cooking 3 cookies at a time until finished.
- Store in tightly covered, wax paper-lined tins.
GRANDMA'S POLISH COOKIES
This traditional khruchiki recipe has been handed down through my mother's side from my great-grandmother. As a child, it was my job to loop the end of each cookie through its hole. -Sherine Elise Gilmour, Brooklyn, New York
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Desserts
Time 50m
Yield 40 cookies.
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In another bowl, beat egg yolks until foamy; add milk and vanilla. Stir into crumb mixture until dough is stiff enough to knead. , Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead 8-10 times. Divide dough into 4 pieces. Roll each portion into a 1/4-in.-thick rectangle; cut into 4x1-1/2-in. strips. Cut a 2-in. lengthwise slit down the middle of each strip; pull one of the ends through the slit like a bow., In an electric skillet or deep-fat fryer, heat oil to 375°. Fry dough strips, a few at a time, until golden brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels. Dust with confectioners' sugar.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 122 calories, Fat 8g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 35mg cholesterol, Sodium 98mg sodium, Carbohydrate 10g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 2g protein.
POLISH BOW COOKIES - KRUSCHIKI OR CHRUSCHIKI RECIPE - (4.4/5)
Provided by Alqualonde
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Beat the egg yolks with the sugar until well combined. Add sour cream, rum and vanilla and mix until smooth. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt and add it to egg yolk mixture, a little at a time. On a heavily floured surface knead the dough vigorously, punching and squeezing as much flour into it as it will take until the dough is no longer sticky (1/2 hour). Separate dough into several portions and roll very thin. Turn the dough and loosen often when rolling. The dough should look like parchment paper that you can see through. Cut dough into strips approximately 1-1/2 inches wide, 4 inches long. Make slit closer to one end and bring the longer end through the slit. Heat oil to 375 degrees fahrenheit and fry quickly (only a few seconds) until golden not brown. Turn only once. Drain on paper towels. Dust with confectioners sugar.
CHRUSCIKI BOW TIE COOKIES
My mother-in-law gave me the recipe for these traditional Polish "angel wings." She's been gone for years now, but I still make them in memory of her. -Edward & Linda Svercauski, San Diego, California
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Desserts
Time 1h5m
Yield 4 dozen.
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- In a large bowl, beat the egg yolks, egg, rum, vanilla and salt until blended. Gradually add confectioners' sugar; beat until smooth. Stir in flour until a stiff dough forms. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead seven times., Divide dough into three portions. Roll one portion into a 1/4-in.-thick rectangle, about 12 in. x 5-1/2 in. Cut in half lengthwise, then cut dough widthwise into 1-1/2-in.-wide strips. Cut a 3/4-in. lengthwise slit down the center of each strip; pull one of the ends through the slit, forming a bow. Repeat., In an electric skillet or deep-fat fryer, heat oil to 375°. Fry cookies, a few at a time, for 1-2 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Dust with confectioners' sugar.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 38 calories, Fat 1g fat (0 saturated fat), Cholesterol 17mg cholesterol, Sodium 27mg sodium, Carbohydrate 5g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 1g protein.
POLISH ANGEL WINGS-CHRUSCIKI
This is a classic Polish cookie that my mom and Bushia used to make at Christmas time. I've found that this is a really hard dough to work with, but it is from the original Polish recipe translated into English. These are not really sweet cookies, but they get most of their sweetness from the powdered sugar on the outside.
Provided by Bippie
Categories Dessert
Time 1h
Yield 50 cookies
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Beat eggs until thick.
- Add salt slowly while stirring.
- Add sugar and vanilla, beat well.
- Add cream and flour, alternating until blended. You may need more than the flour listed above depending on how humid it is that day.
- Turn onto a floured board.
- Cover with a cloth for 10 minutes.
- Knead until dough blisters.
- Roll very thin.
- Cut into 1 inch by 4 inch rectangles.
- Cut a gash in the middle of the rectangle and pull one end through so it looks like a twist.
- Fry in 375 degree oil until golden brown.
- Drain on a rack for 3 minutes then roll into powdered sugar.
CHRUSCIKI LEAVES
If you're storing fried cookies, wait until just before serving to dust them with confectioners' sugar so they don't absorb it.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Healthy Recipes Vegetarian Recipes
Yield Makes 9 to 10 dozen
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Put butter, eggs, yolks, granulated sugar, salt, vanilla, zests, Cognac, and sour cream in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment; beat on medium speed until pale and thick, 8 to 10 minutes. Reduce speed to low; gradually add enough flour to form a fairly stiff dough. Turn out dough onto a floured work surface; knead until dough blisters, becomes elastic, and can be handled easily, 6 to 8 minutes, adding flour if needed.
- Divide dough into 4 pieces. Keep dough under an inverted bowl to prevent it from drying out. Working with 1 piece at a time, roll out dough to 1/8 inch thick. If dough becomes too elastic while rolling, cover with plastic, and let rest 15 minutes. Cut out leaves with a leaf-shape cookie cutter; transfer to a tray lined with parchment paper. Repeat with remaining dough, layering leaves between sheets of parchment paper. Collect all scraps, and let rest 20 minutes before rerolling.
- Heat oil in a medium-heavy saucepan until it registers 375 degrees on a deep-fry thermometer. Stretch leaves slightly so they will curl while frying. Fry in batches of 12, turning occasionally, until pale golden brown, about 3 minutes. Transfer to baking sheets lined with paper towels to drain and cool. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar. Store in airtight containers at room temperature up to 2 days.
Tips:
- Use cold butter: This will help keep the dough flaky. If your butter is too soft, it will be difficult to work with and the cookies will not be as light and crispy.
- Handle the dough gently: Overworking the dough will make it tough. Be sure to mix the ingredients until just combined, and then refrigerate the dough for at least 30 minutes before rolling it out.
- Roll the dough out thinly: The thinner the dough, the crispier the cookies will be. Aim for a thickness of about 1/8 inch.
- Use a sharp knife to cut the dough: This will help prevent the dough from tearing. For chrusciki with a twist, cut the dough strips at an angle.
- Fry the cookies in hot oil: This will help them cook evenly and quickly. Be sure to adjust the heat as needed to prevent the cookies from burning.
- Drain the cookies on paper towels: This will help remove any excess oil.
- Dust the cookies with powdered sugar: This is a classic way to finish off chrusciki. You can also sprinkle them with cinnamon sugar or your favorite spices.
Conclusion:
Chrusciki are a delicious and festive Polish cookie that are perfect for any occasion. With their crispy texture and delicate flavor, they are sure to be a hit with everyone who tries them. So next time you are looking for a special treat, give chrusciki a try. You won't be disappointed!
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love