For a different take on a cookie, have a go at these delicate, authentic Hungarian Kiffle Cookies. Kiffles, which you might also see written as kifli, kieflies or kiffels, are traditional baked treats from Hungary. What makes them special is the dough, made from cream cheese, and the filling, which can be whatever you fancy!
I’ve used walnuts for this kiffles recipe, which is pretty authentic to Hungary, but you can also try other types of nuts and jams inside – poppy seeds, apricots, cashews, prunes, dates… you get the idea! To get the right form when you roll the kiffles just try to copy the shapes you can see in my pictures, but don’t worry about making them too perfect, they are homemade after all and will taste just as delicious!
To make Hungarian Kiffle Cookies, you will need the following ingredients:
Using a standing food mixer, cream the butter and cream cheese together until light and smooth.
Add 2 cups of the flour a little at a time and beat until the dough becomes to thick for the mixer to work. Remove the bowl from the mixer and combine the remaining flour by hand. Knead the dough until it is no longer sticky.
Roll the dough into a ball and place in a clean bowl. Cover the bowl with saran wrap and leave in the refrigerator to chill for at least 8 hours, or overnight.
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line two baking trays with parchment paper.
In a small bowl, mix the sugar and walnuts together. Add the milk and stir until it forms a paste.
Lightly dust a work surface with flour. Take the dough out of the refrigerator. Roll it to around 1/8 - 1/6 inch thick and then cut into 2-inch squares.
Add a teaspoonful of the walnut paste to the center of each square.
Take one corner of the square, fold over the top of the filling and roll, so that the walnut filling is encased (but will be peeking out from either side). Repeat with all the squares and lay the kiffles on the baking trays.
Bake for 10-15 minutes, until golden brown.
As cookies go, these Hungarian Kiffle Cookies are rather special, prettier and much more delicate than our chunky US versions! Try something different today and get baking these little delights! I’d love to see how they turn out so if you make them, do tag #cookmerecipes so I can check them out!
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