Serves 20
60 min
Mom's Kifli
Recipe GLPRa58ebbfa19db16
A traditional Eastern European walnut cookie featuring a buttery, tender dough made with cream cheese and butter, rolled thin and filled with a delicate mixture of beaten egg whites, sugar, and finely ground walnuts. These delightful crescents are baked until golden and dusted with powdered sugar for an elegant finish.
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Ingredients
1/2 pound butter, softened
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 large egg whites
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 pound ground walnuts
powdered sugar for dusting
Directions
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
In a large bowl, beat together the softened butter and cream cheese until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
Gradually add the flour to the butter and cream cheese mixture, stirring until all the flour is incorporated and a soft dough forms.
Divide the dough into 72 equal portions, rolling each into a small ball about the size of a quarter. Refrigerate the dough balls for at least 15 minutes until chilled.
While the dough chills, prepare the filling by beating the egg whites in a clean bowl until they become foamy and slightly thickened.
Fold the granulated sugar into the beaten egg whites until well combined, then fold in the ground walnuts until the filling is evenly mixed.
Lightly dust your work surface with powdered sugar. Remove the chilled dough balls from the refrigerator and roll out each ball into a very thin oval or rectangle, about 1/8 inch thick.
Place approximately 1 teaspoon of the walnut filling in the center of each rolled dough piece.
Fold the dough over the filling and gently roll or shape it into a crescent shape, pinching the edges lightly to seal.
Place each formed kifli on an ungreased baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cookies are light golden brown on the edges.
Remove from the oven and allow the kifli to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Once fully cooled, generously dust each kifli with powdered sugar.
