Paczki

Cooking Time: 2 hours    Servings: 12

Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons (1 packet = 7 grams) yeast (instant or regular)
  • 2/3 cup 1% milk, warmed 
  • 3 tablespoons Olive Scene mild Extra Virgin Olive Oil 
  • 2 egg yolks
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla
  • about ¼ cup extra flour
  • 1 tablespoon melted butter
  • 1/3 cup sugar for coating
  • 1 cup Strawberry or Fig Balsamic Jam 

Directions:

  1. Place flour, sugar, salt, & yeast in large bowl.
  2. Stir in warm milk, followed by oil, egg yolks & vanilla.
  3. With electric mixer, beat for 2 minutes on high speed.
  4. Stir in enough flour until the dough holds together.
  5. Place dough on a floured surface and knead 50 turns, cover with plastic and let rest 10 min.
  6. If using custard filling, make it now so it can cool. 
  7. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  8. On a floured surface, roll dough 1/2-inch thick.
  9. Cut circles using a 2 1/2 -inch round cutter, dipped in flour. Re-roll scraps.
  10. Place mounds on baking sheet, cover with a towel, and let rise in a warm spot about 45 minutes. (1 hour at room temp.)
  11. After 30 minutes, preheat oven to 375° F.
  12. When paczki are puffy, but not necessarily doubled in size, bake for 10 minutes.
  13. Meantime, melt butter and place 1/3 cup sugar in a plastic produce bag, and lay down some wax paper to save cleanup.
  14. Remove paczki immediately from pan to wax paper.
  15. Brush each one while warm (top & sides) with melted butter and roll in bag to coat with sugar. Shake off excess.
  16. Fill using a pastry bag with a long slender tip, pushing into the side.
  17. Serve immediately.

Custard Filling:

  1. In a small saucepan, combine 1/4 cup sugar + 1 tablespoon cornstarch.
  2. Slowly stir in 1 cup 1% milk + 1 egg yolk.
  3. Bring to a boil & cook about a minute, stirring constantly, until thickened. (it thickens more as it cools)
  4. Transfer to a plate and let it stand, undisturbed, to cool thoroughly before using - refrigerate if necessary.
  5. Fill paczki with filling using a pastry bag with a long slender tip, pushing into the side.
  6. Or slice an opening in the side and insert filling with a spoon.
  7. Serve immediately.

adapted from Jenny Can Cook