Sunday, December 9, 2012

Polish Chrusciki (Bow Ties)


Traditionally, Chrusciki (hrrooss-CHEE-kee) are associated with the pre-Lenten feasting of Mardi Gras. In America, chrusciki or Polish crullers are served at any special occasion.



Ingredients
  • 5 large egg yolks, at room temperature*
  • 1 large whole egg, at room temperature
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 1/4 cup sour cream (or heavy cream)
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 Tbsp. rum or brandy
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • Canola or vegetable oil
  • Confectioners' sugar for dusting 
Preparation:

Combine egg yolks, whole egg and salt in bowl of mixer.  Beat at high speed until thick and lemon colored, about 5 minutes.  Beat in sugar, sour cream or cream, vanilla and rum.  Add flour gradually to form a cohesive dough.  This dough is very soft.  Add just enough flour so the dough is no longer sticky.

Turn dough out onto a floured board, divide in half, cover with plastic wrap and let rest for at least 20 minutes.

Working with half of the dough at a time, roll out to 1/8-inch thickness.  These are best when the dough is paper thin.  Cut into 1 x 3 inch wide strips.

Heat 2 inches of oil in a large, deep skillet to 350 degrees.  Make a slit in the center of each strip of dough, then pull one end through the slit to form a bow.



Fry  about 6 chrusciki at a time for 1 minutes or less per side or until golden.  These fry quickly, so watch closely.  Drain on paper towels.  Dust generously with confectioner's sugar.

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Quick Tip
Many recipes call for egg yolks only, so you fill your refrigerator with a container of egg whites but, by the time you figure out what to do with them, they've gone bad. This is an easy technique for freezing egg whites. 

When separating eggs, have an ice cube tray handy. Either separate the egg over the tray, letting the white fall into one compartment only of the tray. Or you can separate the egg over a small bowl and pour the egg white into the tray. Pour only one egg white into each compartment. This will work for small to large eggs. Jumbo egg whites might be too large for the compartments, but most recipes call for large eggs anyway. 

Place the ice cube tray in the freezer and freeze the egg whites until firm. Pop the egg whites out and transfer them to a zip-top freezer bag and return to the freezer. Now, whenever you need one, two or three egg whites for an egg-white only recipe, you have them, premeasured, at your disposal. Just thaw as many cubes, representing one egg white each, as needed in the refrigerator and use. 

Egg whites will deliver full volume if they are at room temperature. So, once the egg white is completely thawed in the fridge, let it come to room temperature before whipping.


I had posted this recipe on the Mixing Bowl a few years ago and received this lovely comment from a reader.  I just had to save it!

mzgrizz by mzgrizz
Thank you soooo much for posting this recipe!!!!  When I was in college, one of my classmates was Polish and we spent an afternoon (when we should have been studying) making Chrusciki - and they were wonderful.  More moves than I can count later the recipe and I were separated, but the rememberance of that December afternoon and  how good they were has lingered all these years.  I had given up ever having this delightful treat again until this morning when my husband and I were taking a leisurely morning to wander through Mixing Bowl together.  You have brought great joy to an otherwise grey day!  I so appreciate you having shared this, and I hope others have enjoyed it as much as I have.  If there was a way to issue spoons here I would definitely give it 10!!!  Thanks again.

    44 comments:

    1. Our Polish neighbor introduced us to savory and sweet pierogi and other wonderful dishes. However, this is my first introduction to chrusciki. They look lovely and light. I look forward to trying your recipe.

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    2. I have a big ole cup of coffee and would love a handful (or two) of these right now! Lovin' your new header too-very pretty:@)

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    3. I've never seen these before but my dad's side of the family is Polish so I think I might make these to surprise them for Christmas. They look incredible!

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    4. Oh yea...fried cookies. I'm sure I could only eat a dozen or two at a time.

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    5. I know I have eaten these when I was a kids living in New York! I bet they taste so good with a cup of coffee.

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    6. These are so unique! I've never seen anything like these and I can't wait to try them!

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    7. Beautiful Pics! Those cookies sound fantastic. Must try

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    8. My mom is half Polish, but we sadly don't have any Polish cookie recipes. I'm going to share this recipe with her and hopefully it will become part of our holiday baking tradition! I'm so glad you shared it with us!

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    9. I can see why these would be addictive. They look divine.

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    10. Mmmmm...I LOOOOVE fried dough! Okay, this is so much more, but still, I know I'd find them irresistible. They look awesome.

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    11. So pretty! I have never had them before, but they sound wonderful!

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    12. Wow! These are fantastic, I bet you can´t stop at one! I remember seeing something similar in a very old bon appetit magazine, but they were drizzled with syrup...

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    13. They are beautiful, and look so so good! ~ Bea @Galactosemia in PDX

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    14. A friend's mom used to make these every year at Christmas! I have such fond memories of nibbling on this delicious treat!!! Happy Sunday Supper!

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    15. OMG you've found my weakness - deep fried dough! I don't think I could stop myself from eating these if there were a giant plateful in front of me. YUM!

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    16. They look so good, my daughter would go nuts for those. I will have to try making them. Thanks for sharing on #SundaySupper.

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    17. Love these! What a perfect holiday treat.

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    18. I've never heard of this cookie, but it looks wonderful! Thanks for the tip about freezing egg whites. Does it work with yolks? I use lots of whites and always have yolks left over.

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    19. These look delicious. I would love to try to make these gluten free.

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    20. I just love that photograph. It looks like a postcard :-) Such a wonderful treat!

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    21. I LOVE these! I haven't had them since we left Chicago, though. There used to be a couple Polish delis or bakeries where I'd buy them. Mom wasn't much into sweets, so she never made them, but I had aunts who would serve them quite often. I'm pretty sure they bought them, too.

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    22. This Polish girl makes pierogies every Christmas, but have only made chrusciki once with Girl Scouts. I have to try again!

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    23. Beautiful pix! I could see where a platter of these would be way too tempting to pass by!

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    24. Eek! I'd be too scared to make these - I am terrified of frying LOL

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    25. These look amazing! I would have a hard time not just eating the whole batch as I made them. :)

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    26. Oooh these not only look amazing, but they sound fabulous too! Anything dusted with powdered sugar definitely gets my vote! :) I want to try these...

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    27. Wow, how different! And dusted with powdered sugar just the way we like it!

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    28. WOAH! I would do some damage to these cookies! Great recipe!

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    29. I'm going to just dig right in now. Sounds good?

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    30. OMG...brings back such memories, as a Polish-born who immigrate here as a child. I remember making these with my mom and grandmother!

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    31. My husband's family is Polish, this would be a great cookie to make for our Christmas Eve gathering!!

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    32. Oh my goodness... these look amazing! I can not wait to try them!

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    33. I've never heard of these cookies, but I can only imagine them being fried and addictive! Thanks for sharing a new-to-me recipe.

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    34. These are so lovely looking, thank you for sharing on the Holiday Sweets Round Up.

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    35. These look amazing!Can't wait to try them.

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    36. What beautiful cookies! Thanks for stopping by the Happy Holidays Link Party and sharing them with all of us.

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    37. Thank you so much for sharing your Chrusciki recipe! They look just like the Listy my Czech grandma used to make. She always placed them in a cardboard shirt box when she brought them to our house because they were so tender. Mmm, I can still remember how delicious they tasted!

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    38. Of Polish descent and make these every year for friends and family--I am desperate (as a recently diagnosed celiac) to find a gluten-free recipe--Can anyone out there help this GrandMom in the search? Thanks.

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      Replies
      1. Hi Marysia! I googled for a gluten-free recipe but had no luck! I'll keep searching! :)

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    39. Of Polish descent and make these every year for friends and family--I am desperate (as a recently diagnosed celiac) to find a gluten-free recipe--Can anyone out there help this GrandMom in the search? Thanks.

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    40. My grandmother was Serbian. She made these cookies, only with a Serbian name (?)I'll butcher the name...um Lesteecha? and NO ONE would give me recipe. THanks for super memories of this delicious treat

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    41. I love the memories that food and traditions bring up! Mama used to make light and crunchy Rossettas dusted with powdered sugar on Christmas morning! Love these too!

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    42. thank you for this great recipe and for the handy tips for freezing the egg whites, I never knew! Happy Holidays to you all xoxo

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