Joulutortut Finnish Prune Filled Cookies Recipes

PRUNE AND RAISIN FILLED COOKIES

Steps:

• To Make Filling: Boil prunes until plump. Put raisins in pan, cover with water and heat until water steams. Strain and add 1/2 cup of sugar to raisins, mix well and heat again until almost dry. Remove from heat and set aside. Pit the cooked prunes, if not already pitted, chop and add to raisins. Add chopped nuts, if desired. Set fruit mix aside overnight.
• The next day make the dough. In large bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, sugar and salt. Make a well in the center. Add the eggs, milk, grated lemon rind and oil and mix to form dough. Knead the dough to the consistency for rolling.
• Divide the dough into 6 parts. Roll each part into a rectangle of 1/8 inch thickness. Put 1/6 of the fruit mix onto the dough rectangle and spread evenly.
• Fold the dough lengthwise into the center. Fold the other side in slightly past center, and press seam lightly. Pinch ends to close. Lift the loaf with a spatula and place on lightly greased cookie sheet with seam under.
• Bake in 400 degree F (205 degrees C) oven for 18 - 20 minutes (top should be lightly brown). Allow to cool then cut crosswise slices about 1 inch thick.
• To Make Glaze: Use juice of 1 lemon and enough confectioners' sugar to obtain consistency for brushing top of cookie. Drop sprinkles onto glaze and allow glaze to set. Enjoy!

JOULUTORTTU (FINNISH CHRISTMAS TARTS)

Steps:

• Cover the prunes with water and soak for two hours. Drain, rinse, and place in a medium saucepan. Add the sugar, top with just enough water to cover, and place over high heat.
• Once boiling, reduce heat to a simmer and cook, stirring often, until the prunes have softened and are easily mashed, about 20 minutes. If needed, add a little more water to keep the mixture from burning.
• Mash the jam to desired consistency or puree. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the flour and baking powder. Mix in the whipped heavy cream, followed by the softened butter.
• On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough until soft and smooth. Shape into a disc, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least an hour.
• Preheat oven to 400˚F. Line two baking sheets with parchment or lightly grease.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough until 1/4 inch thick. Fold the dough into thirds by folding 1/3rd towards the center followed by the other side towards the center. Roll the dough out again, turn, and fold into thirds again along the other side to form the dough into a square. Roll out a final time to make a square about 1/4 inch thick.
• Cut the sheet of dough into 3 inch squares (I made 30). To make the traditional shape, use a sharp knife to make cuts from each corner about halfway towards the center. Place a teaspoon of jam in the center of the square.
• Lift every other split corner towards the center over the jam filling and pinch together to create a pinwheel/star shape. Place on the prepared baking sheet and repeat with remaining squares.
• In a small bowl, beat together the egg and milk. Brush the top of each Joulutorttu with the beaten egg wash. Bake in preheated oven until golden, 7-10 minutes.
• Allow to cool to room temperature and top with powdered sugar. Refrigerate in an airtight container if not serving immediately.

JOULUTORTTU (FINNISH CHRISTMAS STAR COOKIES)

Steps:

• In a large bowl beat together butter and ricotta cheese with an electric hand mixer. Add the flour, and mix until a soft dough comes together.
• Divide the dough in half. Shape each half into a ball and wrap each ball in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours (up to overnight), until firm.
• Preheat your oven to 425F.
• Lightly flour your countertop and roll out one section of dough to a rectangle (roughly 12 x 9 inches) that is about an 1/8 inch thick.
• Cut the dough into 3-inch squares.
• In each square, make four cuts, one from each corner, each going 1/2 - 2/3 of the way to the center of the square.
• Spoon 1 teaspoon of jam in the center of each square.
• Fold every other corner of each square over the jam. Use the beaten egg wash to moisten the corners slightly and lightly press to seal the corners together over top of the jam.
• Transfer your pinwheel cookie to a parchment lined baking sheet, placing the cookies 1 inch apart.
• Repeat with the second half of the dough.
• Lightly brush the tops of the cookies with the beaten egg.
• Bake the cookies 10-12 minutes, until golden.
• Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Once the cookies are cool, dust them lightly with powdered sugar.
• Store the cookies in an air-tight container on the counter for 3-4 days.

FINNISH STAR COOKIES (JOULUTORTTU)

Steps:

• Whisk together flour, baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and cream cheese on medium speed until well combined, about 1 minute. Add sugar and lemon zest and continue to beat until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add 1 egg and beat until combined. Beat in flour mixture on low speed until combined. Divide dough in half. Shape each half into a square, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate until firm, 1 to 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Remove one-half of dough from the refrigerator. On a lightly floured sheet of parchment, roll out dough into a square about 1/8 inch thick. Cut out squares using a 3 1/2-inch square cutter, then carefully transfer to prepared baking sheets, spaced about 1 1/2 inches apart. If dough becomes too soft, transfer parchment with dough to a baking sheet and refrigerate until firm.
• Place 1 teaspoon preserves in the center of each square. Using a small paring knife, cut 1 1/4-inch slits diagonally from each corner toward the filling. Fold every other tip over to cover filling, forming a pinwheel. Press lightly to seal. If dough becomes soft, refrigerate until firm.
• Lightly beat remaining egg with remaining pinch of salt. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush tops of cookies with egg wash. Bake until edges are golden and cookies are slightly puffed, 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool on sheets 5 minutes, then transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with remaining dough.

FINNISH PINWHEELS

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine dried plums, dates, water and sugar. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until thickened. Remove from the heat and stir in butter. Cool. , Meanwhile, in a bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut in butter as for a pie crust. Blend in egg, cream and vanilla. Form into 2 balls. , Place 1 ball at a time on a floured surface and roll to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut into 2-in. squares. Place on ungreased baking sheets. With a sharp knife, make 1-in. diagonal slits in corners. Place 1/2 teaspoon filling in the center of each square. Bring every other corner up into center to form a pinwheel and press lightly. Bake at 325° until the points are light golden brown, about 12 minutes. Cool on wire racks. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

JOULUTORTUT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Boil 1 bag of pitted prunes with 1/4 cup of water 1/2 cup of sugar and a couple teaspoons of fresh lemon juice. After boiling let this mixture simmer for about 30 minutes until it is soft. Give it a stir once in a while. This simmering also give the kitchen a lovely Finnish Christmas scent. Mix all the dough ingredients in a large bowl with your hands (it must be with your hands no mixers no spoons). Once all the ingredients are well mixed let the dough chill for a few hours. Then sprinkle flour on your clean kitchen counter. Take half the dough out leave the other half in the fridge. Roll it out and cut into several 3-inch squares with a knife. Cut slits in all four corners of each square. Fill the center with a couple teaspoons of the prune filling. Then create the star by pulling down alternate corners of the square. Press the alternate corners down into the filling to make them stick. Do the same with the second half of the dough. Bake Joulu Tortut on an ungreased cookie sheet at 350 degree F for well until you start to smell the butter and cream cheese- about 15 minutes. But really just peer in the over and look at them. If they have a nice golden color they re done. Cool on wire racks.

FINNISH COOKIES "JOULUTORT STARS"

Steps:

• 1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all dough ingredients, in a large bowel, with your hands. (it must be with your clean hands no rings on please.) Once all the ingredients are well mixed let the dough. Important: Chill for a few hours!
• 2. Sprinkle flour on your clean kitchen counter.Take half of the dough out, and leave the other half in the refrigerator. Roll out and cut into several 3 inch sguares with a knife.
• 3. Cut slits in all 4 corners of each square. Fill the center with a couple teaspoons of filling.
• 4. Then create the star by pulling down alternate corners of the squares. Press the alternate corners down into the filling to make them stick. Do the same with the second half of cookie dough.
• 5. Bake on an ungreased coolie sheet, at 350 degrees F. for about 12-15 minutes. You will start to smell the butter and cream cheese. But really just take a peek, if they have a nice golden color they are done. Cool on wire racks. ....Sprinkle with powdered sugar...when cool.

JOULUTORTUT (FINNISH PRUNE FILLED COOKIES)

Steps:

• Boil 1 bag of pitted prunes with 1/4 cup of water 1/2 cup of sugar and a couple teaspoons of fresh lemon juice. After boiling let this mixture simmer for about 30 minutes until it is soft. Give it a stir once in a while. This simmering also give the kitchen a lovely Finnish Christmas scent. Mix all the dough ingredients in a large bowl with your hands (it must be with your hands no mixers no spoons). Once all the ingredients are well mixed let the dough chill for a few hours. Then sprinkle flour on your clean kitchen counter. Take half the dough out leave the other half in the fridge. Roll it out and cut into several 3-inch squares with a knife. Cut slits in all four corners of each square. Fill the center with a couple teaspoons of the prune filling. Then create the star by pulling down alternate corners of the square. Press the alternate corners down into the filling to make them stick. Do the same with the second half of the dough. Bake Joulu Tortut on an ungreased cookie sheet at 350 degree F for well until you start to smell the butter and cream cheese- about 15 minutes. But really just peer in the over and look at them. If they have a nice golden color they re done. Cool on wire racks.