Chrusciki Polish Angel Wings

I am getting ready for Easter which seems strange because we have another snow storm on the way.  So,  I made Polish Chrusciki.  When I was a little girl these were my father's favorite cookie.  I suspect his Polish mother made them for him. She died long before I was born but I sort of felt like I channeled her when I made these for the first time yesterday.  I wished I could have brought her back from the dead since I really could have used the help!
iPhoto is giving me fits this morning so the photos are out of synch and nothing I do corrects it.  This pic shows how you roll the dough out.  It needs to be very thin.
Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:
  • 3 egg yolks
  • 2 Tablespoons sugar
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 Tablespoon sour cream
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 teaspoon each lemon & orange zest
  • 3/4 cup all purpose flour

  • up to 2 Tablespoons additional flour
  • 1 quart of oil for frying
  •  powdered sugar

Instructions:
  1. In a small bowl using an electric hand mixer on high, beat egg yolks, sugar and salt until thick and lemon colored - about a minute.
  2. On low speed, stir in sour cream, vanilla, zests & flour.
  3. Transfer to a floured surface and knead 100 turns (about 3 minutes), adding extra flour as needed.
  4. Divide dough in half, keeping extra covered with plastic.
  5. On a lightly floured surface, roll each section paper-thin to at least 12” across. Cut into 1 1/4-inch strips. Cut strips into 5-inch lengths. Make a slit in each strip. Pull one end through slit to make a bow tie.
  6. Deep fry in oil at 375° F for about a minute, turning once using 2 forks, until lightly golden on both sides. Do not crowd.
  7. Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
These cookies are flavored with orange and lemon rind as well as some juice.



Cut the dough into strips and put a slit in the middle of each one.


Heat some oil and place a rack with paper towels under it nearby.

Slip the top of each strip through the hole in the center and pull it through.

Fry about 5 at a time.  They brown quickly and I found that I had too many in the pot the first time.

Drain them and let them cool on the rack.

When they have cooled, sprinkle the cookies with confectioners sugar.  Turn them over and sprinkle the other side.  Make sure to let the cookies cool or the sugar will melt on them.

I doubled the above recipe which ended up making about 70 cookies.  Doubling these is a good idea because they flew out of here.  My daughter said she could not stop eating them.

Comments

Jamie. said…
oooo that looks delicious! Thanks for the recipe!
Anonymous said…
I have eaten these all my life and yours are perfect, our family roll them out on a pastry cloth, but I'm not sure where you get one now, this one I have came off the boat with Columbus I think, lol
Jim said…
These look very good! You remind me of my mother who always was willing to try something new.
So delicious, I loved your inclusion of orange zest, very refreshing!:)
kymber said…
jaz - i just wanted you to know that i added you to our food blogroll and i hope that it is ok with you. i couldn't find a way to contact you here on your blog other than leaving a comment. you can find our blog at http://fmgoodeats.blogspot.ca/

if you do not wish to be listed in our blogroll then send me an email at kymberzmail@gmail.com and i will remove you.
Leanne said…
they look such fun and can see then as fairy wings at a little girls birthday party too.
brokenteepee said…
These are such a part of my childhood and I miss them.
Anonymous said…
They bring back memories of my grandmother :-) She used to make them too and I loved them but I think (by looking quickly at a recipe for them) that we have a slightly different recipe for ours.

We call them Klenäter or Struvor and very few make them now days and only for Christmas. I've never seen our sprinkeled with sugar like that though.

Have a great day!
Christer.
Hippo said…
Biscuits boiled in oil, that's a new one for me! I bet they taste delicious so I shall be giving them a go.
TARYTERRE said…
Anything that's called angel wings I'm in. Especially with confectioner's sugar.
Guillaume said…
Yesterday India, today Poland. You certainly visit through their gastronomy the most diverse places.
Loli said…
I am so impressed... My grand grandmother was Polish too. We both have Polish roots )
This recipe is going to DIL! I think we should make these for Easter Sunday.. they sound wonderful..thanks for sharing, Joyce!
Mona
luckybunny said…
I believe your daughter when she says she could not stop eating them!