Polish Cream Cheese Cookies (2024)

November 11, 2021February 4, 2024Cookies

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Polish Cream Cheese Cookies are a classic cookie with dough that mimics a pastry crust and then is stuffed with a variety of jams such as apricot, cherry, or almond.

When I was a child we used to go to church every Sunday. In between Sunday School and church they would put out coffee and cookies in the kitchen for people, mainly adults, to snack on while socializing before the service. After the adults were finished and about 5 minutes before the church service started the junior and senior high Sunday school classes would go in and grab any cookies that were left.

I remember those years fondly both because of the people who were in my class and because of those cookies. I remember going into the kitchen and the anticipation I would feel before seeing what types of cookies were left on the plates. Many weeks it was just Oreos or chocolate chip cookies but every once in a while I would get lucky.

Those were the weeks when I would find a Polish Cream Cheese Cookie with apricot jam sitting on the tray. I don’t know what it was about those cookies but man were they good. They are one of the few cookies I couldn’t pass up then and that I still can’t pass up today. Something about the delicate, lightly sweetened cookie paired with jam and sprinkled with coarse sugar is pure perfection.

You would think because of how much I enjoyed those cookies that I would have been making them for years but that is not the case. In fact, as an adult I would still feel like I scored whenever I came across a cookie plate that had the Polish Cream Cheese Cookies on them. While I like the ones with raspberry jam in them, the original apricot ones were always my favorite.

So when Food Network Magazine had a recipe for these cookies in their holiday magazine edition I immediately cut it out and stuffed it in my planner because I knew I was making them. Quick note on making these, make sure you have plenty of time as they do take a bit of work. You need to make the dough, chill for an hour, roll the dough, cut the dough, then fold the dough so these are not fast cookies. However, they are totally worth the work.

Ingredients:

cream cheese
butter
sugar
flour
apricot jam
coarse sugar

To make these cookies beat the cream cheese, butter, and sugar together until smooth. Add in the flour and mix until just combined.

Wrap the dough and refrigerate for at least an hour.

Do I have to use apricot jam?

No! You can use cherry, apricot, raspberry, or even an almond filling.

What if I don’t have coarse sugar?

You can certainly use regular granulated sugar or even colored sprinkles. While the coarse sugar looks amazing on these cookies any sugar or sprinkles will work. You can even omit it if you want.

Can I freeze this dough?

Yes! Wrap it well and put it in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator over night when ready to use.

Filling the dough, folding it, and pinching it took a while. Then while the cookies baked the jam starting oozing out of them. I was a little worried but in the end they were perfect and just like I remembered. The cookie is delicate and has just a hint of sweetness. The jam is sweet but a bit tangy and the coarse sugar gives the cookie a nice crunch. It really brought back memories of my childhood and both my husband and I really enjoyed these cookies.

I’m fairly certain that while they were a lot of work they will be on our yearly holiday cookie list from now on!

More Cookie Recipes:

French Toast Cookies
Egyptian Butter Cookies
Peach Ginger Cookies
Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies
Red Velvet Cookies

If you’ve tried my Polish Cream Cheese Cookies or any other recipe on Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks please take a minute to rate the recipe and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. I love hearing from you! You can FOLLOW ME on:

Polish Cream Cheese Cookies

Polish Cream Cheese Cookies are a classic cookie with dough that mimics a pastry crust and then is stuffed with a variety of jams such as apricot, cherry, or almond.

4.83 from 40 votes

Equipment

Ingredients

1 8 oz package cream cheese, softened
2 sticks salted butter softened
1/4 c. sugar
2 3/4 c. flour
1 c. apricot jam
Coarse sugar

Instructions

In a large bowl beat together the cream cheese, butter, and sugar on medium high speed until fluffy.
Add the flour and mix until combined.
Divide the dough into 2 pieces and wrap with plastic wrap.
Refrigerate for 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with silpat or parchment.
Remove one dough ball from the refrigerator and roll to 1/8 inch thickness.
Cut into 2 1/2 inch squares.
Place the squares onto the cookie sheets, 2 inches apart.
Spoon 1 teaspoon of jam into the center of each dough square. Fold in the two opposite corners so that they overlap in the middle and press to seal.
Sprinkle with coarse sugar.
Bake the cookies for 20-25 minutes or until they are puffed and the edges are golden.
Remove from oven and cool for 2-3 minutes then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
Repeat with remaining dough.

Notes

Recipe from Food Network Magazine, December 2019

Nutrition

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Polish Cream Cheese Cookies from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
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