Beginners Guide to Making Polish Desserts for your Family

Polish desserts are sweet and tasty, they give a taste of the Polish cuisine. Ranging from sour-sweet fruit tarts to rich and creamy eclairs, Polish desserts are a true delight for any sweet lover. Here, we will learn how to make some of the favorite and conventional Polish desserts, such as Paczki, Makowiec and Sernik. All these desserts have various preparation methods and ingredients that we will discuss to assist you in making them in your kitchen.

A. Paczki (Polish Doughnuts)

Ingredients

2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast

1/4 cup warm water (110°F)

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup butter, melted

3 large egg yolks

1 large egg

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

¾ cup whole milk, warmed

4 cups all-purpose flour

Fruit preserves or custard for filling

Powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions

1. Activate the Yeast:

In a small bowl, mix the yeast with the warm water and add 1 spoon of sugar. Let it sit at room temperature for roughly 5 minutes to give it a frothy texture.

2. Prepare the Dough:

i. In a large bowl, combine the melted butter, the remaining sugar, egg yolks, egg, salt, and vanilla. Mix well.

ii. Add the activated yeast mixture and the warm milk to the bowl and combine the ingredients.

iii. Gradually incorporate the flour into the mixture and mix it until it forms a soft dough.

3. Knead the Dough:

i. Mixing the dough on a floured surface for about 10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.

ii. Place the dough in the greased bowl, cover it with a clean cloth and let it rise for about one hour or until double in size.

4. Shape the Doughnuts:

i. Knead the dough and expand it to a one-half-inch thickness.

ii. Using a round cutter, press circles of dough. Place a teaspoon of fruit preserves or custard in the middle of the circle and fold the dough to cover the filling and press the edges together.

5. Fry the Doughnuts:

i. Place oil into a deep fryer or a large saucepan and heat it to 350 Fahrenheit or 175 Celsius.

ii. To fry the doughnuts, immerse them in a pot of hot oil and fry on both sides until they turn out golden brown.

iii. Using a slotted spoon remove the doughnuts and transfer them to the absorbent paper to drain the excess oil.

6. Finish and Serve:

i. Dust with sugar and serve the fried doughnuts.

B. Makowiec (Poppy Seed Roll)

Ingredients

2 1/4 teaspoon of active dry yeast

¼ cup warm water (110°F)

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup butter, melted

2 large egg yolks

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cups whole milk, warmed

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups of poppy seeds

1/2 cup honey

1/4 cup raisins

¼ cup chopped nuts (walnuts or almonds)

1 tablespoon lemon zest

Instructions

1. Activate the Yeast:

In a cup, dissolve the yeast in warm water containing a teaspoon of sugar until it becomes frothy and leaves bubbles on the surface for about 5 minutes.

2. Prepare the Dough:

i. Beat in the melted butter, the remaining sugar, the egg yolks, salt and vanilla extract in a large bowl. Mix well.

ii. Then add the yeast mixture and the warm milk into it and mix it up.

iii. Gradually add the flour into the mixture until the dough becomes soft.

3. Knead and Rise:

i. Knead the dough for approximately 20 minutes until smooth and elastic on a surface that has been dusted with flour.

ii. Knead and place the dough into a greased bowl to rise in a warm area for an additional hour or until it doubles in size.

4. Prepare the Filling:

i. Using the blade of a food processor, chop the poppy seeds.

ii. In a saucepan combine crushed poppy seeds, honey, raisins, nuts and lemon rind. Stir it over medium heat until it thickens which should take about 10 minutes. Let it cool.

5. Assemble the Roll:

i. Knead the risen dough and spread it into a rectangle on a surface dusted with flour.

ii. Cover the dough with the poppy seed filling leaving only a thin border around the edges.

iii. Roll the dough with the rolling pin from the long end to the short end and pinch the seam to join.

6. Bake:

i. Position the roll on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Close it up and let it continue to rise for an additional 30 minutes.

ii. Heat the oven to 350 Fahrenheit degrees before proceeding to the next step. Bake the roll for about 30-35 minutes until it turns golden brown.

7. Finish and Serve:

i. Let the roll cool down before cutting it into slices for serving.

C. Sernik (Polish Cheesecake)

Ingredients

2 tablespoons graham cracker crumbs

1/2 cup melted butter

3 tablespoons granulated sugar

3packages (8ounces each) cream cheese, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

3 large eggs

1 cup sour cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon lemon juice

Instructions

1. Prepare the Crust:

i. Oven preparation: You should preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit or 165 degrees Celsius.

ii. For the crust, in another bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, melted butter and 3 tablespoons of sugar. Mix until well combined.

iii. Pour the batter into the springform pan and spread it at the bottom to form the crust.

2. Make the Filling:

i. Place the cream cheese and 1 cup of sugar in a large mixer bowl and mix until smooth.

ii. Add the eggs one at a time while continuously making sure to beat the mixture after mixing each egg.

iii. Finally add the sour cream, vanilla and lemon juice.

3. Bake the Cheesecake:

i. Pour the filling over the arranged crust in the springform pan.

ii. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until the top is a light gold color and the center becomes firm to the touch.

4. Cool and Chill:

Allow the cheesecake to come to room temperature before you chill it in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or until the next day.

5. Serve:

Remove the cheesecake from the spring form pan and divide the cheesecake into portions before serving.

Conclusion

Actually, it is very interesting to prepare Polish desserts at home because this way you can taste the real Polish food. From the sugary delight of Paczki to the nutty delight of Makowiec or the silky richness of Sernik, each one of these delicious delicacies is indeed a Polish delight. By following the following guidelines, one can feel the taste of Poland and prepare delicious meals for your family members.