Foodie Blogroll

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Poppy Seed Pinwheel Cookies

A little while back I went to Geier's Sausage Kitchen to shop for some ingredients for my Feijoada. While I was there I found all sorts of goodies, one was a tub of poppy seed filling, I was wondering what I could do with it. I spotted some poppy seed strudel for sale in the deli/bakery case. So I picked some up thinking I would find some way to use it. I was thinking about using puff pastry to try and make a strudel, but then saw some spiral cookies with poppy seed. It seems Eastern European countries like poppy seeds and all seem to have a version of cookies that they make. From Kolache, pinwheels, logs and just mixed in the cookies. Sooo....after some research this is what I made.

Poppy Seed Pinwheel Cookies

Ingredients:
-1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened or 1 stick
-1/4 cup granulated sugar
-1 tsp grated lemon peel
-1 large egg
-1 Tbsp sour cream
-1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
-1 tsp baking soda
-1/4 tsp salt
-1/4 tsp ground cloves
-1 tsp vanilla (I used my homemade vanilla extract)
-*Poppy seed filling ¾ cup ( I bought mine made at the German Store and used the whole tub)

*You can use canned or make your own, I bought mine at Geier's Sausage Kitchen a German meat market and food store. Or you could make your own, here are a couple of recipes:
•1/2 cup milk
•1 Tablespoon honey
•1 cup ground poppy seeds
•2 Tablespoons sugar
•1 teaspoon ground allspice
or:
1 cup poppy seed
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup honey
1/3 cup chopped dates
1/3 cup chopped nuts
Dash of cinnamon

Make the Dough:
With an electric mixer, beat together the butter, sugar, egg, and sour cream in a large bowl. Stir in the flour, salt, cloves (I added a little mace to mine too) and lemon zest to make a soft dough. (The dough may be made ahead and refrigerated covered, for up to two days.) I wanted to say I had to make mine by hand because my electric mixer burned up making my molasses gingerbread cookies. I can be done!
I don't think my dough was stiff enough, but I rolled it in between two sheets of waxed paper into a...err...rectangle..


... which is easier said than done, so I adjusted it with a a little cut and paste.




Then spread the filling on, which went on quite easy. Yes, it's not the neatest, but you can get picky with yours if you like. This photo is with a flash...



and this one without, it was after dark when I made it and it's so hard for me to get good shots in the dark! :D





When you roll it up start to peel back the waxed paper as you go. You can use parchment paper instead if that's what you have. Some suggested to refrigerate before rolling...



At this point I tried to cut the cookies and the dough was just too soft, the end just mushed. So I refrigerated it for a bit until it was easier to cut. When you are ready, preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and line cookie sheets with parchment paper.





Then cut roll into ½-inch slices and arrange them about 1 inch apart on prepared cookie sheets (or just use your stoneware jelly roll pan like I do). Bake for about 10 minutes or until edges are light brown.





Cool pinwheel cookies on baking sheets for a couple of minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely. Sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar before serving if desired.




See that end piece? These are great because you can get a taste to see how they turned out without wasting a good one! Mmmm....




These got a little too brown, but I liked them like that...they were still good. I'm sure with more practice I can get them right. I will definitely be making these again.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year! Cheers!

18 comments:

  1. They look pretty, but I hate eating anything with poppy seeds unless I have a toothbrush handy.

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  2. I used to make pinwheel cookies a lot when my kids were younger. These look great and the poppy seed filling is unusual and worth trying; I wonder what the nutritional benefits of poppy seeds are?

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  3. They look absolutely beautiful. YUMM!

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  4. Bo - Haha! I think a toothpick would work! and easier to carry! :D

    tasteofbeirut - I'm not sure the nutritional value of poppy seeds, I'll have to check that out. These cookies aren't very sweet though...that's why I like them!

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  5. the poppy seed looks like caviar....just a dream right? happy new year!

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  6. Nice cookies and look yummy :)
    Happy New Year and all the best in 2011!

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  7. Thanks for passing from my blog Lyndsey. Glad to meet youand good luck with winning my cookbook. Your pinwheels sound delicious. I haven't made them for ages but never made them with this filling before. Happy New Year.

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  8. These poppyseed pinwheel cookies look great! I am sure they are very tasty too. Happy New Year to you and your family!

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  9. I usually stay away from poppy seeds because my teeth just fear them. LOL
    However, having them grounded up in such a pretty concoction could have me at your place with a pot of coffee pronto ;o)

    Lyndsey, here's wishing you the very best for the New Year ahead.

    Flavourful wishes,
    Claudia

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  10. Lyndz, Happy New Year to you & yours! And do remember this day, this month & this year.....1/1/11 ! Maybe we aren't something like Paris Hilton BFF but still wishing FF. Btw, your pinwheel cookies look great. I think I need to start my cookies project soon. Thanks for everything & may life be better!
    Blessings, Kristy

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  11. mr. pineapple man - ha! You should see it when I opened the tub...looks just like caviar!

    Sanjeeta kk - thanks so much!

    Anncoo - thanks Ann, all the best to you this new year too!

    Ivy - thank you, I enjoyed your blog so much! I hope I win your lovely book.

    Biren - thanks you. I do like that they are a really sweet cookie.

    Caudia - thank you, they do taste good, come on over. I'll put on a fresh pot of coffee, my pleasure!

    Kristy - Thank you, my BFF I can always count on you. BTW Wade's birthday will be 9/10/11 this year. (I'm sure your cookies will look prettier) I'm still practicing. Cheers!

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  12. Lyndsey I love these, look absolutely yummy, is my type of treats, I want to whish a nice and Happy New Year!! huggss gloria

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  13. I think I would like these as I also do not like things which are too sweet. I will remeber to keep the tooth pick on stand by LOL. Happy New Year. Diane

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  14. I have ALWAYS wanted to do something fun with a sweet poppy seed filling because it sounds so delicious! These cookies look fantastic!

    I DID get your entries for Regional Recipes and I'll be commenting when I do the round-up (probably tomorrow)! Thanks so much for your submission and sorry for taking so long to get back to you! School has taken a toll on me!

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  15. Lyndsey, they look great and I kind of agree with Bo. Have a great Happy New Year! Hugs

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  16. I absolutely love poppy seeds in everything!

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  17. Lyndsay - Looks like we posted at the same time, I didn't mean to skip you. Thank you so much for your comment!

    Gloria - thanks so much, I love your desserts, and happy new year to you too!

    Diane - I think you'd like these then, and the seeds really don't stick to your teeth because they stick together. :D Happy new year too!

    Joanne - Thanks, everybody liked them. I want to try to make a strudel next time.(or something like it)
    Thanks for letting me know, I just have never entered anything in Regional Recipes before, it's a little new to me. I don't know how you do it all with school too.

    Pam - I didn't get one seed stuck in my teeth, and I checked too! See :D

    Peggy - you'd like these too...the poppy seed is the star!

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