Yugoslavian Christmas Cookies

Are they Croatian or Bosnian? We don't know! But they're good.

Makes about 36

For the base:
2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup chopped toasted walnuts
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup seedless red raspberry jam

For the topping:
4 egg whites at room temperature
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup ground walnuts
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled to room temperature
1/3 cup finely chopped walnuts

Pre-heat oven to 350 F. Grease a 15 x 10-inch jelly roll pan. To prepare cookie base, combine flour, nuts, cinnamon and salt in a medium bowl; set aside. In a large mixing bowl beat butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy. Stir in flour mixture; blend well. Turn into prepared pan and smooth the surface. Evenly spread jam over dough; set aside.

To prepare topping, beat egg whites and cream of tartar in a large mixing bowl at medium speed until soft peaks form. Increase speed to medium-high; add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, until egg whites form very stiff glossy peaks. Gently fold in ground nuts and melted chocolate. Spoon dollops of meringue over jam, spread evenly. Sprinkle meringue with chopped nuts.

Bake 5 minutes, remove pan from oven. Using a very sharp or serrated knife, lightly score surface of meringue into 2-inch squares (8 x 5). Continue baking 20 to 30 minutes or until meringue is firm to the touch. Cool in pan on rack. Cut into squares. Store in airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.

Note: Adapted from The Joy of Cookies by Sharon Tyler Herbst (1987). Also called Docci Bojai.

Reviews of Yugoslavian Christmas Cookies:

1-5 of 13 reviews   Next >>

  Mina in Yugoslavia :)  Dec 19, 2009
Would make this again.
Serbs do bake these cookies as do many others....Koljivo isn't mixture of some cereals BUT cooked wheat which is ground and mixed with nuts and dried fruit, sweetened with honey and spiced with clove, very special. Cesnica is a pie made with again dry nuts, fruit and honey.This cookie isn't exclusively Croatian. It is rather universal as you can find it in many other countries. five stars

   Dec 8, 2009
Would make this again.
i heart this cookie it is soooooo delicious i would eat it for breakfast lunch and dinner five stars

  A cookie baker  Dec 1, 2009
Would make this again.
Definitely Croatian. Old family recipe, had them every year! five stars

  Stephanie Hongell  Dec 3, 2008
Would make this again.
Lovely.
Absolutely loved it. five stars

  Zina McCullough in Florida  Nov 22, 2008
Would make this again.
My mom used to make these for times other than Christmas. They are so good without the chocolate in them. Now that I have relocated the recipe, I will be making this year as well. five stars

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