Polish Wedding Cake - Kolacz Weselny Recipe

How to make it

---

• Prepare Cheese Filling:
• With a grinder or food processor, process cheese.
• Do not puree or over process.
• Place egg yolks, sugar and vanilla sugar in a large bowl.
• Beat until pale and creamy, at least 10 minutes. Add ground cheese, a little at a time, while beating.
• Beat until smooth.
• Set aside.
• In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 Tbsp. sugar in 1/4 cup warm water.
• Let stand 5 to 10 minutes until foamy.
• Place 1 cup sugar, butter or margarine and eggs in large bowl.
• Beat until pale and fluffy.
• Add yeast mixture, 1 pint milk, 2 cups flour and salt.
• Beat until well blended.
• Stir in enough remaining flour to make a soft dough.
• Turn out dough on a lightly floured surface.
• Clean and grease bowl.
• Knead dough until smooth and elastic.
• Place dough in greased bowl, turning to coat all sides.
• Cover with a clean damp cloth and let rise in a warm place, free from any drafts, until doubled in bulk.
• Preheat oven to 350 F.
• Grease side and bottom of a 10 inch spring form pan.
• Divide dough into thirds.
• Using your hands, gently press 1/3 of dough evenly over bottom and side of pan.
• Evenly spread cheese filling over dough lined pan.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out another 1/3 of dough to a 10 inch circle.
• Place over cheese filling.
• Gently pat with your hands.
• Using a pastry brush, lightly brush milk over top of dough.
• Cut remaining 1/3 dough in 4 even pieces.
• Shape 3 pieces into long ropes.
• Braid ropes; apply to outer edge of cake.
• Using remaining dough, cut desired figures with various cutters or form shapes with your hands.
• Arrange figures on top of dough as desired.
• Lightly brush with milk.
• Bake 50 to 60 minutes or until golden brown.
• Cool cake in pan for 5 minutes on a rack.
• Remove from pan and cool completely on rack.
• Makes 1 (10 inch) cake.