Traditional Czech Christmas Cookies – Masaryk’s Christmas Cookies

Are you already thinking about what Christmas cookies you will bake this year?

This traditional Czech recipe dates back to the 1920s when Czechoslovakia was established, and Tomas Masaryk became the country’s first president. Today, he is remembered with love as one of the most important Czechs in history and the first president of the Czechoslovak Republic.

This particular Christmas cookie was his personal favorite, and it was named after him: Masaryk’s cookies.

It’s easy to prepare, and it is excellent!

Traditional Masaryk’s Christmas Cookies

We have an authentic recipe for Masaryk’s popular cookies with whole hazelnuts.

A delicacy!

Ingredients:

• 1 and ⅓ cups all-purpose flour
• ⅓ cup powdered sugar
• 1 stick unsalted butter
• ¾ cup hazelnuts
• 1 egg yolk
• ½ teaspoon vanilla paste
• ½ cup powdered sugar for dusting
• vanilla bean (optional)

Method

• First, put the whole hazelnuts in a mug and cover with lukewarm water.
• Let them stand for about an hour.
• Nuts soften slightly in water.
• In a large bowl, add the flour, sugar, vanilla paste, egg yolk, and butter, cut into smaller pieces, and mix.
• Work the butter into the dough thoroughly.
• Drain the nuts and gently dry them with a kitchen towel.
• Add them to the bowl with the other ingredients.
• Work out the dough.
• Turn onto a work surface and work with your hands into a smooth, slightly sticky dough.
• Do not knead the dough for too long; once you have a smooth dough, stop working with it.
• Divide the dough in half and roll each half into an oblong cylinder with a diameter of about two inches.
• Wrap the rolls in cling film and leave them to harden in the fridge for about an hour.
• Using a sharp knife, cut the cooled rolls of dough into rounds about 1/4 inch thick.
• Line a lightly greased tray with baking paper.
• Place the wheels on a lined tray and bake in a preheated oven at 340°F for 13 minutes.
• Let the candy cool for about 5 minutes.
• While it is still warm, roll it in powdered sugar, flavored with vanilla pods (optional).

Vanilla & Cocoa Masaryk Cookies

An excellent version of Masaryk’s sweets made special with walnuts pickled in mead and cocoa.

We love this recipe!

Ingredients:

• 1 and 1/2 cups walnuts
• 2 cups mead
• 1 cup butter
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 cups plain flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon Dutch cocoa
• powdered sugar for sprinkling

Method

• Soak walnuts in mead overnight.
• In the morning, roughly chop the nuts.
• Mix the butter, granulated sugar, and egg yolk well.
• Divide the mixture in half.
• Add 1 cup flour, cocoa, and 3/4 cup walnuts to one-half and mix well.
• Form a 4 cm thick log, wrap it in cling film and leave it to rest overnight in the fridge.
• Add 1 cup flour, vanilla extract, and 3/4 cup walnuts to the other half of the mixture and repeat the process.
• The next day, preheat the oven to 360°F.
• Take the cocoa and vanilla logs out of the fridge and cut them into 0.2-inch rounds.
• Place the wheels on a baking sheet lined with baking paper and bake for 10 minutes.
• While they are still hot, sprinkle them with icing sugar and serve.

Drunkin’ Masaryk’s Cookies

Try dipping the hazelnuts in rum this time, and the candy will immediately take on a completely new dimension.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups butter
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 cups hazelnuts
• Rum

Method

• Put the nuts in the rum for about an hour.
• Then, coarsely chop them in a food processor.
• Mix all the ingredients and let it sit until the next day.
• Roll out the dough and cut out different shapes.
• Put the candy on a tray lined with baking paper and bake it in an oven preheated to 300°F until golden.
• Allow to cool and roll in a mixture of powdered sugar and vanilla.
• Bon apetite!

Interesting facts about Masaryk’s confectionery

The traditional recipe for Masaryk sugar comes from the 1920s when Czechoslovakia was founded, and TG Masaryk became the first president.

It is said that this candy was his favorite and, therefore, got its name after him. Allegedly, his mother made it for him in Lány; at that time, it was still known as hazelnut candy.

Masaryk’s sweets are incredibly easy to prepare and, at the same time, taste great. People love it for its buttery fragility and incredible nutty aroma. Hazelnuts are often used, but you can replace them with walnuts or almonds.

And how did you like today’s recipes for Masaryk’s sweets? Let us know in the comments!