Kolac: Dried Apricot + Ricotta Crumble Slice
We first published this recipe in our fourth book, Now for Something Sweet. This is a half size version of the original, best made in a 20 or 22 cm square tin, and we use dried apricots at this time of year instead of fresh. If you prefer, used about 10 drained tinned apricot halves in place of the dried.
If you are looking for more Shavuot recipes, check out our Frojalda: Turkish Cheese Bread.
This recipe comes from Leonie Vickers who we met at a Monday Morning Cooking Club Passover cooking demonstration on the North Shore in Sydney, and she was excited to tell us about her family’s kolac. We had never heard of this Czech cake but when she described it as layers of buttery pastry, tart apricots and sweet cheese, all topped with a toasty crumble, we were just as excited.
We’ve made a short video HERE so you can see how it’s made.
Ingredients
Method
- Put dried apricots in a heat proof bowl and cover with boiling water. Allow to soak for 15 minutes and drain well before using.
- Preheat the oven to 180 C with an oven tray inside. Line a square tin with an overhang, 20 or 22 cm.
- To make the pastry, place the flours, sugar and salt in the food processor and process to combine. Add the butter and pulse until crumbs form. Add the egg yolk, and the lemon juice and zest, and pulse until a dough is formed. Remove the dough and shape it into a disk. Wrap and refrigerate for 10 minutes.
- On a lightly floured benchtop, roll out the dough until it is the size of the tin. Place the pastry into the tin, ensuring the base is evenly covered. Bake for 15 minutes.
- To make the crumble topping, place the flour, butter, sugar and vanilla in the food processor and pulse until it is a rough crumbly mixture. Remove from the processor and set aside.
- To make the cheese filling, place the cheese, eggs and sugar in the food processor and process until it is a smooth mixture.
- Spread the cheese filling on the dough and place the apricots on top. Sprinkle with the crumble topping.
- Bake for 1 hour or until the top is light golden. Allow to cool.
Hello, where in Australia can I buy farm/drained cottage cheese?
Hi Liora
It’s getting harder to find which is we use well-drained ricotta works in its place. You can find farm cheese at gourmet grocery stores (such as Parisis in Sydney). Cheers,
Lisa
Is there a way of making this parve or for someone who is lactose intolerant? What is a good substitute for riccotta?
HI Tanya – I suggest you buy lactose free cottage or cream cheese instead of regular ricotta. I wouldn’t make this cake parve, best to choose another (non cheese) cake.
Cheers Lisa