Someone left a message at Shenanchie’s Pantry today, inquiring about the origins of Polish Bowtie cookies. While I couldn’t find any definite history of the cookie (called Chrusciki), I did find a recipe or two. The best seemed to be had at Recipe Zaar:

 

Chrusciki (Polish Bowtie Cookies)

2 whole eggs

10 egg yolks

1 TBS melted butter

3 TBS granulated sugar (or vanilla sugar)

½ tsp. salt

1 tsp. pure orange extract

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1 tsp. freshly grated fresh lemon rind

1 tsp. freshly grated orange rind

3 TBS cognac

½ C sour cream

4 to 5 C flour

Melted Crisco, mixed with lard

Powdered sugar

 

Beat the eggs and egg yolks together until thick and lemon colored. Add the melted butter, sugar, salt, extracts, citrus rinds, cognac, and sour cream and beat until creamy and smooth. Add enough flour gradually to produce thick, fairly stiff dough. Turn out onto a floured board and knead for 8-10 minutes until the dough is elastic and can be handled easily. Roll pieces of dough 1/8 inch thin (should be able to see through them) and cut into strips about 3” long and 2” wide. Cut the ends on a diagonal. Slit each piece in the center and pull one end through the slit. Heat the Crisco and lard to 375° and fry the dough strips, until lightly browned (about one minute) Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with powdered sugar.