Caldwell Dried Apricot Kolaches

Ingredients

DRIED APRICOT FILLING:
1 pound dried apricots
Three-fourths cup sugar
3 tablespoons butter
STREUSEL TOPPING:
One-half cup sugar
One-half cup flour
One-half cup melted butter
KOLACHES:
2 packages (1/4-ounce) active dry yeast
One-half cup warm water
One-half cup butter
Three-fourths cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
6 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups warm milk

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cook the apricots according to package directions. Drain and stir in sugar and butter. Prepare the Streusel Topping by combining the sugar and flour, adding the butter and mixing together until small crumbs form. To make the kolaches, dissolve the yeast in the warm water and let stand about 5 minutes. In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter, sugar and salt, then stir in the egg and 2 cups of the flour. Add the milk and the dissolved yeast. Add the remaining flour and knead until a soft dough forms. Cover with a towel and set in a warm spot until the dough doubles in size. Roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut into three-inch squares. Press down with the back of spoon to form indentions and fill with the apricot mixture. Fold the dough to cover the filling and sprinkle with the Streusel Topping. Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes.