Beehive Cookies (Czech Traditional Vceli Uly)

These traditional Czech no-bake filled cookies are usually made around Christmastime. They're made with a wooden or plastic beehive mold, but it's possible to use a walnut shell as well. Coat them with ganache, powdered sugar, or cocoa. To enhance the flavor, make the cookies two or three days in advance.

• Preparation Time: 60 mins
• Total Time: 60 mins
• Calories: 273 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 egg yolk
• 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 tablespoons water
• ¾ cup confectioners' sugar
• ½ cup butter, room temperature
• 1 ¾ cups confectioners' sugar
• ¼ cup rum
• 24 vanilla wafer cookies
• 3 ⅓ cups vanilla wafer cookies, crushed
• ⅓ cup butter, room temperature
• 2 tablespoons rum, or to taste
• 1 tablespoon sweetened condensed milk
• ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, for dusting
• ¼ cup confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Combine the cookie crumbs, water, 1 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar, 1/3 cup butter, 1/4 cup rum, and cocoa powder. Work the mixture into a smooth dough, wrap it in plastic, and refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm.

Step 2

Beat the 1/2 cup butter with 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar. Mix in 2 tablespoons of rum, sweetened condensed milk, and egg yolk.

Step 3

Grease a beehive mold or a walnut shell and coat it with cocoa or confectioners' sugar. Divide the chilled dough into balls to fit the size of your mold. Roll the balls in cocoa or sugar. Push the dough into the mold and make a hollow in the center.

Step 4

Use a pastry bag or sandwich bag with the corner snipped off to pipe the filling in the cookie shell. Cover the filling with a vanilla wafer (the beehive "base"), and carefully remove the mold. Repeat with the remaining cookies. Store beehives in a cool place. Flavor will improve for 2 or 3 days.