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.

Original recipe makes 2 dozen, depending on mold size

Ingredients

Dough:
3 1/3 cups vanilla wafer cookies, crushed
2 tablespoons water
1 3/4 cups confectioners’ sugar
1/3 cup butter, room temperature
1/4 cup rum
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
 
Filling:
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
2 tablespoons rum, or to taste
1 tablespoon sweetened condensed milk
1 egg yolk
 
unsweetened cocoa powder, for dusting
confectioners’ sugar, for dusting
24 vanilla wafer cookies

  • PREP

    1 hr

  • READY IN

    2 hrs

Directions

  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.
  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.
  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.
  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.

Nutrition

Calories: 273 kcal
Carbohydrates: 37.1 g
Cholesterol: 26 mg
Fat: 12.9 g
Fiber: 1.1 g
Protein: 1.9 g
Sodium: 142 mg