So you wanna boast about your domesticated self? In our culture, this is where it starts – with Kifli (Кифли). This is the stuff wives-to-be are supposed to know! Yeah right! 
The correct word is were – baby boomers changed all that – phewww – Thanks guys!
But, in all honesty, if you’re going to bake in a Macedonian household, then you better know how to make homemade bread first, then Kifli, then Maznik, and finally, the big star, Zelnik, which is a layered pastry dough stuffed with greens. Yep, all of that makes a good Macedonian housewife. 
In time for big holidays, birthdays, Saint Patron Days, and so forth, Kifli are almost always the centerpiece on that table, or somewhere very near to it. What’s good about these rolls is that they are very versatile. You can stuff them with cheese, or even meat, have them plain, or dunk them in some homemade yogurt. They are enjoyed as a starter, with a salad, or as a dinner roll.
I prefer to snack on them… all day long. I think I ate one entire batch before they were finally done. Ana helped.
I have a total of nine different recipes for these. Everyone always has the “best” Kifli recipe – I just jot down their version and give it a go as soon as I get a moment. This particular one that I’m going to share with you is probably the easiest, and, in my opinion, the tastiest. The method of preparation may seem a bit off, but just follow the recipe and don’t question it. In the end, you will have about 40 soft, delicious Kifli to share with your family.
Kifli or Croissants
You will need:
- 2 cups milk, lukewarm
- 1 package active dry yeast
- 6 teaspoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 4 eggs, separated
- 6 cups flour
- 1 stick of margarine
- Sesame seeds
Directions:
- In a large, deep mixing bowl pour in lukewarm milk.
- Stir in the sugar, 2 tablespoons of flour, and the yeast.
- Let stand for ten minutes.
- Add in the baking powder, salt, vegetable oil, egg whites, and 6 cups of flour.
- Stir with a wooden spoon until the mixture is well incorporated, you may need to get your hands in there towards the end, and then bring the dough to a lightly floured surface.
- Knead the dough for 10 minutes.
- Put the dough in a large bowl, cover it, and let it stand for one hour.
- Preheat oven at 375.
- Bring the dough back to your working area and knead it again for another 5 minutes. You want to make sure that all those air bubbles are out.
- Form the dough into a log and cut it into 5 or 6 equal pieces.
- Take one piece (cover the rest with a kitchen towel), and roll it out to a size as big as a medium pizza.
- With a knife, cut the rolled out dough into 8 equal slices.
- Beginning at the widest point of the slice start rolling it towards the narrowest point.
- Place the croissants on a lightly greased baking sheet.
- Continue to do this with the rest of the dough.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk the 4 egg yolks.
- Brush each croissant with the egg yolk.
- Top each croissant with sesame seeds.
- Put 4 or 5 small pieces of margarine throughout the baking sheet.
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Cover with a kitchen towel while they are cooling.
- Serve immediately or store in an airtight container.
These look great! Could you possibly make the dough and refrigerate/freeze a few days before baking?
Yes, definitely. The dough is good for a few days in the freezer. Also, you can make these ahead and freeze them – they last for a long time in the freezer. Just store them in an airtight container.
I love sesame seeds on croissants! Yours look so good! I never had homemade croissants; summer is coming and I’ll definitely use my free time to try and make them!
They look so delicious. I have never tried them before, so I’m excited to make them.
These look great! I have to make these – my kids would love them.
I love croissants. I have never been brave enough to try to make them though….you have inspired me
Oooh! These look wonderful! I’m going to save the recipe for when we take our culinary tour of Macedonia. So glad you shared. Thanks!
I love this
and same as you, where I come from this is a must to know LOL my recipe is a bit different LOL I’ll have to try your recipe, they look so perfect 
thanks for sharing!
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What a temptress~ I am so trying to stay on my diet but looking like this off I go… breads are my weakness these are one of my favorite and my mouth is watering!
These croissants look wonderful, especially with the sesame seeds! I’ve never made croissants at home before, but these are terribly tempting and I might just have to give it a go
)
Oh, these may have to be on our Easter table…it depends on how energetic I feel! Beautiful croissants, Kate~
I love kifli!
But I’ve never had one with sesame seeds — only “regular”, with chocolate, or with lokum in them — so I will try your recipe for my first baking of kifli 
Sooo pretty, and I can see how you could mow through a batch singlehandedly! Yeast always scares me but you make these seem so easy
These look amazing! Very professional
Will have to start doing croissant soon or later… this looks like a good starting point.
These look amazing! If baking these beautiful rolls is what it takes to be a good housewife, count me in!
Oh my word…. I think I can smells these through my computer! Sniff…. heavenly!
Clearly you are an excellent Macedonian housewife, then, because these look amazing!
I just am one of your biggest fans!! I want to sit down and drink a cup of ttea with you and eat whatever you happen to be serving that day! This recipe is so delicious! The dough looks good enough to eat!
These are so beautiful. I am very impressed and would love to eat in your kitchen!
Making Croissants is so not on my radar. Thanks Kate for allowing me to live the Croissant lifestyle through you. They are fabulous!
Great pictures! I love the sesame seed topping!
I’m all about these! One of my fave! Never made them from scratch though thanks for sharing
OH wow. These look wonderful! I don’t think I’d be able to keep out of them.
so yummy… i’m gonna add this to my bread-baking list. can i halve the recipe tho? don’t think it’ll be good to have so many around the house…i will definitely eat them all myself! =P
hmmm, I don’t see why not! Just make sure your measurements are correct!
Wow. Outstanding. I’d love to see the version fill with some tasty meat
Any bread product is good in my book
These look fantastic…I’m definitely impressed with your housewife skills!
This looks fabulous! The use of margarine outside of the dough totally intrigues me!
Wow, I could eat a million of these a day. Very dangerous.
Wow! These croissants look perfect – browned just enough and the sesame seeds add a great texture I am sure. Definitely want to make these
yay! my mum and tato came over to visit me and they made me a batch of kifli =) happiness defined =) my aussie/irish boyfriend cant get enough of them either!
I can’t even imagine myself baking this kind of amazing croissants but I can’t wait to try this recipe
These look so soft and delicious and perfect! I might just have to try this..
Kifle, kiflice….doesn’t matter the name taste is amazingggg:)
Love it, every bite. Looking beautiful.
I made something little bit different, tanks for looking:)
https://mywanderingspoon.wordpress.com/2011/04/20/homemade-seeded-four-cheese-crackers/
Those look so tempting! I promise not to question your recipe ; )
(And your cookbook should be there next week – let me know!)
Oh these rolls look beautiful. Im slacking on my housewife skills so I guess I need to get in the kitchen, try my hand at these and catch up
Even though I enjoycooking and sewing I am glad that the definition of what it means to be a good housewife has greatly expanded in the last 30 years!.
Your croissant are elegant! Thanks for sharing the recipe with the Hearth and Soul Hop.
These look wonderful. I love making fresh bread in anyway way shape for form!
These look just beautiful! I can only imagine how delicious they taste! Thank you for sharing the recipe so I can try them myself, and thank you for sharing them your croissants with the Hearth and Soul blog hop.
oh boy how I love bread….these look so nice and soft, just perfect for a pat of butter to melt all over…..yum!
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