Grandma Skeet's Prune Pastries

Begin by placing the warm water, salt, egg and 2 tablespoons of melted butter into a bread machine pan. Next, add the bread flour and sprinkle 1/4 cup of sugar around the edges of the pan. Create a small indentation in the flour and add the yeast. Close the lid, set the machine to the DOUGH cycle, and let it commence its mixing process.

During this time, combine the prunes, prune juice, 1/4 cup of sugar, cinnamon, and cloves in a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil before reducing the heat to low and allowing it to simmer until the prunes are tender and the sauce has thickened, approximately 15 minutes. Remove from heat and blend until smooth using a mixer or food processor.

Once the bread machine signals that the dough cycle is complete, transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface. Divide it into 20 small pieces, similar in size to an egg. Cover with greased plastic wrap and set aside for 10 minutes.

In a small bowl, mix together 1 cup of sugar, 1/2 cup of flour, and stir in melted butter. Add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon to create a crumbly streusel topping.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a large baking sheet or line it with parchment paper to prepare for the next step.

Shape the dough into balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Create a shallow hole in the center of each one, fill it with prune filling, and top with streusel. Allow the kolaches to rest until they have doubled in size, approximately 20 minutes.

Bake in the preheated oven until the tops are lightly browned, taking 14 to 16 minutes.