When it comes to delectable pastries, kolache undoubtedly deserves a place among the top contenders. Originating from the Czech Republic, these tantalizing pastries have captivated taste buds far beyond their borders. Kolaches are a perfect blend of soft, pillowy dough and a variety of sweet or savory fillings, making them a versatile treat that can cater to any palate. Whether you prefer the traditional fruit-filled versions or the savory options bursting with cheese, meats, or vegetables, there's a kolache out there to satisfy every craving. Join us as we embark on a culinary journey to discover the best kolache recipes that will elevate your baking skills and delight your taste buds.
Here are our top 9 tried and tested recipes!
AUTHENTIC CZECH KOLACHE (KOLáčE) WITH FRUIT FILLING AND STREUSEL TOPPING
Classic Czech pastry with fruit and streusel topping.
Provided by Michal Martinek
Time 1h55m
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- In a small bowl lightly whisk 1 whole egg, both egg yolks and the lukewarm milk.
- Place the egg mixture, flour, salt, powdered sugar and yeast in the bowl of an electric stand mixer, and using the dough hook, mix for 1 minute.
- Add the butter, and mix until the dough is shiny and smooth, about 7 minutes.
- With your hands, form the dough into a smooth, round ball.
- In a large bowl mix together the flour, salt, powdered sugar, and yeast.
- In a small bowl lightly whisk 1 whole egg, 2 egg yolks, and lukewarm milk.
- Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture, and mix to combine with a wooden spoon. Add the butter. (It's probably going to be too hard to stir and incorporate thoroughly with a wooden spoon, so feel free to dump the dough on a clean, lightly floured surface, and mix with your hands).
- Toss, turn and knead the dough with the palm of your hands for 7 minutes, until glossy and elastic.
- With your hands, form the dough into a smooth, round ball.
- Grease the bottom and sides of a large bowl with the vegetable oil. Place the dough in the bowl and cover it with a clean kitchen towel.
- Let the dough rise undisturbed, in a warm place, until doubled in size, about 50 min - 1½ hours
- In a small bowl, combine the flour and sugar. Work in the butter with your fingers, lightly toss and mix, until crumbled and pea-size.
- In a bowl, lightly beat the 1 egg you reserved for brushing the dough.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C), place two oven racks in the middle of the oven, and line four baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Dump the dough onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 4 equal parts.
- Shape each part into a bun and place it in the middle of a baking sheet. With your hands, gently flatten and tap the dough into a circle about 10 inches in diameter, ¼ inch high, and with a ¾-inch wide edge.
- Arrange the fruit evenly on top of the dough (strawberries and apricots cut-side down). Use either one type of fruit per koláč, or combine two or all three in a fun circular pattern.
- Brush the edge with the egg. Sprinkle 1/3 cup of the streusel evenly over the fruit, and lightly press down.
- Bake the koláče-two at a time-in the oven until the edge is golden brown, about 20-25 minutes. For even baking, switch the baking sheets halfway through, placing the top one on bottom and vice versa.
- Transfer to a cooling rack and let cool for about 45 minutes. Cut into slices and serve.
AUTHENTIC CZECH HOMEMADE KOLACHE RECIPE
Steps:
- Dissolve yeast and 1 tsp sugar into lukewarm water.
- Into a microwave safe bowl, put the milk and butter. Microwave just until butter melts. Let cool slightly to 110°F (so it doesn't kill the yeast).
- In a large bowl, combine 2 cups of flour with salt, sugar, and potato flakes. Add in yeast mixture, warmed milk and butter. Stir to combine. Add the egg and blend into dough.
- Knead in remaining flour until dough comes together and it is slightly sticky.
- Let dough raise for an hour and a half or until doubled.
- Once raised, form dough into 12 balls. Place each dough ball onto a parchment lined baking sheet, cover, and let raise another hour.
- In a mixing bowl, beat together cream cheese, sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla.
- Once dough balls have risen for an hour. Use the back of a spoon and make an indentation into the ball.
- Then fill each indentation with cream cheese mixture.
- Bake kolaches at 425°F for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.
CZECH KOLACHE RECIPE
Want to try authentic Czech food? Don't miss "kolache" by any means! Kolache (in Czech kolace) are a round sweet pastry with various fillings. The kolache came to the USA with Czechs who moved to start a new life there at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries. Since then, kolache have been a great success, and no wonder they taste fantastic!
Provided by Petra Kupská
Categories Sweet Pastry
Time 1h55m
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- In a small saucepan, heat the milk until lukewarm. Pour the dry yeast and a teaspoon of sugar into the milk. The sugar will encourage the yeast to activate. Stir everything with a spoon and leave it in a warm place for about 10-15 minutes until foam forms on the surface.
- Meanwhile, melt the butter, which should be semi-liquid but not hot. Around 30 seconds in a microwave are ideal.
- Add the flour, sugar, salt into a mixing bowl. Add an egg, vanilla, melted butter, and activated yeast with milk.
- Begin with the dough. Roughly combine all ingredients in a bowl with a fork. Turn the mixture out onto a floured work surface and use your hands to work it into a smooth elastic dough. If the dough is too sticky, dust it with a tablespoon of flour and continue kneading. Repeat until the dough is no longer sticky.
- Put the dough back into the bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel and let it rise in a warm place for 40 minutes.
- Transfer the dough to a work surface and divide it into equal parts. If you have a kitchen scale and want kolache the same size, weigh each piece on the scale. The weight of a piece of dough for one pie is around 1 and ½ oz (45 g).
- Shape each piece of dough into a ball. Place it on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Leave enough space between the balls so that the cakes don't touch and bake into a square later. The classic Czech kolach is round!
- Let the dough balls rise in a warm place for another 40 minutes. Cover the dough with a clean tea towel if you leave the dough to rise on the kitchen counter.
- Time to shape kolache! We need to create a beautiful round kolach and create a depression in the center for the filling placement. Take a round-bottomed vessel about 3 inches in diameter, such a glass. I used a ½ measuring cup. Wrap the bottom with a clean dish towel so that there are no creases. Press the wrapped vessel evenly into the dough with light pressure from above. The kolach is stretched out wide and round, and an indentation is made in the middle for the filling.
- In a shallow bowl, beat an egg using a fork and create an egg wash. Brush it over the edges of the kolache pastries.
- Now, place the filling in the middle of each kolach. Just about 1 to 1.½ tablespoons per kolach are enough. If you like, sprinkle the cakes with streusel topping.
- Let's bake kolache! Preheat the oven to 340 °F (170 °C). Place the sheet with kolache in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes until the edges are golden brown.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 153 kcal, Carbohydrate 24 g, Protein 4 g, Fat 5 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, TransFat 1 g, Cholesterol 28 mg, Sodium 13 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 4 g, UnsaturatedFat 2 g, ServingSize 1 serving
MARTHA'S KOLACHES
A bakery classic in Eastern Europe, these lip-smacking treats combine a sweet yeast-based dough with a jam filling and a sugary glaze. They're usually shaped into rounds or, like in Martha's version, bowties.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dessert & Treats Recipes Cookie Recipes
Yield Makes 16
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Cookies:In a small bowl, stir together yeast and sour cream. Let stand until yeast dissolves, about 10 minutes. Whisk in eggs until smooth.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, and salt. Using a pastry cutter or two knives, cut butter into dry ingredients until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in yeast mixture. Knead in bowl a few times until dough is smooth and comes together. Wrap dough in plastic and flatten into a square. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough 1/4 inch thick. Using a 3-inch square cutter, cut out squares. Transfer to two parchment-lined baking sheets, spaced about 1 1/2 inches apart.
- Place 1 teaspoon jam in the center of each square. Fold upper-right corner over filling, about two-thirds of the way toward opposite corner; press down to seal. Brush lower-left corner with egg wash, then fold corner up and over first fold, pressing down to adhere. (Be careful not to fold too tightly, or you may force out some of the filling.) Repeat with remaining squares.
- Bake until edges are golden, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cookies cool on sheets on wire racks 5 minutes, then transfer cookies to racks to cool completely.
- Glaze:In a medium bowl, whisk together confectioners' sugar and butter. While whisking, drizzle in milk, a little at a time, until glaze has a runny consistency. Using a spoon, drizzle glaze over cookies. Let stand until set, 1 hour. Glazed cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 days.
BOHEMIAN KOLACHES
This kolache recipe was given to me by my mother-in-law, who received it from her mother! It was a standard treat in their family, made nearly every week. Now I make these kolaches for my own family for special occasions. -Maxine Hron, Quincy, Illinois
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Breakfast Brunch Desserts
Time 40m
Yield about 28 rolls.
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in warm milk; let stand 10 minutes. In a large bowl, combine 2 cups flour, remaining sugar, egg yolks, salt, butter and yeast/milk mixture. Mix until smooth. Add enough remaining flour to make a stiff dough. , Turn out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Add additional flour if necessary. Place dough in greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover; let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour. , Punch dough down and allow to rise again. Roll out on floured surface to 1/2-in. thickness. Cut with large glass or 2-1/2-in. cutter. Place on greased baking sheets; let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes. , Firmly press indentation in center and fill each roll with a heaping tablespoon of filling. Brush dough with egg white. Bake at 350° for 10-15 minutes or until rolls are light golden brown.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 164 calories, Fat 3g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 37mg cholesterol, Sodium 116mg sodium, Carbohydrate 29g carbohydrate (9g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 4g protein.
KOLACHKE (GLAZED POLISH PASTRY)
Kolachkes-claimed by both Poles and Czechs-are round pastries topped with either poppy seeds, nuts, jam, or a mashed fruit mixture. Karen Maderich's heirloom recipe was a first-place winner of Martha Stewart Living Television's Cookie of the Week Contest.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dessert & Treats Recipes Pastry Dessert Recipes
Yield Makes about 4 dozen
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Heat oven to 400 degrees. Combine sour cream and yeast in a small bowl. Set aside until slightly bubbly, about 10 minutes. Using a wooden spoon, stir in egg until smooth. Set aside.
- Using two knives or a pastry cutter, cut butter into flour until it resembles coarse meal. Stir in sour-cream mixture until dough comes together.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4 inch thick. Cut into 2 1/2-inch rounds. Transfer to ungreased cookie sheets, about 1 1/2 inches apart. Cover with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap. Let sit for 15 minutes.
- Make a thumbprint in the center of each cookie. Fill each thumbprint with 1 teaspoon preserves. Bake until edges are golden, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer pans to rack to cool. Let cookies cool on pans for 5 minutes. Remove cookies to rack. While cookies are still warm, drizzle with sugar glaze.
KOLACHE/KOLACKY
Learn the history of Czech kolaches, then try a traditional recipe with fillings and posipka from food historian Gil Marks
Provided by Gil Marks
Categories Dessert
Time 6h20m
Number Of Ingredients 45
Steps:
- In a small bowl or measuring cup, dissolve the yeast in ¼ cup milk. If using instant yeast, do not dissolve it yet-- reserve.
- In a large bowl, combine the yeast mixture with the remaining milk, butter, eggs, sugar, salt, and, if using, zest and/or mace. Blend in 1½ cups flour. If using instant yeast, add it now.
- Gradually add enough of the remaining flour to make a workable dough.
- On a lightly floured surface or in a mixer with a dough hook, knead the dough until smooth and springy, about 5 minutes.
- Place in an oiled bowl and turn to coat.
- Cover with a kitchen towel or loosely with plastic wrap and let rise in warm, draft-free place until nearly doubled in bulk, 2 to 3 hours, or in the refrigerator overnight.
- Punch down the dough, knead briefly, cover, and let rise in a warm, draft-free place until nearly doubled in bulk, about 1¼ hours.
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease the sheet. Punch down the dough, knead briefly, divide in half, form into balls, and let stand for 10 minutes.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough ½ inch thick. Cut into 2½-inch rounds. Reroll and cut out the scraps.
- Place on parchment paper-lined or greased baking sheets about 1 inch apart, cover with a towel or plastic wrap spritzed with cooking spray, and let rise at room temperature until nearly doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
- Position a rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 375°F (350°F for a convection oven). Using your thumb or the back of a spoon, press 1 large or 2 smaller deep indentations into the center of each round, leaving a ½-inch wide-rim. Brush the edges with the egg wash.
- Spoon about 1 tablespoon topping into the indentation and, if using, sprinkle lightly with the posipka.
- Bake until golden brown or the center of the dough registers about 180°F on an instant-read thermometer, about 12 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool.Kolache are best eaten on the same day they are made, but can be covered with plastic wrap and stored at room temperature for up to 2 days on in freezer for up to 3 months.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 186 kcal, Carbohydrate 24 g, Protein 6 g, Fat 7 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, Cholesterol 56 mg, Sodium 187 mg, Sugar 7 g, ServingSize 1 serving
CZECH PASTRY COTTAGE CHEESE KOLACKY
A kolacky is a small dinner roll-like pastry which is folded, enclosing filling in the center. The most common fillings include Cottage Cheese, prune, poppyseed, apricot, apple, blueberry and raspberry. both open-faced and closed-face kolackys were made in Czechoslovakia. the closed kolacky came into being because the fruit in the open-faced buns would get all over the working man's lunch bucket. The men had their wives fold over the pastry so it wouldn't mess up the other things in the lunch bucket. This is a old recipe from my grandmother who came from Prague Czechoslovakian at the turn of the 20th century.
Provided by hjunkman
Categories Breakfast
Time 1h5m
Yield 48 Kolacky, 8-12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Let butter soften in a bowl.
- When very soft mix butter and cottage cheese together.
- Add salt and sugar.
- Add flour last and mix by hand. To get dough to the consistency of pie dough.
- Put the dough in wax paper in the refrigerator overnight.
- If you want to bake it today leave the dough in the refrigerator at least for 3 hours.
- Then take it out and divide it into 3 parts.
- Take 1 part of the dough and put it on a floured table. Flatten the dough to a 1/8 of inch thick.
- Then take a small juice glass and cut round circle in the dough. (Put some flour on the rim of the glass if the dough start to stick). Take your thumb and make a dent in the middle of the dough. Fill it with apricot or any jam.
- Bake at 350 for about 15-20 minutes or until lightly brown.
CZECH PASTRY CALL KOLACKY
A kolacky is a small dinner roll-like pastry which is folded, enclosing filling in the center. The most common fillings include prune, poppyseed, apricot, apple, blueberry and raspberry. both open-faced and closed-face kolackys were made in Czechoslovakia. the closed kolacky came into being because the fruit in the open-faced buns would get all over the working man's lunch bucket. The men had their wives fold over the pastry so it wouldn't mess up the other things in the lunch bucket. This is a old recipe from my grandmother who came from Prague Czechoslovakian at the turn of the 20th century.
Provided by hjunkman
Categories Breakfast
Time 1h5m
Yield 48 Kolacky, 8-12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Let butter and cream cheese soften in a bowl.
- When very soft mix together.
- Add salt and sugar.
- Add flour last and mix by hand. To get dough to the consistency of pie dough.
- Put the dough in wax paper in the refrigerator overnight.
- If you want to bake it today leave the dough in the refrigerator at least for 3 hours.
- Then take it out and divide it into 3 parts.
- Take 1 part of the dough and put it on a floured table. Flatten the dough to a 1/8 of inch thick.
- Then take a small juice glass and cut round circle in the dough. (Put some flour on the rim of the glass if the dough starts to stick). Take your thumb and make a dent in the middle of the dough. Fill it with apricot or any jam.
- Bake at 350 for about 15-20 minutes or until lightly brown.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 573.5, Fat 33.3, SaturatedFat 20.9, Cholesterol 92.2, Sodium 344.6, Carbohydrate 66.4, Fiber 1, Sugar 25.4, Protein 6
Tips:
- Always use fresh ingredients for the best flavor and texture.
- Make sure the butter is cold and cubed before adding it to the flour mixture. This will help create a flaky crust.
- If the dough is too sticky, add a little more flour. If it's too dry, add a little more milk.
- Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before rolling and baking. This will help prevent the dough from shrinking.
- Bake the kolaches until they are golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
- Let the kolaches cool for a few minutes before serving. This will help prevent the filling from spilling out.
Conclusion:
Kolaches are a delicious and versatile pastry that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. With so many different flavor combinations to choose from, there's sure to be a kolache that everyone will love. So next time you're looking for a special treat, give kolaches a try. You won't be disappointed!
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love