Kolache, a delectable pastry originating from Central Europe, particularly the Czech Republic and Slovakia, holds a special place in the hearts of many. These soft, pillowy treats, also known as koláčky, are characterized by a sweet yeast dough that envelops a variety of delicious fillings, ranging from traditional fruit preserves to creamy cheese and poppy seed mixtures. Kolache has become an integral part of various celebrations and gatherings, offering a delightful taste of heritage and tradition.
Dive into the diverse world of kolache recipes presented in this article, each promising a unique flavor experience. Indulge in the classic Apricot Kolache, where tangy apricot preserves perfectly complement the sweet dough, creating a harmonious balance of flavors. Discover the rich and creamy Cottage Cheese Kolache, where smooth cottage cheese filling blends seamlessly with the soft dough for a satisfying treat. Elevate your taste buds with the decadent Poppy Seed Kolache, where the nutty, earthy flavor of poppy seeds takes center stage, creating an irresistible indulgence.
For those seeking a zesty twist, the Lemon Kolache offers a refreshing burst of citrus, while the indulgent Nutella Kolache caters to chocolate lovers, promising a rich, velvety filling that melts in your mouth. And for a uniquely sweet and savory combination, the Sauerkraut Kolache presents a surprising yet harmonious blend of tangy sauerkraut and sweet dough, sure to delight your palate.
Embark on a culinary journey through the delightful world of kolache, exploring the diverse fillings and flavors that make this pastry so cherished. Whether you prefer the classic apricot filling, the creamy decadence of cottage cheese, the nutty embrace of poppy seeds, the refreshing zest of lemon, the rich indulgence of Nutella, or the unexpected delight of sauerkraut, there's a kolache recipe here to satisfy every craving.
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
CZECHOSLOVAKIAN KOLACHE
My Czechoslovakian grandmother made kolache. They used to be made with shortening but it is healthier to use canola oil or butter. Czechoslovakian Kolache are sweet yeast rolls with fruit or cream cheese filling that are served for Easter and holidays. For Thanksgiving you can use a package of cranberries to make a fruit...
Provided by Kristina Turner
Categories Other Desserts
Time 3h25m
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- 1. Warm 1 cup cream or milk in a pyrex measuring cup in the microwave for 40 seconds to where it is not too warm to touch and add 1 package active dry yeast and 6 tablespoons sugar and half cup canola oil or butter.
- 2. In a large mixing bowl add 4 cups unbleached wheat pastry flour, 6 tablespoons sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 large eggs, the mixture of 1 cup warm cream, half cup canola oil, & package of active dry yeast. Mix together and knead into dough ball. Let rise for 3 hours.
- 3. Make fruit filling or poppy seed filling by adding 1 cup fruit, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, & 1 teaspoon pure vanilla to double boiler.
- 4. For cream cheese filling; add 1 package cream cheese, honey or light agave nectar, & 1 teaspoon of vanilla, & blend in pyrex high speed blender until smooth.
- 5. Make egg wash by beating 1 large egg & 1 teaspoon of water and add to dough ball after letting rise 3 hours and knead into dough ball.
- 6. Cut parchment paper to fit aluminum baking pan or sheet. Make kolache by making 12 rolls of dough with indentation in the middle. Add a teaspoon full of filling to center of each roll.
- 7. Make egg wash by beating 1 egg with 1 teaspoon water and cover the filled rolls with egg with your fingers.
- 8. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and bake 20-25 minutes until the rolls are golden brown.
- 9. If there is egg left over; make an omelet by microwaving on 50% power for 1 minute 15 seconds in shallow dish.
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients. This will make a big difference in the final flavor of your kolaches. Use fresh fruit, real butter, and high-quality flour.
- Chill the dough before baking. This will help the dough to rise evenly and prevent it from spreading too much.
- Don't overfill the kolaches. The filling should be about 1/2 inch thick. If you overfill them, the filling will spill out when you bake them.
- Bake the kolaches until they are golden brown. This will ensure that they are cooked through.
- Let the kolaches cool before serving. This will give the filling time to set.
Conclusion:
Kolaches are a delicious and versatile pastry that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dessert. With so many different filling options, 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