Kolache Recipe

Homemade kolaches make for an impressive and delicious breakfast, dessert, or snack. While they may look intimidating to make, this kolache recipe is a cinch and great for cooks looking to try a new spin on classic pastries!

Pronounced “koh-lah-shee,” the word kolache is derived from the Czech word, kola, meaning “wheels” or “rounds,” referring to the shape of the pastry. A staple of Czech culture, kolaches gained popularity in the United States in the 1880s when thousands of Czech people immigrated to Texas.

Kolaches were traditionally made in the homes of Czech families with a sweetened yeast dough that was hollowed out in the center and filled with fresh or frozen fruit as a common afternoon snack. Fillings were typically made from apricots, poppy seeds, prunes, and cherries — all of which are common and available in Eastern Europe.

I first heard of kolaches when I decided to make them myself. I was intrigued by the similarity in appearance to danish, but they are very different. These are make from a yeast-based dough, and when baked, they taste like a filled sweetened bread.

The long answer is that while they do resemble donuts and even danishes, kolaches have mistakingly become synonymous with donuts and donut shops. In fact, they feature several differences from their delectable dessert counterparts, including:

For this kolache recipe, we made three versions — a blueberry filling, a mixed berry filling (raspberry and strawberry in mine) and a sweetened cheese filling. The blueberry filling was the winner in our house. It was just the perfect sweetness and thickness. Easy too! Just combine 3 ingredients and microwave!

But thats not to say the cheese version was bad. Quite the contrary! It was rich, decadent, and delicious. If youre a fan of cheese danishes, youll love these cheese kolaches!

Homemade Kolache Recipe

This is an easy homemade kolache recipe with your choice of fruit or sweetened cheese filling. Fresh out of the oven, your family will swoon over these pastries!

Prep: 180min

Total: 200min

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 288 kcal, Carbohydrate 32 g, Protein 7 g, Fat 15 g, Saturated Fat 9 g, Cholesterol 84 mg, Sodium 196 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 9 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

• 1 cup whole milk
• 10 tablespoons butter (, melted)
• 1 large egg
• 2 large egg yolks
• 3.5 cups all purpose flour ((17.5 ounces)* (up to 4 cups))
• 1/3 cup sugar ((2.3 ounces))
• 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 6 ounces cream cheese (, softened)
• 3 tablespoons sugar**
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest (grated)
• 6 ounces ricotta cheese ((3/4 cup))
• 10 ounces pineapple (, blueberries, cherries, or other berries (fresh or frozen) )
• 5 tablespoons sugar
• 4 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar plus 2 teaspoons
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (cut into 8 pieces and chilled)
• 1 egg mixed with 1 tablespoon milk

Instruction:

1. Place dough in an oiled bowl and let rise in warm place for 1 hour or refrigerate overnight in a covered bowl
2. Combine all ingredients except for ricotta and mix well for about 1 minute. Add ricotta and mix for another 30 seconds. Cover and refrigerate until needed
3. Combine all ingredients and mix together with fingers. Cover and refrigerate until needed
4. Combine all ingredients in a microwave safe bowl and mix well. Microwave on high for about 6 to 8 minutes and stir halfway through cooking.
5. Serve warm

How to make Kolaches, the Czech Pastry that is loved in Texas.