KOLACHE RECIPE - MAKE TRADITIONAL CZECH KOLACHES AT HOME

Kolache Recipe - Make Traditional Czech Kolaches at Home image

Learn the history of Czech kolaches, then try a traditional recipe with fillings and posipka from food historian Gil Marks

Provided by @MakeItYours

Number Of Ingredients 45

Ingredients

1 package active dry yeast ((¼-ounce/7 grams/2¼ teaspoons), 1¾ teaspoons instant yeast, or 1 cake fresh yeast (0.6-ounce/18 grams))
1 cup warm milk ((105 to 115°F for dry yeast; 80 to 85°F for fresh yeast))
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened, or ¼ cup butter and ¼ cup shortening ((1 stick/4 ounces/120 grams))
2 large eggs ((6 tablespoons/3.5 ounces/100 grams))
6 tbsp granulated sugar ((3 ounces/80 grams))
1 tsp table salt
1 tsp grated lemon zest and/or ½ teaspoon ground mace or nutmeg ((optional))
4 cups unbleached all-purpose or bread flour ((17 ounces/500 grams))
1 large egg ((beaten))
1 tsp cream, milk, or water
16 oz farmer cheese or cream cheese, softened ((455 grams OR 10 ounces (285 grams) farmer cheese and 6 ounces (170 grams) softened cream cheese))
1/2 cup granulated sugar or more to taste ((3.5 ounces/100 grams))
2 large egg yolks
2 tbsp all-purpose flour ((optional))
1 tsp vanilla extract ((OR 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, or ½ teaspoon grated nutmeg))
2 cups poppy seeds
1 cup milk or water ((8.5 ounces/240 grams))
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar ((10.5 ounces/300 grams))
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice or 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
Pinch salt
1 tsp grated lemon zest ((optional))
1 lb pitted prunes, or 8 ounces pitted prunes and 8 dried pitted cherries ((455 grams/about 36 medium/3 cups))
2 cups water ((17 ounces/485 grams))
1/2 cup granulated sugar ((3.5 ounces/100 grams))
1 tbsp lemon juice or prune juice
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp ground cloves ((optional))
2 cups dried apricots ((12 ounces/340 grams))
1 cup orange juice (or 1 cup water and 1 tablespoon lemon juice) ((8.5 ounces/240 grams))
1/2 cup granulated sugar, light brown sugar, or honey ((3.5 ounces/100 grams))
1-2 tbsp lemon juice or dark rum
1/3 cup granulated sugar ((80 mL))
3 tbsp cornstarch ((45 mL))
Pinch salt
Pinch ground cinnamon ((optional))
2 cups blueberries ((about 10 ounces/285 grams))
2 tbsp lemon juice ((30 mL))
1/2 cup granulated sugar ((3.5 ounces/100 grams/120 ml))
1/4 cup cornstarch ((1.25 ounces/35 grams))
1 1/4 cups reserved cherry juice ((300 mL))
28 oz pitted sour cherries ((800 grams/4 cups))
1 cup granulated sugar ((7 ounces/200 grams))
1/2 cup all-purpose flour ((2.125 ounces/60 grams))
1-1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon ((optional))
1/4 cup butter, melted ((½ stick/2 ounces/60 grams))

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.
HowToSection VARIATIONS: Array
HowToSection To Make Cheese Topping Array
HowToSection To Make Poppy Seed Topping Array
HowToSection To Make Prune Topping Array
HowToSection To Make Apricot Topping Array
HowToSection To Make Blueberry Topping Array
HowToSection To Make Cherry Topping Array
HowToSection To Make Posipka (optional) Array