• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About
  • Contact
  • Dessert
  • Main Dish
  • Breakfast
  • Appetizers/Snacks
  • Drinks
  • Salad
  • Bread

Dance Around the Kitchen

  • Recipes By Course
  • Recipes By Ingredient
  • Popular Recipes
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • Recipes By Course
  • Recipes By Ingredient
  • Popular Recipes
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Breakfast

    April 30, 2020

    Kolaches

    • Share
    • Tweet

    These kolaches are soft, tender pastries with a fruit filling and creamy vanilla frosting. They're the most tempting and delicious treat for breakfast, brunch, snacking or dessert!

    Jump to Recipe
    Kolache with fruit filling and vanilla frosting on a wooden cutting board

    I thought about posting this kolache recipe a long time ago, but honestly, was just worried I wouldn't do it justice. But it's time, my friends! It's time to share this recipe because it's one that's near and dear to my heart and is simply INCREDIBLE.

    Growing up, I lived just 3 miles down the gravel road from my grandparents. I'm not sure I really appreciated that as much as I should've, now that I'm 2 ½ hours from home. In the summer months, my siblings and I would bike or ride the four-wheelers there often.

    Of course we visited to see Grandma and Grandpa, but her treats were always a huge perk! 🙂 Grandma usually had kolaches around, whether they were freshly baked or in the freezer. No matter the time of day, her kolaches always hit the spot!

    Kolache with a bite out of it on a wooden cutting board

    Are kolaches Czech or Texan?

    Kolaches (properly pronounced "kol-ah-chees") were brought to the United States (Texas, specifically), from the Czech. Traditionally, they are yeast pastries with various fruit and cheese fillings. Perhaps you've seen "kolaches" that are filled with meat or some other savory filling. Technically, those are called "klobasniki."

    This recipe is similar to a traditional Czech kolache, but round (traditionally, most are square) and they're adorned in a delightful buttercream. Ok, now it's time to chat about how these pastries are made!

    What do you need to make kolaches?

    • Warm water (to activate the yeast)
    • Active dry yeast (You'll want to make sure your yeast is not expired or it won't function as well as it should)
    • Milk (2% or whole is ideal, but skim or 1% will work)
    • Margarine (Butter works too)
    • Sugar
    • Salt
    • Large eggs
    • Vanilla extract
    • All purpose flour
    • Pie or pastry filling (raspberry, cherry, apricot, prune, whatever else your heart desires! :))
    • Frosting ingredients - butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, almond extract and milk

    How do you make kolaches?

    1. Activate the yeast

    Yeast rising

    In a liquid measuring cup or small bowl, you'll combine the water, 1 teaspoon sugar and the yeast. The water temperature is very important. If it's too cool, it won't activiate the yeast (=flat, flat kolaches) and if it's too hot, it'll kill the yeast (also = flat, flat kolaches)!

    Once the ingredients are combined, you'll set it aside to let it raise like in the photos above.

    2. Start making the kolache dough

    Photos of how to make kolaches; scalded milk, milk melting the butter, and wooden spoon stirring milk

    First, you're going to heat milk until it's "scalded." This is essentially heating it up until it's very hot, but not boiling yet. You'll know it's ready when it forms a thin skin over the milk (see the left photo of the three above).

    Then you'll cut butter into cubes, place in a large bowl, and pour the hot milk over it. Stir until the butter is melted.

    Now, you'll add the sugar and salt, then the egg and vanilla.

    Leveling a cup of flour and stirring the flour with a wooden spoon

    Once that's combined, you'll add one cup of the flour and stir.

    Making kolache dough and stirring with a wooden spoon

    Now, you'll add the yeast mixture and stir to combine. Then, add the remaining flour one cup at a time until you have a soft dough. Place the dough in a large greased bowl, cover loosely with a clean towel and let raise in a warm place until doubled, which will take around an hour.

    3. Form the dough into balls

    Forming kolache dough into balls

    Next, you'll put a little shortening on your hands (like I said above, it's a soft dough so this will help it not stick to your fingers) and cut pieces of dough and form them into balls approximately 2 inches in diameter. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet or one lined with a silicon baking mat. Cover loosely with a towel and again, let them rise. This time, it'll take about 30-40 minutes.

    4. Fill the kolaches and bake

    Filling kolaches with fruit filling

    Use your fingers to press a well into the center of each kolache and fill with your favorite filling. My two favorites are cherry and raspberry! You can certainly make your own filling, but I tend to use a filling like the one pictured above. It's nice and thick, so the kolaches don't get soggy at all!

    Then, bake the kolaches for 12-15 minutes in a 350F oven. Be sure to bake one sheet pan at a time for even baking. Remove them from the oven when they're a very light golden brown (see above right photo). Use a spatula to move them to a cooling rack to cool completely.

    5. Frost the kolaches (and devour!!)

    Frosting the kolaches

    In a medium-sized bowl (or stand mixer), beat the softened butter until fluffy.  Add the powdered sugar, vanilla and almond extract and beat until smooth and creamy. Add a tablespoon or two of milk if needed to make it the consistency pictured above. Frost each of the cooled kolaches and enjoy!

    Not sure you're ready to conquer a yeast bread quite yet?

    If you've never made a yeast bread before, it can be intimidating. A yeast bread dough isn't necessarily difficult, it's just a little more technical than a quick bread.

    This one is a fun one to start with, because it doesn't need to be kneaded at all. Just give it a try and see how it goes! Have questions? Let me know in the comments below.

    And if you want to just save this recipe for later and make a quick bread/muffin this time, I totally understand. Here are a couple options...

    • Pumpkin Churro Mini Muffins - these might be my favorite muffin recipe of all time. They're so good, I make them year-round!
    • Peach Muffins - These always seem to hit the spot, too, and have a gorgeous crumb topping and drizzle of vanilla icing!
    • Cranberry Apple Bread - I love this bread, especially around the holidays. It makes for a delicious homemade gift, too!

    Get the printable Kolache recipe below!

    Kolaches

    Kolaches

    kelsey
    These soft, tender pastries have a fruit filling and creamy vanilla frosting - perfect for breakfast, brunch, snack or dessert!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe
    Prevent your screen from going to sleep.
    Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
    Servings 24 kolaches

    Ingredients
      

    • ¼ c water (105-110°F)
    • 1 teaspoon sugar
    • 1 pkg active dry yeast (2 ¼ tsp)
    • 1 c milk
    • ½ c margarine (1 stick)
    • ¼ c sugar
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 2 eggs
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla
    • 3 ¾ - 4 c flour
    • 1 - 12 oz can pie or pastry filling*

    Frosting

    • ½ c butter
    • 2 c powdered sugar
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    • 1 teaspoon almond extract optional
    • milk if needed

    Instructions
     

    • In a liquid measuring cup (or small mixing bowl), combine the warm water, 1 teaspoon sugar and yeast. Stir and set aside.
    • Heat milk in microwave until it's "scalded." (See photos and text above in post to learn what this is).
    • Cut the margarine into cubes and place in a large bowl. Pour the scalded milk over it and stir until the margarine is melted.
    • Stir in the sugar and salt. Then stir in the eggs and vanilla.
    • Next, stir in 1 cup of the flour.
    • Then, add the yeast mixture and the remainder of the flour. (The dough will be soft, but if it's super sticky, add an additional flour tablespoon by tablespoon).
    • Place the dough in a large greased bowl, loosely covered with a towel. Let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
    • With shortening-greased hands, form balls (~2 inches) in diameter and place at least 3 inches apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet. (If you don't have parchment paper, use a silicon baking mat or simply grease your pans)
    • Let rise for 30 minutes.
    • Using two fingers, press a well in the center of each ball of dough. You want to make a good sized well, but be sure to not press it so far that you see the pan.
    • Add filling into each well.
    • Bake at 350°F for 12-15 minutes or until a very light golden brown; let cool.
    • Make the frosting: Beat the butter until fluffy.  Add the powdered sugar, vanilla and almond extract. Beat until smooth and creamy, adding a tablespoon or two of milk if needed.
    • Spread the frosting on the kolaches and enjoy!

    Notes

    **I recommend warming these up in the microwave for 10 seconds each before eating.  It makes them just that much better!!  These are truly dreamy!
    Tried this recipe?Follow me at @dancearoundthekitchen.kelsey and let me know how you liked it!

    More Breakfast

    • Apple Cinnamon Rolls
    • Mexican Egg Skillet
    • Air Fryer Cinnamon Roll Donuts
    • Blueberry Streusel Muffins
    • Share
    • Tweet
    about kelsey

    About Kelsey

    Combining my love for food and family is a pretty easy calculation. Almost all family gatherings include food… After all, a party without cake is just a meeting right? Read more...

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Jeanie says

      May 09, 2020 at 3:57 pm

      5 stars
      Easy recipe and absolutely delicious!! I'll be making these again.

      Reply
    2. Bonnie says

      February 17, 2022 at 9:52 am

      Instead of fruit filling could you go savory and use bacon and cheese in them

      Reply
      • Kelsey says

        February 17, 2022 at 11:04 am

        Though I've never tried it, I think that would be delicious!!! I say go for it! 🙂

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Kelsey! I am a wife, mother and BFFs with my KitchenAid mixer, happy to bring you easy meals and decadent desserts! Welcome to my blog!

    More about me →

    Popular

    • Crack Corn Dip
    • Peanut Butter Marshmallow Squares
    • Buttermilk Cookies
    • Gyro Dip

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    SEEN ON

    as seen on promo graphic

    SEEN ON

    as seen on promo graphic

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Dance Around the Kitchen