Kolaches (Czech Sweet Buns)

These lovely kolaches have been brought to you by Red Star Yeast, 
and I am happy to give you my honest opinion about the entire delicious process.

Kolaches, also known as Kolacky, are slightly sweet yeast rolls topped with various fillings, often fruit or cream cheese. These round buns have been enjoyed for centuries in Europe (they are Czechoslovakian in origin), and came to the United States with Czech immigrants in the mid 1800s.

Kolaches were originally reserved for special occasions, such as weddings or holidays. The ingredients- sugar, eggs, butter, and white flour- were too expensive to use very often.



If you've ever had a kolache (ko' la chee), you know why they've been popular for hundreds of years. They have a huge fan base; people often travel miles out of their way to reach a favorite kolache bakery.

A special holiday, such as Easter, is the perfect time to enjoy traditional kolaches. Here is 
Red Star Yeast's recipe for soft, sweet, kolache dough (makes 12 to 14 buns):

Kolaches

Ingredients

For the dough:
¼ cup water
¾ cup milk
¼ cup butter, room temperature
3 and 1/2 cups bread flour
1 teaspoon salt
¼ cup Sugar
2+1/4 tsp Active Dry Red Star Yeast
1 egg, room temperature
optional egg wash: 1 egg lightly whisked with 2 teaspoons water 

Directions

Combine water, milk, and butter in a microwave safe bowl. Heat to 120 to 130 degrees. 

Combine 1 cup of the flour called for, salt, sugar, and yeast in the mixing bowl of your stand mixer. Using paddle on low, combine ingredients, then slowly pour milk mixture into flour mixture. Mix on medium speed for four minutes. Add egg; beat 1 minute. Gradually add remaining flour and knead with dough hook 5 to 7 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place dough in lightly oiled bowl and turn to grease top. Cover; let rise until dough tests ripe.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Punch down dough. Shape into 1 to 1½-inch balls; place on greased or parchment paper covered cookie sheets. Pat dough balls down to flatten slightly. Let rest 10-15 minutes until slightly puffy. Using 2 fingers, make indentations in each. Brush edges lightly with egg wash if desired. Spoon 2 teaspoons of filling (recipes below) into each. Bake at 375°F for about 20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire rack to cool. Serve warm or room temperature.


For the fillings (by Yesterfood)

Apricot
6 oz. dried apricots
3/4 cup orange juice
6 tablespoons sugar
1 and 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice

In small covered saucepan, simmer apricots in orange juice until tender, 35 to 45 minutes. Drain apricots; discard juice. Pour apricots, sugar, and lemon juice into food processor and blend until fairly smooth and of desired consistency. Refrigerate leftovers. Keeps for several days.

Cream Cheese
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon sugar
1 large egg yolk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla OR 1 teaspoon lemon zest

Mix all ingredients until smooth and well-combined. Refrigerate leftovers.


Print Recipes for kolache and fillings


Please see Red Star Yeast for more kolache fillings recipes
and more holiday recipes.

Connect with Red Star Yeast on your favorite social media:

      



You may also enjoy another Red Star Yeast recipe, 


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49 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh! These are so cute, and they look just delicious! Pinning, and I'm definitely going to try these! The cherry ones look right up my alley :)

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  2. Hi Joy! These look so pretty and scrumptious. Thanks for sharing the recipe. Pinning!

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  3. Those looks so yummy and there is something about the smell of yeast dough baking that is just wonderful! Thanks for sharing these, I'd never heard of them but will certainly give them a try.

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  4. Now I am going to have to find get more apricot to make some kolaches! I've only bought them at farmers markets in Nebraska before. Time to enjoy them again!

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  5. I love kolaches, so yummy and apricot is my favorite!!

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  6. I married into a Czech family and my mother-in-law makes the most delicious kolaches! She makes apricot, cherry and cream cheese, as well, but the most popular with the family is poppy seed. (Not my favorite). Thanks for sharing your recipe. It's very similar to hers.

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  7. Joy, these look so yummy! Thank you so much for sharing with us at VMG206 Brag About it!

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  8. Joy,

    I love the fresh dough with these Kolaches with cream cheese and fruit mixture. They sounds so yummy

    Blessings,
    Diane Roark.

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  9. I have never had these before, but wow do these look yummy. Thanks for sharing, Joy!! :)

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  10. I love these! My parents usually buy some around the holidays, but I've never tried to make them. Thanks so much for sharing! :)

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  11. Can I have cream cheese and cherries? YUM!

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  12. These look so yummy but they are so beautiful too to serve to company. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe.

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  13. I have never made these before! I'm thinking I should add them to our Easter breakfast menu!

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  14. These sound delicious and make such a pretty presentation. I think I would like the cream cheese one.
    Lori

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  15. I have never had these before, they look amazing! Pinning to try.

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  16. OMG!! My Grandmother used to make these for us on bread making day!! She even called the Kolackies (Ko-lack-ies) not with the chee like you said above. I loved them...they were a special treat!! I had always just thought my Grandma had made up that name cause she had made up the recipe:-) Your post just brought back a lot of memories!! Thanks so much!!

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  17. I've never had one of these but they look so good! Thanks for sharing the recipe!

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  18. Thanks for linking up at Idea Box. Your kolaches sound so good!

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  19. These look great, Joy! I was born in the Czech Republic, and these are one of the traditional pastries still baked today. My grandma would usually make them with a sort of sweet cream cheese filling, poppy seed filling or different fruit fillings. I've never actually made these at home... I'll have to give them a try one of these days! It made me smile to see them on your blog :) Happy first day of spring! :)

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  20. Are these famous among polish people as well? My polish friend made these for me... Maybe I'm confusing it with something else? I don't know but this recipe sounds great!

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  21. These look delicious and love your photo Pinned and shared the love today Joy!
    Hope to see you on Saturday!

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  22. I think I have heard of these some where in my life, just cant remember for sure. They look great!

    Thanks for stopping by to link and share on The Oh My Heartsie Girl Friday Feature!! Your post has been pinned!!
    We appreciate you shared your blog with us!!
    Have a great weekend, Karren~Host

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  23. These are so pretty Joy! The apricot and cream cheese fillings sounds divine. Thank you for sharing with Idea Box link party! So glad to have you. Have a great weekend :)

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  24. Hi Joy,
    I don't think I live that far away, could you deliver, if so I will take a bakers dozen, please!
    Your post is awesome and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
    Happy Spring!
    Miz Helen

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  25. These look so tasty! They would be a great addition to a brunch buffet. Thanks for linking up the recipe at This Is How We Roll Thursday.

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  26. Hi! Stopping by from Making Memories Monday. These look so cute and yummy! Thank you for sharing!

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  27. Oh, I want the abricot ones!!! Great share! Thank you for being a part of our party SHARE IT one more time, SATURDAYS. It wouldn’t be a party without you! Have a great week!

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  28. Oh these look soooo yummy!!! I would even consider conquering my fear of yeast to try making these!!

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  29. Yumm-O! Thanks for sharing at the #HomeMattersParty - we hope to see you again next week. :)

    ~Lorelai
    Life With Lorelai

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  30. Oh wow Joy, bread and fruit, you are speaking my language! So amazingly delicious and perfect for Easter! A must make! I really appreciate you sharing your latest creation at Making Memories Mondays!
    Cathy@ three kids and a fish

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  31. I think I landed here from the Strangers and Pilgrims link up, but what do I know? :-) I saved this recipe for my husband who is our yeast bread baker. He thought it might be an interesting experiment. :-)

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  32. Kolaches are an Easter staple at our family gatherings. My father's side of the family is Czech, so my uncle still uses a family recipe passed down from my great-great-grandmother. Apricot and prune are my favorite fillings, for sure!

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  33. They sound very tempting. I love trying recipes from around Europe.

    Thanks for linking up to Marvelous Monday on Smart Party Planning.

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  34. Half of my family was originally from Yugoslavia (which is now Serbia) so this looks very familiar - I've never had them before but it looks similar. This wonderful post is being featured on my blog today as part of Tuesdays with a Twist blog hop: http://www.godsgrowinggarden.com/2015/03/time-to-link-up-tuesdays-with-twist-103.html
    Thanks
    Angie

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  35. I had not heard of Kolaches, Joy, so I was really interested to read your post - and oh my, they do look so beautiful! Pinned and shared on FB (via the post on your page). Thank you so much for sharing this post with us at the Hearth and Soul hop linky party.

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  36. This is something new to me! Sounds tasty Joy! Thank you for sharing! Pinned!

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  37. Well, I have just got to try this! My maiden name is Chorniak and it's origin is Czech. We only have one family recipe and that is holuska (not sure how to spell it). It's a yummy dish of cabbage and potato dumplings. Of course with lots of butter and S&P. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    jann

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  38. I'm featuring on Thursday!! Love this!! Thanks for linking up on My 2 Favorite Things on Thursday!! Hope you come back this Thursday and share some more!! I love having you! Pinned!

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  39. Thank you for sharing this yummy looking recipe with TGI Saturdays.

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  40. These look excellent! We always bake a sweet bread during this time of year due to our Euro/Russian ancestry and this looks like a great recipe to try! Thank you for sharing it on the Art of Home-Making Mondays Joy!

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  41. Congratulations!
    Your recipe is featured on Full Plate Thursday this week. Hope you have a great weekend and enjoy your new Red Plate!
    Miz Helen

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  42. Oh my heavens, these look tasty! I will have to make them asap!

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  43. Thank you for contributing to Motivation Monday!

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  44. Love these Joe and great photography! Pinned and hope to see you Saturday!

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  45. These are tempting! Thanks for linking up to Funtastic Friday. Hope you can join us again this week.

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  46. When I lived in Texas, or I should say where I lived in Texas, kolaches were very popular. I never attempted making them myself. These look great, Joy!
    Thank you for sharing with the last See Ya in the Gumbo party and for supporting it for so long!

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    Replies
    1. Wanted to add that my husband has chosen your kolaches to feature tonight!

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  47. Did you know that you can shorten your links with LinkShrink and make dollars from every click on your short urls.

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