Kolaches 101

I could tell you 101 things that I love about kolaches, or I could give you a tutorial and recipe on how to make kolaches.  I think I'll go for the latter!



Before I can do that though, I must give you a brief rundown on kolaches.  Kolaches originated from Central Europe, and are typically made up of a semi-sweet dough filled or served open face with sweet fruits or cream cheese.  A related dish with a technical name of klobasnek's is made with a similar dough, but filled with sausage, ham and cheese, and other savory items.



Just for clarification for any kolache purists out there, I am technically making klobasnek's.  Due to the popularity and more well-known name created by The Kolache Factory scattered about the US, I decided to just refer to them as kolache's.



Now that we've got all the technical mumbo jumbo out of the way, let's get on with the good stuff!



Wait, one warning!  If you are scared of an extremely messy kitchen as seen here, this might not be the recipe for you!  Don't be scared though, it's worth it in the end!  Really, it is!



For the Dough (I use Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Roll Dough Recipe)

2 cups Milk

1/2 cup Vegetable Oil

1/2 cup Sugar

1 pkg Active Dry Yeast

4 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour (the will be used separate)

1/2 tsp Baking Powder, heaping

1/2 tsp Baking Soda, scant

1/2 tbsp Salt



Scald the milk, vegetable oil, and sugar in a large dutch oven.  A little over a year ago I had to text my dear cousin to clarify that scald means to get really hot but not to boil, now you won't have to make an embarrassing phone call or a quick Google search!  After scalding, remove from heat and let cool for about 45 minutes until lukewarm (110 to 115 degrees).



Once it is lukewarm, sprinkle in the yeast and let it sit for a few minutes so the yeast gets warm and moist.  Then add 4 cups of the flour, and stir together until just  mixed. 





Cover the dough with a dish towel, and let sit in a fairly warm spot in your kitchen for at least one hour to rise.



After your dough has risen, add the rest of the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Roll up your sleeves, and mix altogether with your hands. 



BBQ Beef, Pork, and Chicken
Ham and Cheese
Hawaiian Pizza (filled with ham, pineapple, and mozzarella cheese with pizza seasoning), served with marinara
Jalapeno and Cream Cheese




Bake in the oven at 375 degrees for 20 minutes.  They will be perfectly golden brown, and hopefully no leaks!





The inside should look a little something like this; you know, depending on what you decided to use to fill the inside! 



?Think creatively with your toppings!  Be sure to send us any fillings you are going to try, and let us know how they turned out!  They are yummy, and perfect for parties and kids!



Eat Up,