Print

Irresistible Czech Kolaches Recipe Easy Fluffy Sweet Pastries to Make

Czech kolaches recipe - featured image
Print Recipe

Soft, fluffy Czech kolaches filled with jam, cream cheese, or poppy seed filling. Perfect for brunch or a cozy treat, this easy recipe yields tender pastries with a delicate balance of sweetness and flavor.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cups (480g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 ¼ teaspoons (7g) active dry yeast
  • 1 cup (240ml) whole milk, warmed
  • 1/3 cup (65g) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • ½ cup (120g) sour cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • For fillings (choose your favorites):
  • ½ cup (120g) fruit jam or preserves (apricot, raspberry, or prune)
  • 8 oz (225g) cream cheese, softened, mixed with 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • Poppy seed filling: ground poppy seeds, sugar, milk, and optional lemon zest

Instructions

  1. Activate the yeast by combining 1 cup warm whole milk (about 110°F / 43°C) with 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar. Stir gently and let sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
  2. In a large bowl or stand mixer, combine 4 cups all-purpose flour, 1/3 cup sugar, and 1 teaspoon salt. Add the yeast mixture, 2 eggs, ½ cup softened butter, ½ cup sour cream, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Mix on low speed until combined, then knead on medium speed for 6-8 minutes until smooth and elastic. Alternatively, knead by hand for about 10 minutes.
  3. Lightly grease a large bowl. Place dough in bowl, cover with towel or plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until doubled in size. For best flavor, refrigerate overnight for slow rise.
  4. Prepare chosen fillings while dough rises. For cream cheese filling, beat cream cheese with sugar and vanilla until smooth. For poppy seed filling, warm ground poppy seeds with milk and sugar until thickened (about 5 minutes).
  5. Punch down risen dough and turn onto floured surface. Divide into 12 equal pieces (about 3 oz / 85g each). Roll each into a ball and flatten slightly.
  6. Place dough balls on parchment-lined baking sheet spaced 2 inches apart. Create a 1 inch wide and ½ inch deep well in center of each dough piece using thumb or spoon.
  7. Fill each well with 1-2 tablespoons of chosen filling.
  8. Cover kolaches loosely and let rise for 30-40 minutes until puffy.
  9. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
  10. Beat 1 egg with 1 tablespoon water and brush over exposed dough edges, avoiding filling.
  11. Bake kolaches for 18-22 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
  12. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

For best flavor and texture, allow dough to rise slowly overnight in the refrigerator. Dust hands lightly with flour when shaping dough to avoid stickiness without making dough dense. Do not overfill centers to prevent bubbling over during baking. If kitchen is cold, place dough bowl in turned-off oven with light on to create warm environment for rising. Cooling kolaches on wire rack prevents sogginess. Variations include savory fillings like sausage and cheese, gluten-free flour blends with xanthan gum, and dairy-free substitutions such as coconut oil and coconut yogurt.

Nutrition

Keywords: Czech kolaches, sweet pastries, fluffy kolaches, cream cheese kolaches, fruit jam kolaches, poppy seed kolaches, homemade kolaches, easy kolaches recipe

Find it online: https://blairrecipes.com/irresistible-czech-kolaches-recipe-easy-fluffy-sweet-pastries-to-make/