Kolaches are a Czechoslovakian pastry. Similar to a Danish, Kolaches have a dollop of fruit filling in the middle, but with a softer, fluffier, more roll like dough. We’re not Czech, but I saw a recipe for Kolaches in a magazine in 1997 and I’ve been making them for Christmas morning ever since.
This year I wanted to change things up a bit and I gave my Kolaches a fun, new shape. I saw rosette rolls on Frieda Loves Bread and thought they would be a perfect shape for Kolaches because they would hold more fruit filling.
The rolls are easy to shape. If the dough doesn’t want to stretch, just let it rest for a few minutes. You can make your own filling, but Lucky Leaf sent me cans of their delicious Premium Blackberry and Cherry pie fillings.
My daughter loved the blackberry, but my husband thought the cherry were even better. Between the 9 of us, we gobbled up all two dozen Kolaches before lunch. I served the Kolaches with Breakfast Hashbrown Casserole and fresh squeezed orange juice. It was a fabulous way to start the day.
I hope you’re having a wonderful holiday season. For Christmas I received fun new baking gifts that I’m excited to share with you on the blog soon. Two little six cup bundt pans, donut pans, a panini maker, and 3 new cookbooks, Baking: From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan, Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and from my sweet adopted daugher, Lorraine, Not Quite Nigella, a fun new cookie cookbook, Chewy Gooey Crispy Crunchy Melt-in-Your-Mouth Cookies by Alice Medrich.
Blackberry and Cherry Kolaches
Ingredients
- 2 - 2 ½ cups bread flour
- 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
- 2 teaspoons vital wheat gluten
- 1 package rapid rise instant yeast (2 ¼ teaspoons)
- ¾ cup milk
- ¼ cup butter
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup fresh orange juice room temperature
- 1 egg room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 1 cup fruit filling homemade or canned
Instructions
- Mix 1 ½ cup bread flour, whole wheat pastry flour, wheat gluten, and yeast in stand mixer fitted with a beater blade.
- Heat milk and butter until butter melts and mixture is warm (130º). Add sugar and salt, stir until dissolved.
- Add liquid mixture to flour mixture. Add orange juice, egg, vanilla, and orange zest and beat at low speed until well combined.
- Switch to the dough hook, on speed 2 gradually add the remaining bread flour (add more or less as necessary) until dough clings to the hook and almost cleans the sides. Knead until smooth about 8 minutes, but still slightly sticky. Shape into a ball. Place in greased bowl, turn. Cover, let rise until double approximately 60–90 minutes.
- Punch down, let rest 10 minutes, divide dough in to 12 pieces and shape into desired shapes. Keep dough covered with a damp cloth while shaping rolls.
- Cover. Let rise until double (30 - 45 minutes).
- Preheat oven to 400.
- After second rising, make an indention in the center of the rolls with the end of a wooden spoon. (Be careful not to flatten it too much or poke a hole through the dough.) Fill with approximately one tablespoon of fruit filling.
- Optional: Make egg wash by mixing an egg white with 2 teaspoons water and lightly brushing some of it over the rolls.
- Bake at 400º for 10 to 15 minutes until golden brown.
More special occasion recipes you might enjoy:
Overnight Monkey Bread, Barbara Bakes
Citrus Cranberry Cream Cheese Danish Braid, Barbara Bakes
Orange Glazed Apple Lattice Coffee Cake, Life’s A Feast
Garam Masala Fruit Cake, Passionate About Baking
French Toast Casserole with Praline Topping, Vintage Mixer
Cranberry Orange Cinnamon Rolls, Completely Delicious
brenda s 'okie in colorado'
Yum~ I love kolaches. I was born in Prague, Oklahoma. It’s a small Czech community that has a kolache festival each year. The bakery in town sells them year round. They usually serve prune, cream cheese, poppy seed (sweet puree), apricot, pineapple, apple, and cherry. They are melt in your mouth good.
Libby
They look wonderful. Interesting on the OJ and the whole wheat pastry flour in the dough. I hope you have a wonderful and Prosperous New Year 😉
Rocky Mountain Woman
These look so perfect…need to give them a whirl, maybe for New Years Day when all my kids will be here!
Happy New Year sweetie!
xxoo,
RMW
Lori @ RecipeGirl
How pretty are these? I love that you have a tradition for making them every year. I have the alice medrich cookie book too, but have yet to try a recipe from there yet. Happy New Year!
Melanie
Your shaping of the kolaches looks perfect!! I’ve made that shape a couple times now and mine don’t look that good. That’s pretty neat that they sent you free pie filling. Wish I had those connections:) I’ll have to try these & take the extras over to some of my old neighbor friends who helped us move. I don’t know why, but cherry fillings does always seem to taste best on/in pastries like this.
sara
These look beautiful and delicious! I’ve made danish before and it’s good but SO MUCH WORK – these look like a great option that would be a lot more manageable! 🙂
Anna
These look amazing. I’m going to make them tomorrow and clean out all the half empty little jars of jam I have piled up in my fridge. I think they’ll be awesome for breakfast on new years morning. Thank you!
Hotly Spiced
They are so neat and pretty and they look like a great way to start the day on Christmas morning.
Amy @ uTryIt
These are so beautiful! I know my Dad would love these. He got a sweet tooth just like me! 😀 Wish you and your family a Happy New Year and a prosperous 2012!
Joy
These look great. I have always had the cookie version of kolches. I can’t wait to try this one.
Megan
My mom and I love kolaches!! Definitely have to make these!
Becky at Vintage Mixer
These look incredibly professional!! Hope you’re having fun with your family this weekend.
Sue @ Cakeballs, cookies and more
Oh how cute are those! They sound great, danishes are one of the few things I will eat fruit on in a desert.
Bonnie
These are beatiful rosetts Barbara. Wish I was at your house on Christmas morning. Happy New Year.
a spoonful of yumm
you had me at kolaches ! never heard of them…love that it has a filling. they look delectable. happy new year !
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel
These look incredible!! I love the drizzle, it dresses them up just enough.
Lynda
These look delicious- I’ve wanted to try making kolaches before, but never have followed through.
Sounds like you had a fantastic Christmas, with great foodie gifts!
Rosa
Beautiful kolaches! A delightful treat for the new year.
Best wishes for 2012!
Cheers,
Rosa
Vrinda
Wat a cute looking pastry..must try,thanx for sharing n Happy new year..
Jersey Girl Cooks
These look great! I love how you used the pie filling to make things easier. Do you buy vital wheat gluten in a regular grocery store. I would love to try making these.
Barbara
Thanks Lisa! Yes, you can buy vital wheat gluten at a regular grocery. I saw Hodgson Mill Wheat Gluten at my local store yesterday, but they also sell it online, as does King Arthur Flour. It’s not essential to the recipe, but does give it a little extra rise.