Moravian Kolaches are double filling kolaches – a creamy quark (cheesecake-like) filling hiding on the inside and a sweet plum jam and crunchy streusel on top.

The September Daring Bakers’ challenge was brought to us by Lucie from ChezLucie. She challenged us to make a true Czech treat –Kolaches!

I’ve been making kolaches for my family for Christmas for nearly 20 years, so when I saw that the Daring Baker’s challenge for September was kolaches, I was excited to join in the fun and try Morarivan Kolaches.

These Moravian Kolaches are pillowy-light and fluffy sweet rolls, but what’s special about this traditional Czech recipe is the double filling. A plum jam on top, and a sweetened quark filling on the inside.

Quark is a soft cheese, a little bit like cream cheese. I decided instead of buying quark at the store, which can be hard to find and expensive in my area, I would make my own quark. Making it at home is super easy and inexpensive. The quark recipe I used is on Splendid Table. I used an fabulous Italian Plum Jam from Amour Spreads that I picked up at the Salt Lake Farmers Market.

I changed the method of making the dough to take advantage of my stand mixer, and so you don’t add all of the flour at the beginning. I live in a dry climate, and if you add all the flour at the beginning, you’ll end up with a dough that’s too dry.

The dough is easy to work with and rises quickly. The rolls don’t need a second rise after shaping, so they’re ready to eat faster than many sweet roll recipes. Some of my rolls cracked on the side, and the filling oozed out a bit, but not enough to be a problem.

If you don’t want to buy or make quark, other Daring Bakers substituted cream cheese with good results. The filling makes the inside of the kolaches light and creamy, almost a little bit custardy. It’s a great combination of textures, in a not-too-sweet sweet roll.

Yield: 12 servings

Moravian Kolaches – Double filling Kolaches

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Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2/3 cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 3/4 cup confectioner’s sugar
• 2 packets (4 1/2 teaspoons) active dry yeast
• pinch of salt
• 1 cup milk
• 1/3 cup butter
• 2 egg yolks
• 2 cups quark
• 1 egg yolk
• Powdered sugar to taste
• 2/3 cup plum jam
• rum or hot water to soften jam if too thick
• 1/3 cup all purpose flour
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• Dash cinnamon
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1 egg

Instructions

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, using the paddle attachment, combine 1 1/2 cups flour, whole wheat pastry flour, powdered sugar, yeast, and salt.
2. In a saucepan or microwave safe dish, heat milk and butter until warm (120°–130°F). Add to flour mixture. Blend at low speed until moistened. Mix in egg yolks. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed. Switch to the dough hook, on low speed gradually add the remaining flour (add more or less as necessary) until dough clings to the hook and cleans the sides, but not the bottom. Knead 8 minutes, until smooth but still slightly sticky. Shape into a ball. Place in greased bowl, turn. Cover, let rise until double about 60 minutes.
3. Prepare quark filling: Mix together quark, egg yolk and powdered sugar. If necessary, thin plum jam.
4. Prepare streusel topping: In a medium bowl, mix together flour, sugar, and cinnamon. Mix in melted butter with a fork until crumbs form. Set aside.
5. Preheat oven to 350°.
6. When the dough is risen, divide the dough into 12 equal pieces. Shape each piece in to a ball. Roll each ball into a circle. Fill each circle with quark filling. Wrap it into a “purse” shape.
7. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Put each kolach onto a prepared baking sheet with seam down. Press each kolach in the middle. Brush it with egg wash and fill holes with plum filling. Sprinkle it with streusel topping. Bake for about 20 minutes until golden brown.

Thanks Lucie for a delicious challenge.