Kolace Food

CZECH KOLACHE RECIPE

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, heat the milk until lukewarm. Pour the dry yeast and a teaspoon of sugar into the milk. The sugar will encourage the yeast to activate. Stir everything with a spoon and leave it in a warm place for about 10-15 minutes until foam forms on the surface.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter, which should be semi-liquid but not hot. Around 30 seconds in a microwave are ideal.
• Add the flour, sugar, salt into a mixing bowl. Add an egg, vanilla, melted butter, and activated yeast with milk.
• Begin with the dough. Roughly combine all ingredients in a bowl with a fork. Turn the mixture out onto a floured work surface and use your hands to work it into a smooth elastic dough. If the dough is too sticky, dust it with a tablespoon of flour and continue kneading. Repeat until the dough is no longer sticky.
• Put the dough back into the bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel and let it rise in a warm place for 40 minutes.
• Transfer the dough to a work surface and divide it into equal parts. If you have a kitchen scale and want kolache the same size, weigh each piece on the scale. The weight of a piece of dough for one pie is around 1 and ½ oz (45 g).
• Shape each piece of dough into a ball. Place it on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Leave enough space between the balls so that the cakes don't touch and bake into a square later. The classic Czech kolach is round!
• Let the dough balls rise in a warm place for another 40 minutes. Cover the dough with a clean tea towel if you leave the dough to rise on the kitchen counter.
• Time to shape kolache! We need to create a beautiful round kolach and create a depression in the center for the filling placement. Take a round-bottomed vessel about 3 inches in diameter, such a glass. I used a ½ measuring cup. Wrap the bottom with a clean dish towel so that there are no creases. Press the wrapped vessel evenly into the dough with light pressure from above. The kolach is stretched out wide and round, and an indentation is made in the middle for the filling.
• In a shallow bowl, beat an egg using a fork and create an egg wash. Brush it over the edges of the kolache pastries.
• Now, place the filling in the middle of each kolach. Just about 1 to 1.½ tablespoons per kolach are enough. If you like, sprinkle the cakes with streusel topping.
• Let's bake kolache! Preheat the oven to 340 °F (170 °C). Place the sheet with kolache in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes until the edges are golden brown.

KOLACHE/KOLACKY

Steps:

• In a small bowl or measuring cup, dissolve the yeast in ¼ cup milk. If using instant yeast, do not dissolve it yet-- reserve.
• In a large bowl, combine the yeast mixture with the remaining milk, butter, eggs, sugar, salt, and, if using, zest and/or mace. Blend in 1½ cups flour. If using instant yeast, add it now.
• Gradually add enough of the remaining flour to make a workable dough.
• On a lightly floured surface or in a mixer with a dough hook, knead the dough until smooth and springy, about 5 minutes.
• Place in an oiled bowl and turn to coat.
• Cover with a kitchen towel or loosely with plastic wrap and let rise in warm, draft-free place until nearly doubled in bulk, 2 to 3 hours, or in the refrigerator overnight.
• Punch down the dough, knead briefly, cover, and let rise in a warm, draft-free place until nearly doubled in bulk, about 1¼ hours.
• Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease the sheet. Punch down the dough, knead briefly, divide in half, form into balls, and let stand for 10 minutes.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough ½ inch thick. Cut into 2½-inch rounds. Reroll and cut out the scraps.
• Place on parchment paper-lined or greased baking sheets about 1 inch apart, cover with a towel or plastic wrap spritzed with cooking spray, and let rise at room temperature until nearly doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
• Position a rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 375°F (350°F for a convection oven). Using your thumb or the back of a spoon, press 1 large or 2 smaller deep indentations into the center of each round, leaving a ½-inch wide-rim. Brush the edges with the egg wash.
• Spoon about 1 tablespoon topping into the indentation and, if using, sprinkle lightly with the posipka.
• Bake until golden brown or the center of the dough registers about 180°F on an instant-read thermometer, about 12 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool.Kolache are best eaten on the same day they are made, but can be covered with plastic wrap and stored at room temperature for up to 2 days on in freezer for up to 3 months.

KOLACE

Steps:

• Scald milk and set aside to cool until lukewarm.
• Remove 1/2 cup of the cooled scalded milk to a small bowl, add 1 teaspoon of the sugar and stir in yeast. Let work for about 10 minutes.
• While yeast is working, beat the eggs, add sugar, then cream, oil, salt and the rest of the scalded milk.
• In large bowl have ready 6 1/2 cups flour. Make a well in the flour and add the dissolved yeast. Stir and then add in the beaten ingredients.
• Beat until smooth.
• Add 1/4 cup of flour at a time until you have a slightly sticky dough.
• Beat well with a wooden spoon for 5 minutes.
• Let dough rest 10 minutes and then stir well with wooden spoon again.
• Cover with a tea towel and let rise about 1 hour, until doubled in bulk.
• Stir down and cut off tablespoon size balls.
• Shape into balls and place on a greased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart.
• Brush with melted shortening.
• Let rise until doubled.
• Make a depression in the middle of the ball with your thumb, and press outward to form an opening for the filling about the size of a 50 cent piece, pressing the bottom paper thin without tearing the dough.
• Add a teaspoon of filling to each kolace and smooth out to edge of opening. I use Solo brand poppy seed filling for most as that is our favorite and cherry pie filling for the rest.
• Let the filled kolace rise 15-20 minutes or they will look like a volcano erupting when baked.
• Bake at 425 for 8 minutes until lightly browned.
• Remove from pan with a spatula as you would cookies and cool on wire rack. Brush kolace with melted butter as soon as removed from oven to keep the dough soft.
• These freeze well once they are cooled--if they last that long.

BOHEMIAN KOLACHES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in warm milk; let stand 10 minutes. In a large bowl, combine 2 cups flour, remaining sugar, egg yolks, salt, butter and yeast/milk mixture. Mix until smooth. Add enough remaining flour to make a stiff dough. , Turn out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Add additional flour if necessary. Place dough in greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover; let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour. , Punch dough down and allow to rise again. Roll out on floured surface to 1/2-in. thickness. Cut with large glass or 2-1/2-in. cutter. Place on greased baking sheets; let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes. , Firmly press indentation in center and fill each roll with a heaping tablespoon of filling. Brush dough with egg white. Bake at 350° for 10-15 minutes or until rolls are light golden brown.

KOLACKY

Steps:

• 1. In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, beat together the cream cheese, butter, and sugar on medium speed until light, about 2 minutes. On low speed, gradually beat in the flour just until mixed. The dough will be soft and sticky.
• 2. Divide the dough in half. Pat each half into a thick disk and wrap separately in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm enough to handle, at least 1 hour or up to 1 day.
• 3. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease or spray cookie sheets.
• 4. Dust a pastry cloth or board with flour or confectioners' sugar. Remove 1 dough disk from the refrigerator and place it on the pastry cloth. Keep the remaining dough disk refrigerated. Roll out the dough into a square or rectangle 1/8 inch thick. Cut into 2 1/2-inch squares.
• 5. Place 1 teaspoon of the filling in the center of each square. Pull 2 opposite corners of the square into the middle, and pinch the edges together to seal. Place the cookies on the prepared cookie sheets, spacing them about 1 1/2 inches apart. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling.
• 6. Bake in the center of the oven until lightly golden, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool on the cookie sheets for 1 to 2 minutes, then transfer to wire racks. Dust the tops with sifted confectioners' sugar while still warm, then let cool completely.

SWEET KOLACHE RECIPE

Steps:

• Prepare Fillings and topping desired and set aside until ready to use.
• For Posypka Topping mix all ingredients together until mixture resembles coarse meal.
• For Poppyseed Filling Combine poppyseeds, sugar and milk, and cook over medium heat until mixture begins to thicken.
• Add butter, then flour which has been dissolved in a little bit of water.
• Cook, stirring constantly until poppyseed is done, at least 30 minutes.
• Allow to cool before use.
• Leftover filling can be frozen.
• For Cabbage Filling Fry the cabbage in the butter until soft.
• Add the salt, black pepper, sugar and flour, and fry until golden brown, being careful not to burn.
• For Prune Filling Place the prunes in a bowl and cover them completely with boiling water.
• Let them sit overnight (or at least 6 hours) to rehydrate.
• Drain the liquid off and mash prunes thoroughly with a fork or run them through a food processor.
• Add the cinnamon, sugar, and lemon zest.
• Mix thoroughly.
• Fills 24 kolaches.
• For Apricot Filling Cook a 10 ounce package of dried apricots slowly in enough water to cover until fruit is soft and water is cooked out.
• Do not cover or fruit turns dark.
• Add 1 1/2 cups sugar or more to taste and mash with a potato masher until well blended.
• Filling for about 2 dozen kolaches.
• For Cottage Cheese Filling Mix all ingredients together until blended.
• If cheese is too moist, add very finely rolled crackers, about 10 or 12 to absorb liquid.
• If using country-style cottage cheese, cream cheese can be omitted or used for added flavor, according to taste.
• If using cottage cheese as a filling, be sure to enclose cheese in the dough.
• Spread dough balls out, place cheese in the middle and pinch all sides together to seal completely.
• Place sealed side down on the greased pan and butter the pastry.
• Let rise until light, sprinkle with topping and bake.
• For cream Cheese Filling Soften the cream cheese.
• Beat remaining ingredients together with cream cheese in a medium-sized bowl.
• Filling for about 2 dozen kolaches.
• To Make Dough And assemble Kolaches Dissolve yeast in the 1/2 cup warm water in a tall glass, sprinkle with 1 teaspoon sugar and set aside to proof.
• In a large bowl, cream sugar and butter, add egg yolks and salt and mix well.
• Add the dissolved yeast, 1 cup of the flour and mix slowly with an electric mixer.
• Add the milk and continue adding as much of the remaining flour as you can mix in with a wooden spoon.
• Knead in enough of the remaining flour to make a moderately soft dough.
• Continue kneading until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.
• Place dough in a greased bowl, turn once to grease surface.
• Cover and let rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Punch dough down and turn out onto lightly floured surface.
• Pinch off egg size portions and roll into a ball using the palm of your hands in circular motion.
• Place about 1 inch apart on greased pans.
• Brush kolaches with melted butter, cover with a cloth and let rise until light, about 1 hour.
• Use your fingers to make an indentation in each ball and fill each opening with about 1 tablespoon of filling.
• Sprinkle with posypka topping (optional) and let rise again for 20 minutes.
• Bake in a preheated 425ºF oven for about 10-15 minutes.
• Brush kolaches with melted butter as they come out of the oven.

CZECH KOLACE OR KOLACHE

Steps:

• 1. To make the dough: In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in 3/4 cup warm water, blending with a fork. Set aside.
• 2. In a blender or food processor, place warm milk, potato flakes, salt, 3/4 cup sugar, eggs and oil. Blend until well mixed.
• 3. Place 4 cups flour into a large bowl or stand mixer bowl fitted with a paddle attachment. Add mixture from blender and mix. Add yeast and up to 1 additional cup of flour if dough is too sticky. Mix until the dough is smooth. It should be a LITTLE sticky. Cover with greased plastic wrap and let rise until doubled.
• 4. Using a medium cookie scoop, portion out equal-sized pieces of dough, and roll into a ball. Place on parchment-lined baking pan, brush with oil and cover with plastic wrap and let rise until almost doubled.
• 5. Meanwhile, make the streusel topping. In a medium bowl, cut 1/4 cup butter into flour that has been mixed with sugar and coconut (if using) until coarse crumbs result. Set aside. Using the bottom of a floured glass or with your fingers, make an indentation in the tops of the Kolace and dollop with your favorite filling. Add streusel on top and bake for 10 to 12 minutes.
• 6. Remove from oven and brush sides of Kolace with a mixture of 3 Tablespoons hot water mixed with 1 Tablespoon sugar, or melted butter. These will freeze well but, because they don't contain preservatives, they will stale quickly at room temperature or when refrigerated, but try microwaving them briefly to warm them for a just-baked taste.
• 7. In some parts of the United States today, particularly in TEXAS, Kolace have become savory affairs stuffed with ham and cheese, and other fillings. This recipe calls for instant potato flakes, which hardly seems traditional, but many early recipes call for mashed potatoes in the dough, so this is just a modern concession. As is the use of a blender to speed things up!

KOLACHI

Steps:

• DOUGH: Mix together the 1 tablespoon sugar, the yeast and the 1/2 cup water and allow to foam. Beat the margarine, remaining sugar and eggs for five minutes. If you have a Kitchenaid or similar mixer switch to the dough hook and add the flour and the foamy yeast mixture and continue kneading for five to eight minutes.
• Remove from mixer, form a nice ball and place in a greased bowl, covered with Saran wrap and allow to rise for thirty minutes. Divided the dough into four even balls, roll out to a 15x15 inch rectangle, flouring lightly the work surface if necessary.
• Fill and roll up jelly roll style crimping and sealing the ends to keep filling from oozing. Place seam side down on greased cookie sheet, place all four rolls on the same sheet. Rolls should be about 14 inches long and two to three inches in width before baking. Allow to raise for another 30 minutes. Right before baking prick with a fork five times down the center of the roll and brush with the egg wash.
• Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 30-40 minutes or until nicely browned. Cool on the pan.
• PREPARE FILLING BEFORE MAKING THE DOUGH.
• NUT FILLING:.
• Combine filling ingredients and mix to a spreadable consistency.
• POPPY SEED FILLING:.
• Melt the margarine and add the milk, heat till scalded. Add the sugar and stir until dissolved. Add the poppy seeds and cook for 2-3 minutes. Remove from the heat add the egg and flavorings and allow to cool well.
• You can also use prune or apricot filling. During the holidays most grocery stores carry this in their bakery departments. Be sure to use fresh poppy seed and not the kind found in the spice section of the grocery store.