Yes, we Texans love our Czech pastries as much as the next guy! Tons of little towns in central Texas (near Austin) are known for their legendary kolache!
I’m so impressed you attempted to make these! They look delicious!
My favorite place in Texas to grab a bunch is here:
I am slowly making my way through this wonderful issue. In march went I went home to TX, I went on a Kolache tour of sorts and found simply wonderful ones at a bakery in La Grange. Texas really is an amazingly diverse food state.
Texans do love their Kolaches. My favorite growing up was a spicy sausage & cheese variety. This little doughnut shop stuffed an entire sausage in there!!
Thanks for all of the nice comments! and tips.
Weikels seems like a must-try. I’ll be in Texas in September and am hoping to do some Kolache tasting myself.
Bless you! I have been looking for a great Kolaches recipe for years! This is going on my list to make! Thanks so much, I will let you know how they turn out!
This dessert must also be Chezch. We used to stop at a place between Dallas and Austin at a little shop called the Chezch Stop for our kolache fix. Haven’t had them in years. I think I will try your recipe but with cherries since they are in season now.
I grew up eating kolaches in Texas (Houston/East Texas), but they were/are sausages baked in a delicious bread roll- they’re kind of torpedo-shaped. You can get varieties with cheese/sausage/jalapeno also. Shipley’s is the donut/kolache shop to beat in Texas (and there are loads, believe me). I never knew kolaches could also be sweet pastries…
Okay, I am Czech and to be honest-I am really, really suprised that something like this is so popular!
And about the word ‘kolachky’ (correctly written ‘koláčky’)-it is a diminutive for ‘koláč’ which is the universal appellation for a cake or a pie. And the kinds of ‘kolaches’ that is this recipe for are mostly filled with cheese, poppy or some kind of fruit jam. But it has many varieties.
What about sausage kolaches? Is that a deviation from the traditional Czech brand? There’s this great Kolache shop in Houston on Bingle near Longpoint my Dad used to go to. He brought freshly baked jalepeno sausage kolaches into the house every Sunday! (And then I moved out of state……and lost weight )
I love all of this talk about Kolaches! Yes, they can be savory too, at least in Texas. I’ve never seen a savory version of the Polish/Chicago ones. Anyone else know more?
We have made the cookie variety (via Martha Stewart). They were delicious. I’d like to try the yeast bread variety sometime. The cottage cheese filling sounds good.
Thanks for posting this! I don’t know if I want to make kolaches first, or run out and get that issue of Saveur! We’ve had amazing kolaches from a bakery in West, Texas but haven’t ever made them from scratch. This looks like the recipe to try! BTW, I can’t remember if we already told you that you’re on our blogroll, but we love what you’re doing!
My Czech grandmother actually owned a bakery in Chicago that of course, stocked kolache! My dad was pretty adamant about passing on a heritage of Czech cooking so growing up we had a blue antique poppy seed grinder from Czechoslovakia that we used to hand grind poppyseeds to make a tar-like, sweet and earthy kolache filling. Plus, Italian prune trees in our backyard to supply fruit for the traditional plum. I sent him a link to this post and I know he’ll be delighted. Store bought anything is just never the same…
I’m catching up with your latest posts – congrats on your first 100th! Here is to much more! I enjoy your elegant and eloquent writing as much as I drool over the photos. (Once I get an oven, I’ll cook to the recipes you post, too!)
And a few words on ‘kolaches’ — it seems in Russia we have the same deliciousness known as ‘vatrushki’. Suddenly, I feel nostalgic…which is good. Thanks!
I’m making the sausauge ones today… Your dough recipe (- 1 Tbl of sugar), and stuffed with an 1/8th of a section of andouille sausage each. Top with butter and a sprinkling of sea salt. Swim Meet food to go.
I got so excited when I saw this recipe because my grandmother used to make kolachi (they were of Czechoslovakian descent). I have fond memories of apricot and nut kolachi, hers looked much different, but I am definitely going to try your recipe out. I really enjoy your blog, keep up the good work!
I just made this recipe, via your helpful breakdown. Filled some with the cheese filling, others with homemade apricot and strawberry jams. Oh so good! Thanks for calling my attention to this recipe (and for sorting through the crazy on our behalf).
The ones I have had are really thin pastry with apricot or blueberry jam on top. That is the tradition in my husband’s family, his grandmother made them that way. This looks yummy as well :)
Haven’t made these since last summer’s swim meet. Making them tonight for the beach tomorrow. I guess I associate kolaches with summer. Sausage ones were great. Tonight I’m using some nice chorizo from Niman Ranch.
The way the Saveur recipe is written isn’t so “crazy pants” after all. Saying “19 Tbs + 1 tsp” is easier and clearer than saying “1 cup + 3 Tbsp + 1 tsp” or “1 cup + 3 1/3 Tbsp”. The large number of tablespoon measures called for in the remainder of the recipe simply maintains a consistent unit of measure. As with most of these types of foods, there’s no wrong way to spell them or make them, and dozens of delicious variations to work your way through!
Thank you for simplifying the recipe. You’re right—I was just reading thru it before I came here and wondered why they made it so confusing. Love your photos!
The sausage ones are called kolasneke. I probably did not spell that correctly. The dough is not a sweet dough like the dough used for a kolache. I also use cream cheese for my cheese kolache. My mother-in-law used home made cottage cheese. Cottage cheese today has too much water.
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heather says:
June 10th, 2009 at 8:04 am
we have this issue sitting on our coffee table – those look just like the photo! brilliant work.
cheers,
*heather*
Kristin says:
June 10th, 2009 at 8:18 am
I’m loving this issue of Saveur too. These look wonderful, Tim. I love that top photo!
arugulove says:
June 10th, 2009 at 8:47 am
These look amazing! I need to get this magazine!
Hayley says:
June 10th, 2009 at 9:18 am
These look so tasty, and perfect for a brunch I’m having in a couple weeks. Thanks for sharing, the pictures are great!
Sarah (Coffee Beans and Curry Leaves) says:
June 10th, 2009 at 9:31 am
These look delicious! I really want to try the one with cheese filling…
Holly says:
June 10th, 2009 at 9:42 am
Um WOW. Just. Wow.
Paige says:
June 10th, 2009 at 10:09 am
Yes, we Texans love our Czech pastries as much as the next guy! Tons of little towns in central Texas (near Austin) are known for their legendary kolache!
I’m so impressed you attempted to make these! They look delicious!
My favorite place in Texas to grab a bunch is here:
http://www.weikels.com/
Yes, it is attached to a Shell Station. Judge and drive ahead and the mistake is yours!
Whitney says:
June 10th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
I am slowly making my way through this wonderful issue. In march went I went home to TX, I went on a Kolache tour of sorts and found simply wonderful ones at a bakery in La Grange. Texas really is an amazingly diverse food state.
I really love the top picture as well. Beautiful!
laura says:
June 10th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Texans do love their Kolaches. My favorite growing up was a spicy sausage & cheese variety. This little doughnut shop stuffed an entire sausage in there!!
Tim says:
June 10th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Thanks for all of the nice comments! and tips.
Weikels seems like a must-try. I’ll be in Texas in September and am hoping to do some Kolache tasting myself.
Dawn in CA says:
June 10th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Quote: “…the Saveur recipe is crazy pants.” Tee Hee! I just might have to use that line.
unconfidentialcook.com says:
June 10th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
I grew up in Chicago but never had a Kolache. Poor me!
Lisa@The Cutting Edge of Ordinary says:
June 10th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Bless you! I have been looking for a great Kolaches recipe for years! This is going on my list to make! Thanks so much, I will let you know how they turn out!
beans says:
June 10th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
Happy Paczki Day (punchkee) Mazurek!
Linda says:
June 10th, 2009 at 11:55 pm
This dessert must also be Chezch. We used to stop at a place between Dallas and Austin at a little shop called the Chezch Stop for our kolache fix. Haven’t had them in years. I think I will try your recipe but with cherries since they are in season now.
Abigail says:
June 11th, 2009 at 3:18 am
oh lord-have-mercy, these look so amazing!
Amy C. says:
June 11th, 2009 at 5:41 am
I grew up eating kolaches in Texas (Houston/East Texas), but they were/are sausages baked in a delicious bread roll- they’re kind of torpedo-shaped. You can get varieties with cheese/sausage/jalapeno also. Shipley’s is the donut/kolache shop to beat in Texas (and there are loads, believe me). I never knew kolaches could also be sweet pastries…
Zuzana says:
June 11th, 2009 at 9:08 am
Okay, I am Czech and to be honest-I am really, really suprised that something like this is so popular!
And about the word ‘kolachky’ (correctly written ‘koláčky’)-it is a diminutive for ‘koláč’ which is the universal appellation for a cake or a pie. And the kinds of ‘kolaches’ that is this recipe for are mostly filled with cheese, poppy or some kind of fruit jam. But it has many varieties.
CJ says:
June 11th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
What about sausage kolaches? Is that a deviation from the traditional Czech brand? There’s this great Kolache shop in Houston on Bingle near Longpoint my Dad used to go to. He brought freshly baked jalepeno sausage kolaches into the house every Sunday! (And then I moved out of state……and lost weight )
Tim says:
June 11th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
I love all of this talk about Kolaches! Yes, they can be savory too, at least in Texas. I’ve never seen a savory version of the Polish/Chicago ones. Anyone else know more?
Erica from Cooking for Seven says:
June 12th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
We have made the cookie variety (via Martha Stewart). They were delicious. I’d like to try the yeast bread variety sometime. The cottage cheese filling sounds good.
BigSis says:
June 13th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Thanks for posting this! I don’t know if I want to make kolaches first, or run out and get that issue of Saveur! We’ve had amazing kolaches from a bakery in West, Texas but haven’t ever made them from scratch. This looks like the recipe to try! BTW, I can’t remember if we already told you that you’re on our blogroll, but we love what you’re doing!
anne spice says:
June 14th, 2009 at 10:12 am
My Czech grandmother actually owned a bakery in Chicago that of course, stocked kolache! My dad was pretty adamant about passing on a heritage of Czech cooking so growing up we had a blue antique poppy seed grinder from Czechoslovakia that we used to hand grind poppyseeds to make a tar-like, sweet and earthy kolache filling. Plus, Italian prune trees in our backyard to supply fruit for the traditional plum. I sent him a link to this post and I know he’ll be delighted. Store bought anything is just never the same…
anya says:
June 22nd, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Hi Tim!
I’m catching up with your latest posts – congrats on your first 100th! Here is to much more! I enjoy your elegant and eloquent writing as much as I drool over the photos. (Once I get an oven, I’ll cook to the recipes you post, too!)
And a few words on ‘kolaches’ — it seems in Russia we have the same deliciousness known as ‘vatrushki’. Suddenly, I feel nostalgic…which is good. Thanks!
Vanessa says:
July 6th, 2009 at 10:12 am
I’m making the sausauge ones today… Your dough recipe (- 1 Tbl of sugar), and stuffed with an 1/8th of a section of andouille sausage each. Top with butter and a sprinkling of sea salt. Swim Meet food to go.
Tim says:
July 6th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Sounds good! Let me know how your savory version turns out…
Courtney says:
September 7th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
I got so excited when I saw this recipe because my grandmother used to make kolachi (they were of Czechoslovakian descent). I have fond memories of apricot and nut kolachi, hers looked much different, but I am definitely going to try your recipe out. I really enjoy your blog, keep up the good work!
Deena says:
October 22nd, 2009 at 9:03 am
I just made this recipe, via your helpful breakdown. Filled some with the cheese filling, others with homemade apricot and strawberry jams. Oh so good! Thanks for calling my attention to this recipe (and for sorting through the crazy on our behalf).
Tina says:
December 20th, 2009 at 3:16 am
The ones I have had are really thin pastry with apricot or blueberry jam on top. That is the tradition in my husband’s family, his grandmother made them that way. This looks yummy as well :)
Vanessa says:
June 11th, 2010 at 8:48 pm
Haven’t made these since last summer’s swim meet. Making them tonight for the beach tomorrow. I guess I associate kolaches with summer. Sausage ones were great. Tonight I’m using some nice chorizo from Niman Ranch.
Pam Gereau says:
November 5th, 2011 at 1:20 pm
Never seen these with a raised dough, the ones I’m familiar with are more of a cookie. I guess I’m thinking of Kolacky which are Polish?
Basia says:
December 19th, 2011 at 12:19 pm
The way the Saveur recipe is written isn’t so “crazy pants” after all. Saying “19 Tbs + 1 tsp” is easier and clearer than saying “1 cup + 3 Tbsp + 1 tsp” or “1 cup + 3 1/3 Tbsp”. The large number of tablespoon measures called for in the remainder of the recipe simply maintains a consistent unit of measure. As with most of these types of foods, there’s no wrong way to spell them or make them, and dozens of delicious variations to work your way through!
Tim says:
December 19th, 2011 at 3:11 pm
Hi Basia- Thanks for your comment, but I still think the recipe is crazy pants. ; )
Julie says:
November 16th, 2014 at 9:36 am
Thank you for simplifying the recipe. You’re right—I was just reading thru it before I came here and wondered why they made it so confusing. Love your photos!
Mary Hlavinka says:
March 6th, 2016 at 6:52 pm
The sausage ones are called kolasneke. I probably did not spell that correctly. The dough is not a sweet dough like the dough used for a kolache. I also use cream cheese for my cheese kolache. My mother-in-law used home made cottage cheese. Cottage cheese today has too much water.