Kolache
Servings Prep Time
30-40Kolache (depending on size) 2hours
Cook Time
20minutes
Servings Prep Time
30-40Kolache (depending on size) 2hours
Cook Time
20minutes
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Warm ½ cup of milk until lukewarm (a few seconds in the microwave). Add sugar and yeast to milk and let sit for about 10 minutes.
  2. Separate the egg whites, putting he yolks in a small bowl and whites in a stand mixer. Whisk egg whites until stiff peaks form. Scoop into another bowl and set aside.
  3. Cream butter in a stand mixer. Add sugar and four egg yolks one at a time until incorporated.
  4. Add the egg whites to the butter, then add the yeast mixture, cream, vanilla extract, lemon zest, cinnamon, salt, and flour. Beat with a dough hook until the dough comes together and has an elastic quality but is still a bit runny. The dough it quite sticky, so you can coat your hands in flour and lift the dough from the bottom of the bowl and sprinkle more flour there then top the dough with a dusting of flour. You may wish to transfer to another bowl or leave it in the stand mixing bowl.
  5. Set dough in a warm spot to let rise for about 1 hour, or until the dough has doubled in size.
  6. While the dough is rising, make the egg wash by mixing one egg yolk and 1 tbsp. of milk together in a small bowl. You may also prepare any additional filling and streusel topping if using (recipes below).
  7. When the dough has doubled, flour your hands (I find it helpful to have an extra bowl full of flour to dip my hands into when needed) and take the dough out by the tablespoonful. Roll into a ball with your hands, then press into a cookie shape, using fingers to make an indent in the center of the dough. You can do this while holding the dough or set the dough on a floured cutting board to do so.
  8. Grease a baking sheet and place the indented kolache with about ½-1 inch of space in between them. With a basting tool, coat the rounded edges of the kolache with the egg wash. This ensures that the dough has a beautiful golden-brown color.
  9. Fill the kolache with your fillings. Don’t forget you can mix and match fillings as well! Try a lemon curd and cream cheese filling, or a raspberry jam, lemon curd, and cream cheese filling, get creative.
  10. Once all the kolaches are filled, sprinkle with streusel topping (recipe below) if using and let the kolache rise for 30 minutes.
  11. Preheat the oven to 375. When the kolache have risen, bake for 10-15 minutes.
  12. Optionally, you can dust with powdered sugar immediately after taking out of the oven.