Recipe Information

• Author: deesviral
• Category: Breakfast
• Cuisine: Czech-American
• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Rise Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Bake Time: 18 minutes
• Total Time: 2 hours 13 minutes
• Yield: 12 kolaches

Ingredients

Dough

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1 cup warm milk (110°F/43°C)
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon salt

Cream Cheese Filling

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• ⅓ cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Optional Topping

• 1 tablespoon melted butter
• Powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine the warm milk, yeast, and sugar. Stir gently and allow the mixture to stand for 5–10 minutes until foamy.
2. Add the melted butter, egg, and salt. Mix well before gradually adding the flour.
3. Knead the dough for 8–10 minutes until smooth, soft, and elastic.
4. Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
5. Meanwhile, prepare the filling by beating the softened cream cheese, sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla until smooth and creamy.
6. Punch down the dough and divide it into 12 equal portions. Shape each portion into a smooth ball.
7. Arrange the dough balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving space between each. Cover loosely and allow them to rise for another 30 minutes.
8. Using the bottom of a glass or your fingertips, press a deep indentation into the center of each dough ball.
9. Spoon the cream cheese filling into each indentation without overfilling.
10. Bake in a preheated 375°F (190°C) oven for 15–18 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
11. Brush the warm kolaches with melted butter for a beautiful shine. Dust lightly with powdered sugar if desired.
12. Serve warm or at room temperature with coffee or tea.

Helpful Tips

• Use room-temperature cream cheese for the smoothest filling.
• Do not overfill the centers to prevent spilling while baking.
• Warm milk should be between 105–110°F to activate the yeast properly.
• The dough should remain soft; avoid adding too much flour.
• Freshly baked kolaches have the best texture and flavor.

Flavor Variations

• Cherry pie filling
• Blueberry preserves
• Apricot jam
• Strawberry preserves
• Poppy seed filling
• Sweet prune filling
• Apple cinnamon filling

Storage

Store cooled kolaches in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days. Reheat for 10–15 seconds in the microwave before serving. They also freeze well for up to 2 months.

Nutrition (Approximate Per Kolache)

• Calories: 285
• Protein: 7g
• Carbohydrates: 37g
• Fat: 12g
• Fiber: 1g
• Sugar: 13g