Easy Kolaches Recipe

What is a Kolache?

Kolaches are Czech pastries made of a yeast dough usually filled with fruit, and sometimes cheese. The name originates from the Czech word “kolo,” which means “circle,” referring to its shape.

Starting out as only a fruit topped piece of bread in eastern Europe, the kolache has been transformed and stuffed with a range of different toppings and fillings to satisfy anyone’s craving. 

Where I live, the Kolache bakery sells sweet and savory kolaches. With a myriad of fruit and cream cheese varieties, but also breakfast kolaches stuffed with eggs, cheese, and different meats.

Fruit Kolaches

The fruit and cream cheese kolaches are my favorite, and very similar to a donut. Except they’re baked instead of fried.

I wanted to re-create some fruit kolaches at home because they remind me an awful lot of the danishes I would make in the bakery. But instead a crisp, flaky pastry, it’s a soft pillowy bread.

Easy Kolaches Recipe

Since I knew I wanted a variety of fillings, I took a shortcut with the dough and opted to use Rhodes Texas Size Rolls. They are equal to 1.5 of the original Rhodes Dinner Rolls, making them the perfect size for these Czech pastries.

Fun fact. Kolaches are also a really popular food in Texas. So it just made sense to use Texas size rolls for this easy kolaches recipe.

• Place the frozen Texas rolls onto parchment or silicone lined baking sheets about 4 inches apart (8 per half sheet tray).
• Cover the rolls with greased plastic wrap and let rise until double in size; about 4-5 hours. (Or for 8 hours overnight in the fridge and then 1-2 hours at room temperature.)

Cream Cheese Filling

While the rolls are thawing, prepare the fillings.

NOTE: The full recipe and instructions are in the recipe card at the end of this post.

First, make the cream cheese filling:

• Beat the cream cheese and granulated sugar in a large bowl with an electric hand mixer.
• Add the vanilla and 1/2 of a whisked egg. (Save the remaining whisked egg for egg wash.)
• Beat until smooth, scraping the bowl as needed.

NOTE: If you don’t want to use an egg in the cream cheese filling, you can alternately mix in 3-4 teaspoons of milk.

Fruit Filling made in the Microwave

There are two ways to cook the fruit fillings. In the microwave or on the stovetop. Both ways work just fine. Do what you prefer.

NOTE: The thicker the filling, the less it spills over the kolaches during baking.

To make the fruit filling in the microwave:

• Combine the fresh or frozen fruit, sugar, cornstarch and lemon juice in a large microwave safe bowl. Stir together.
• Microwave for 5 minutes, or until thick, stirring halfway through. Set aside. (Mixture will continue to thicken as it cools.)

Fruit Filling made on the Stovetop

To make the fruit filling on the stovetop:

• Combine the fresh or frozen fruit, sugar, cornstarch and lemon juice in a medium saucepan. Stir together.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture boils and thickens, about 6-7 minutes. Set aside. (Mixture will continue to thicken as it cools.)

NOTE: If the Texas rolls are not ready to fill, place all fruit and cream cheese fillings in the refrigerator until ready to use.

How to make Kolaches

Once the Texas rolls have thawed and risen, you are ready to assemble the kolaches. First, preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Use a measuring cup to press down the center of each roll, creating a well for the fillings. Some air bubbles may pop. That’s ok. I used a 1/3 cup, but you could probably use a 1/2 cup to make room for more filling.
• Brush the edges of each kolache with the egg wash (the remaining whisked egg).
• Then fill the center of each well with 2 heaping Tablespoons of fillings. (I was able to fit two #50 scoops into each well.)

NOTE: I was able to make 6 blueberry cream cheese, 6 raspberry cream cheese, and 4 plain cream cheese kolaches. This used almost all of my fillings. I probably wouldn’t have had any leftover if I used the 1/2 cup to make slightly wider wells for the fillings.

Baking and Storing

• Bake the sweet kolaches at 375˚F for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool on the pan for 15 minutes and enjoy warm.
• Store leftover kolaches in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Bring kolaches to room temperature or nuke leftovers in the microwave for 10 seconds to soften the bread before consuming.

Alternative Options

This easy kolaches recipe is pretty simple, since you’re using Rhodes rolls for the dough. If you’d also rather not make the fruit fillings you could use any:

• Pie Filling
• Jam
• Thick Fruit Curd

Have fun making the kolache pastries of your dreams!

More Rhodes Rolls Recipes

• Apple Fritters
• Cinnamon Twists
• Hocus Pocus Buns
• Easy Monkey Bread
• Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls

If You Make This Recipe, Please Rate and Review it in the Comments Below. THANKS!