I hope you don’t let the long list of ingredients or directions put you off – yes, there are several components to the recipe, but it actually doesn’t take long to make at all. While many kolaches recipes require several proofs, this one proves only once. And if you halve the recipe, as I did, it’s quicker still. And, anyway, I defy you to sink your teeth into that soft pillow of bread, custard, jam and streusel and say it’s not worth every moment’s work!
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How to Make Moravian Kolaches
- Yield: 30 pastries 1x
Description
Learn how to make the soft, pillowy kolache pastries make of flaky bread with a custard filling, a plum jam glaze and a crunchy streusel topping.
Ingredients
For dough
- 30g fresh yeast or 2 packets (4 teaspoons) (15 g) active dry yeast
- 1 tsp granulated sugar
- 4 Tbsp (1/4 cup milk), warm
- 3-2/3 cup (500 g) all-purpose (plain) flour
- 3/4 cup (100 g) confectioner’s (icing) sugar
- 1 cup (250 ml) milk, warm
- 1/3 cup (75 g) butter, melted
- 2 small egg yolks
- Pinch of salt
For quark filling
- 3 cups (750 g) quark (I used mascarpone as a substitute)
- 1 small egg yolk
- Confectioner’s (icing) sugar to taste (I used about 5-6 Tbsp)
For plum filling
- 2/3 cup (200 g) plum jam
- Rum or hot water to soften jam if too thick
For streusel topping
- 1/4 cup (50 g) butter, chilled and diced
- 1/3 cup (50 g) plain flour
- 1/4 cup (50 g) caster (or granulated) sugar
For assembly
- 1 egg
Instructions
- For the quark filling: Mix all the quark filling ingredients and place in the fridge until needed.
- For the plum filling: If your plum jam is overly thick, mix it with a little rum or water to soften it. Set aside until needed.
- For the streusel topping: In a saucepan melt the butter, add flour and sugar and mix with fork until crumbly. If the mixture is too wet, add a little flour. Set aside.
- To activate the yeast: In a bowl mix together yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar. Add 4 tablespoons warm milk, mix well and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon flour. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 10–15 minutes.
- To make the dough: In your electric mixer bowl (or a large bowl) mix flour, sugar, milk, butter, egg yolks and salt. Add the activated yeast. Knead with dough hook (or with wooden spoon) on low speed for about 10 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for about one hour to double its volume.
- When the dough has risen turn it onto a lightly floured surface and roll it with rolling pin to a thickness of about 1/4 inch (6mm). Cut dough into circles with 10cm (4 inch) cookie cutter or a glass (if you want small kolaches) or divide the dough into 10 equal pieces (if you want large kolaches). Reroll the scraps and cut out the last remaining circles. Press down gently on each piece with your hands to spread the dough and fill with quark filling (for the small sized kolaches, I used about 1 tablespoon of filling each). Pulling up the sides of the dough, wrap each kolach into a ‘purse’ shape.
- Preheat oven to 170°C (340°F). Line 2–3 baking sheets with parchment paper. Put each kolach onto a prepared baking sheet with seam side down. Gently make an indentation in the middle of each kolach with your thumb. Brush the top of the kolach with egg wash and fill the indented holes with a dollop of plum filling. Sprinkle it with streusel topping. Bake for about 20-25 minutes until golden brown.
Notes
The quark filling, plum filling and streusel topping can all be prepared in advance, or while your dough is proofing.
Kolaches are best the first and second day but you can store them in an airtight container in a fridge up to 5 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use mascarpone if I can’t find quark?
Yes, I did exactly that. Quark is the traditional filling base, but mascarpone works as a substitute. Fair warning: mascarpone has a thinner consistency, which can cause a little filling leakage if you don’t seal the dough purse tightly enough. Make sure you pull the sides up snugly around the filling before placing them seam-side down on the baking sheet.
Does this dough need multiple rises like other kolache recipes?
No, and that’s one of the things I like about it. Many kolache recipes require several proofs, but this one proves only once, about one hour until doubled. If you halve the batch, as I sometimes do, it comes together even faster.
Can I make the fillings and streusel in advance?
Absolutely. The quark filling, plum filling, and streusel topping can all be prepared ahead, or while the dough is proofing during that one-hour rise. Store the quark filling in the fridge until you’re ready to assemble.
How long do these keep, and should I refrigerate them?
They’re best on the first and second day. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days, though honestly in my experience they rarely last that long.
