Description
Classic Czech pastry with fruit and streusel topping.
Ingredients
Scale
- For the dough:
- 2 whole eggs (1 egg for the dough; 1 egg for brushing the dough)
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 cup lukewarm whole milk
- 3½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- Pinch of salt
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
- 10 tablespoons (140g) softened unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, for greasing the bowl
- For the streusel topping:
- 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 7 tablespoons (100g) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
- For the fruit topping:
- 20 fresh ripe, soft apricots, pitted, cut in half, or quarters if too big
- 4 cups fresh strawberries, destemmed, cut in half, or quarters if too big
- 4 cups fresh blueberries
Instructions
To make the dough in an electric stand mixer:
- In a small bowl lightly whisk 1 whole egg, both egg yolks and the lukewarm milk.
- Place the egg mixture, flour, salt, powdered sugar and yeast in the bowl of an electric stand mixer, and using the dough hook, mix for 1 minute.
- Add the butter, and mix until the dough is shiny and smooth, about 7 minutes.
- With your hands, form the dough into a smooth, round ball.
To make the dough by hand:
- In a large bowl mix together the flour, salt, powdered sugar, and yeast.
- In a small bowl lightly whisk 1 whole egg, 2 egg yolks, and lukewarm milk.
- Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture, and mix to combine with a wooden spoon. Add the butter. (It’s probably going to be too hard to stir and incorporate thoroughly with a wooden spoon, so feel free to dump the dough on a clean, lightly floured surface, and mix with your hands).
- Toss, turn and knead the dough with the palm of your hands for 7 minutes, until glossy and elastic.
- With your hands, form the dough into a smooth, round ball.
Once you have your dough:
- Grease the bottom and sides of a large bowl with the vegetable oil. Place the dough in the bowl and cover it with a clean kitchen towel.
- Let the dough rise undisturbed, in a warm place, until doubled in size, about 50 min – 1½ hours
While the dough is rising:
- Make the streusel topping: In a small bowl, combine the flour and sugar. Work in the butter with your fingers, lightly toss and mix, until crumbled and pea-size.
- In a bowl, lightly beat the 1 egg you reserved for brushing the dough.
To form kolache:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C), place two oven racks in the middle of the oven, and line four baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Dump the dough onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 4 equal parts.
- Shape each part into a bun and place it in the middle of a baking sheet. With your hands, gently flatten and tap the dough into a circle about 10 inches in diameter, ¼ inch high, and with a ¾-inch wide edge.
- Arrange the fruit evenly on top of the dough (strawberries and apricots cut-side down). Use either one type of fruit per koláč, or combine two or all three in a fun circular pattern.
- Brush the edge with the egg. Sprinkle 1/3 cup of the streusel evenly over the fruit, and lightly press down.
- Bake the koláče—two at a time—in the oven until the edge is golden brown, about 20–25 minutes. For even baking, switch the baking sheets halfway through, placing the top one on bottom and vice versa.
- Transfer to a cooling rack and let cool for about 45 minutes. Cut into slices and serve.
Notes
- See post for variations on fruit and other toppings.
- Freeze any leftover fruit for smoothies or other use.
- Kolache will be good for about one day after baking them. Place them on a tray or a large cutting board, and loosely cover with a clean kitchen towel. Store in a cool place, but don’t refrigerate. Kitchen counter, larder or cellar work the best.
- To freeze kolache: Let them cool for an hour after baking, then slice. Stack four slices, layering each with a piece of parchment paper. Wrap tightly in aluminum foil and freeze for up to three months. (They won’t be as good after three months).