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Freeze-Friendly Czech Pastries

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Soft, golden, and irresistibly nostalgic, these Homemade Kolaches are traditional Czech pastries filled with sweet cheese, fruit jam, or poppy seed filling. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or snacking, they also freeze wonderfully—making them a make-ahead favorite for busy mornings or special occasions.

Ingredients

For the Dough:

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 packet (2 1/4 tsp) active dry yeast

  • 3/4 cup whole milk, warm

  • 1/4 cup sugar

  • 2 eggs

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

  • 1/2 tsp salt

For the Cheese Filling:

  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened

  • 1/4 cup sugar

  • 1 egg yolk

  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Optional Fruit Fillings:

  • Apricot preserves

  • Blueberry jam

  • Plum jam

  • Poppy seed filling

For the Streusel Topping (Posypka):

  • 1/4 cup sugar

  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter, cold and cubed

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm milk with a pinch of sugar. Let sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy.

  2. Make the Dough:
    In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, sugar, melted butter, and salt. Add the yeast mixture and gradually stir in flour. Knead for about 10 minutes until smooth and soft.

  3. First Rise:
    Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.

  4. Prepare Fillings & Streusel:
    Mix cream cheese, sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla until smooth. For streusel, rub flour, sugar, and butter together until crumbly.

  5. Shape & Fill:
    After rising, divide dough into 16–18 equal balls. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Let rest for 10 minutes, then press indentations in the center of each.

  6. Assemble Kolaches:
    Fill centers with 1 tbsp of cheese or jam. Sprinkle streusel over each one.

  7. Bake:
    Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 18–20 minutes until lightly golden. Cool before serving.

  8. To Freeze:
    Let kolaches cool fully. Wrap individually in plastic wrap and store in freezer bags. Reheat in oven or toaster oven when ready to enjoy.

Notes

  • For a festive twist, mix fruit preserves with a little citrus zest.

  • These are great for gifting or holiday brunch spreads.

  • Can be made with savory fillings like sausage or ham for variety.

Find it online: https://yumfoodusa.com/freeze-friendly-czech-pastries/