KOLACHES... Czech

A kolach (also spelled kolache, kolace or kolacky from the Czech and Slovak meaning "cake/pie") is a type of sweet pastry that holds a portion of fruit surrounded by puffy dough. It is made from yeast dough and common flavors include quark (tvaroh) spread, fruit jam, and poppy seeds mixed with powidl. Originating as a semisweet pastry from Central Europe, they have also become popular in parts of the United States, particularly in the state of Texas. The name originates from the Czech (Bohemian), and originally Old Slavonic word kolo meaning "circle" or "wheel".

This recipe does away with the yeast to give a much healthier option and easier for you to handle.

Jam KOLACHES

INGREDIENTS

• 2 ¼ cups all purpose flour

• ½ teaspoon salt

• 227g cream cheese/Greek Yoghurt

• 228g butter/margarine (softened)

• ½ cup granulated sugar for rolling

• Jam of choice

For the Pastry Dough:

1. Sift flour and salt together in a medium bowl and set aside.

2. Mix the cream cheese or Greek yoghurt and butter together until completely incorporated and creamy.

3. Add in the flour in 3 additions, completely mixing in the flour each time. The dough should be soft but not sticky.

4. Divide the dough into 4 equal parts and flatten each to ¾” thick. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until hard, at least 2 hours.

Assembling the Kolaches:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180C. Move the oven rack one setting higher than the center.

2. Take one of the disks of dough from the refrigerator and lightly flour both sides. Spread granulated sugar on your work surface. Place the dough on top and roll out pastry to a thin thickness.

3. With a sharp knife, trim the dough into a square and then cut the square into 16 smaller squares, refrigerate and re roll your scraps.

4. Place a dollop of jam filling into the center of each square, just the center as the jam will spread when the dough is sealed and backed. I used ½ teaspoon to ¾ teaspoon for each.

5. Gently grab two opposite corners and fold one over the other, gently pressing together to try and seal them together. Gently move it to a parchment covered baking sheet. Repeat with all remaining squares.

6. Sprinkle the middles of the kolaches with just a touch of granulated sugar.

7. Placing the kolaches no closer than 1” apart.

8. Bake 12-14 minutes or until the bottom edges are a golden and you can smell them. Let cool slightly on the pan on a wire rack and then move them gently to a wire rack to cool completely.

9. Take pictures and post on the Advent Calendar group, Instagram, don’t forget to tag us and enjoy!!!