Homemade Kolaches & Klobasneks

Growing up in Texas, Kolaches were always a staple for Adam and I. From local donut shops to the Kolache factory, and our favorite stop the Czech Stop Bakery in West, Texas, we have grown up with the idea of Kolaches being Sausage or Sausage and Cheese in a roll, what others might call a pig in a blanket. It wasn't until recently that we learned Kolaches are actually meant to be the same dough recipe but filled with fruit, chocolate, and more dessert-flavors. Our "traditional kolache" was actually considered a klobasnek, which is when the kolache contains meat and cheese. According to some sources, Kolaches migrated to the U.S. with Czech immigrants, while it is belived that immigrated Czech Texans that created the Klobasnek, or the "sausage kolache", while already in Texas. In some areas of Texas "kolache" is the blanket term for all of them, in other areas it is a point of controversy. In fact, in some areas north of Dallas they are just called "pig in a blanket" to avoid ruffling feathers, while more Central Texas is known for calling them by the regular terms. 

With a rich culture and something so close to home, Adam and I have missed the classic klobasneks from Texas and make a point to stop by a donut shop (or the Czech Stop itself) and have been working to make our own. Below is a recipe we tried out this week (our 3rd attempt, and the best one yet!). We really tried to diversify our options by making a deli turkey and garlic cheese option, a BBQ chicken and Gouda cheese option, a Bacon and Cheddar cheese option, a coffee cinnamon option, and a mixed berry option. Check out how to make your own below.

Kolaches and Klobasneks

Ingredients for Bread (30 Kolaches):
6 to 6&1/2 Cups of Flour
1/2 Cup Sugar
1 tsp Salt
4 Egg Yolks - room temperature
         (Keep egg whites in a separate bowl)
2 Packets Active Dry Yeast (1/4 ounce each)
​2 Cups Warm Milk (we used almond milk)
1/4 Cup Softened Butter

Ingredients for Fillings:
BBQ Chicken
         1/2 Cup baked/grilled chicken
         1/4 cup Diced Gouda cheese
         1 Tbs bbq sauce
Turkey
          Chopped deli turkey
          Diced garlic white cheddar cheese
Bacon
           Diced Bacon Cheddar Cheese
Fruit
            1/2 Cup Blueberries
            1/4 Cup Blackberries
             2 Tbs Strawberry Jam
             1/2 Cup Sugar
             1 Tbs Butter
             1 tsp Cornstarch

1. Pour the yeast into a bowl with 1 Tbs of sugar, then add warm milk and allow to sit for 10 minutes.
​2. In a separate bowl combine 2 cups of flour, butter, remaining sugar and egg yolks. As it finishes, add in yeast/milk and mix until smooth. We put it in our Kitchen Aid mixer with our dough hook at this point and then slowly added the remaining 4 cups of flour; but you can slow mix it in yourself and then hand knead it for 7 or so minutes.
3. Place dough in a greased bowl and grease the top of the dough as well. Cover and let it rise on the counter for 1 hour.
4. Punch and re-knead the dough, then re-cover and let sit for another hour.
5. After, on a clean and floured surface roll out dough until it is 1/4 to 1/2 inch of thickness.
6.We cut and then re-rolled some of the pieces to make the pieces thinner but you can also leave it thicker and cut bigger pieces.
7. For the meat Klobasneks we placed them on one end of the dough pieces and folded in the corners as we rolled them up to make slightly longer and thinner rolls.
8. For the fruit kolaches we left them in their squares for the time being.
9. After all the Klobasneks were finished, we let them sit on the counter for another 45 minutes to rise. Then, we pre-heated the oven to Bake at 350F and prepared an egg wash with the egg whites by slightly beating them.
10. We used a small glass to press down the centers of the squares, and then added 1 Tbs of fruit filling to each one. Then, we went over all of them (fruit and meat) with a light egg wash brush.
11. We baked all of the warm and delicious kolaches and klobasneks for 15 minutes (or until golden brown) before removing to cool.