Here’s a recipe for kolaches I like to make when I need a little break from life, whether it be friends, family or school. The act of baking, or, rather, the act of making something totally on your own, allows you to regain control over a small part of your life when you may feel like you're losing grip on other aspects.
INGREDIENTS:
Butter (10 tbsp)
1 Whole Egg + 2 Yolks
Whole Milk (1½ cup)
White Flour (4 cups)
White Sugar (⅓ cup
Instant Yeast
FRUIT FILLING
Fruit, Sugar, Cornstarch, microwaved until thick
RECIPE
Mix and knead the dough. Stir the milk, melted butter, egg, and yolks together.
Add it to the flour, sugar, yeast, and salt in your stand mixer.
Knead 2 minutes on low, then 8 to 12 minutes on medium, until the dough stops sticking to the sides of the bowl.
Let it rise. Place the dough in an oiled bowl and let it rise in a warm spot for 1 hour, or cover it and refrigerate overnight.
If it’s been in the fridge, let it sit at room temperature for 30 to 45 minutes before shaping.
Shape and give them a second rise. Divide the dough into 16 balls, arrange them on parchment-lined pans, cover, and let them rise for 1½ hours (up to 2 if the dough was cold) until visibly puffy and soft.
Press, fill, and bake. Grease and flour the bottom of a ⅓-cup measure or a small glass and press a deep well into each ball, all the way down until it touches the pan.
Add about 1½ tablespoons of filling, brush the tops with egg wash, and sprinkle the sides with streusel.
Bake at 350°F for 20 to 25 minutes, until still very pale, then cool for about 20 minutes and serve warm.
— Josh Havelka, Board Member
