Recipe

Czech Kolaches With Filled Poppyseed, Creamy Peach, Or Prune Recipe

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Ingredients

1/4 c vegetable shortening, preferably Crisco .
3/4 c sugar .
1 1/2 c poppy seeds .
1-2 tbsp sugar .
1 c sugar .
1 tsp fresh lemon juice .
1/2 c peach butter .
3/4 tsp almond extract .
1/4 c unsalted butter, softened .
1 tsp vanilla .
1 tsp lemon zest .
PRUNE FILLING .
2 tbsps dry yeast (2 packages) .
1 tbsp unsalted butter, melted .
3/4 c whole milk .
2 tsps cornstarch .
2 egg yolks .
1 lb dried prunes .
melted butter, for topping .
1 egg .
POPPYSEED FILLING .
1 tbsp sugar .
1/4 c sugar, plus .
4 c all-purpose flour .
2/3 c milk .
1/2 tsp nutmeg .
1 tsp salt .
2 c small curd cottage cheese, drained in a sieve .
CREAMY PEACH FILLING .
1/2 c lukewarm water

Directions

Step #1 FOR THE PASTRY: In a small bowl, mix the yeast with the lukewarm water.
Step #2 Set the bowl aside.
Step #3 In a large bowl, cream together the butter, shortening, & 1/4 c sugar until the mixture is light & fluffy.
Step #4 Mix in the egg yolks, milk, & salt, combining well.
Step #5 Stir in the dissolved yeast & the flour, & mix until the ingredients are thoroughly mixed into a soft dough.
Step #6 Cover up the dough with a towel, & set the dough aside to rise to about double in size, approximately 1 to 1 1/2 hrs.
Step #7 While the dough rises, choose & prepare one of the three fillings.
Step #8 Grease a baking sheet.
Step #9 Pinch off pieces of dough about one & a half times the size of a golf ball, flatten the balls slightly, & transfer them to the baking sheet.
Step #10 Place the balls at least 1 inch apart, & brush them liberally with the melted butter.
Step #11 Set them aside to double in size again, about 45 mins to 1 hr.
Step #12 With your thumb, carefully indent the top of the dough.
Step #13 Make the holes especially deep if you plan to use the poppyseed or creamy peach filling.
Step #14 Spoon in a couple of tsps of filling, with the poppyseed or creamy peach versions, and, coax the dough over the filling.
Step #15 Let the kolaches rest again for 15 to 20 mins.
Step #16 Preheat the oven to 425°F Bake the kolaches for 10 to 12 mins, until they are golden brown.
Step #17 Remove the pan from the oven as soon as possible brush the kolaches with more butter, & sprinkle them with the remaining sugar.
Step #18 Transfer them to a rack, & let them cool.
Step #19 The kolaches should be tender somewhat like a light butter Danish.
Step #20 They’re best eaten the day they’re made.
Step #21 Makes 3 dozen.
Step #22 FOR THE CREAMY PEACH FILLING: Drain the cottage cheese in a sieve or cheesecloth for 30 to 45 mins.
Step #23 Squeeze any accumulated liquid from the cheese.
Step #24 Mix the cheese with the remaining ingredients in a bowl.
Step #25 FOR THE PRUNE FILLING: Put the prunes into a saucepan, & cover them with water.
Step #26 Add the vanilla, & let simmer until the prunes have softened, about 15 mins.
Step #27 Drain & pit the prunes, & chop them in a food processor/blender with the sugar, lemon juice, & lemon zest.
Step #28 Or chop the prunes by hand, lemon juice, & then add the sugar, & lemon zest.
Step #29 FOR THE POPPYSEED FILLING: To make the poppyseed filling, stir this together the sugar & cornstarch in a small bowl.
Step #30 Set the bowl aside.
Step #31 Grind the poppyseeds in a mixer with about half the milk.
Step #32 Place the poppyseed mixture & the remaining milk In a large-ish, heavy saucepan, & bring the mixture to a boil over medium high heat.
Step #33 Reduce the heat to a simmer, & stir in the the reserved sugar & cornstarch mixture & the almond extract.
Step #34 Simmer, stirring often, until very thick—a matter of a few mins.
Step #35 NOTE: Some kolache recipes call for “proofing” the yeast in milk, but the fat in milk can actually hinder the yeast’s development.
Step #36 It’s best to “proof” the yeast in water first & then to add milk later for tenderness.
Step #37 You can make kolaches with sausage or almost any type of cooked fruit filling.
Step #38 Don’t use jelly, though, because it’s too runny.
Step #39 The fruit needs to be cooked to fruit butter consistency.
Step #40 Make the center depressions carefully so the bread doesn’t go flat.
Step #41 Enclose cheese based fillings, like the creamy peach, & poppyseed fillings totally with dough.
Step #42 Stiffer fillings like prune can peer out the top.
Step #43 Don’t skimp on the amount of butter brushed on the dough.
Step #44 Texas Home Cooking.
Enjoy the Czech Kolaches With Filled Poppyseed, Creamy Peach, or Prune recipe

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