Indulge in the delightful flavors of traditional Czech pastries with our ultimate guide to kolaches! From sweet fruit-filled varieties to savory meat-filled delights, discover everything you need to know to bake these delicious treats at home.
In a large mixing bowl, combine warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for about 5 minutes until the yeast activates and becomes frothy. Add melted butter, egg, vanilla extract, salt, and flour. Mix until a soft dough forms.
Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1-1.5 hours or until doubled in size.
Once the dough has risen, punch it down, and divide it into equal-sized portions. Roll each portion into a ball and flatten it into a disc. Place the discs on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving some space between them.
Make an indentation in the center of each dough disc using your thumb or the back of a spoon. Fill each indentation with your choice of filling, such as fruit preserves, poppy seeds, sweet cheese, sausage, cheese, jalapeños, or any other fillings you prefer.