Kolache – Czech Pastry comes to Texas

A kolache from the Czech and Slovak meaning cake or pie is a type of sweet pastry that holds a portion of fruit surrounded by puffy yeast dough.

Common filling flavors include fruit jam.

Originating as a semisweet pastry from Central Europe, kolache have become popular in parts of the United States.The name also originates from Bohemian, originally Old Slavonic word kolo, meaning “circle” or “wheel”.

Traditional Czech koláče are used in villages during feasts as a treat or at important events, such as weddings. They are usually small, with a diameter of no more than 8 cm (3.1 in) and with only one type of filling, sprinkled with sweet crumbs or sugar.

By the early 1900s more than 9,000 Czech people had immigrated to Texas. They brought with them recipes for koláč—hand-sized circles of yeasty baked dough, imbued with fillings like apricot, prune, and sweetened soft cheeses. Kolaches soon became interwoven with Texas’ culinary tapestry, and bakeries popped up throughout Central and West Texas. Over time, bakeries began crafting their own interpretations of the pastry, and the concept of kolaches continues to spark lively debate in Texas.

Destination: Texas, Czech Republic, Slovakia