How to Make Czechoslovakian Kolace Fillings

Often referred to as the Bohemian bun, Koláče is perhaps the most famous food to have originated in Czechoslovakia. In fact, the Czechs even have many idioms centered around the Koláče, including "You don't have Koláče without working for them" which is the Czech way of saying "You don't have a good life without working for it."

While making Koláče does require a little work, you'll truly enjoy the sweet rewards!

Some claim the dough is what makes Koláče the best treat, but other believe the best part to be the fillings. You only need to use your imagination to come up with suitable fillings for Koláče, but the following recipes are for traditional fillings to help make your Koláče rich with old-world flavor.

Koláče Prune Filling

Ingredients:

1 Package of Pit-less Dried Prunes (1 lb.)

1 Cup of Brown Sugar

½ Teaspoon of Lemon Rind

Instructions:

In a medium-sized sauce pan, add fruit and enough water to cover fruit. Simmer on a medium heat until the fruit is tender.

Remove from heat. Drain prunes, reserving juice in a mixing bowl.

Use a meat grinder or food processor to mash prunes. Add sugar and lemon rinds to prune mash. If the mash is too thick, use a little of the reserved prune juice to thin.

Spoon mixture into center of Koláče dough prior to baking.

Koláče Cream Cheese Filling

Ingredients:

1 Package of Cream Cheese (8 oz.)

2 Tablespoons of Powdered Sugar

¼ Cup of White Raisins

1 Egg Yolk

Instructions:

Let Cream Cheese sit out until it is room temperature.

In a large mixing bowl, mix cream cheese and egg yolk until blended well. Add sugar to mixture and blend well. Add raisins to mixture, mix evenly through.

Spoon mixture into center of Koláče dough prior to baking.

Koláče Poppyseed Filling

Ingredients:

½ Cup of Milk

¼ Cup of Water

2/3 Cup of Sugar

1/3 Cup of Butter

½ Teaspoon of Vanilla

1 1/3 Cup of Ground Poppyseeds

Dash of Cinnamon

Instructions:

In a medium-size sauce pan, combine poppyseed, milk, and water. Heat over medium-high heat until poppyseed absorbs liquid completely, stirring occasionally.

Add sugar, butter, vanilla, and cinnamon to mix, stirring continuously until thoroughly mixed. Remove from heat.

Spoon mixture into center of Koláče dough prior to baking.

Koláče Apricot Filling

Ingredients:

1 Package of Pit-less Apricots (1 lb.)

1 Cup of White or Brown Sugar

½ Teaspoon of Almond Extract

Instructions:

In a medium-sized sauce pan, add fruit and enough water to cover fruit. Simmer on a medium heat until the fruit is tender.

Remove from heat. Drain apricots, reserving juice in a mixing bowl.

Use a meat grinder or food processor to mash apricots. Add sugar and almond extract to apricot mash. If the mash is too thick, use a little of the reserved apricot juice to thin.

Spoon mixture into center of Koláče dough prior to baking.

Note: See compliment article by Barb Webb, entitled How to Make Czechoslovakian Kolace for dough recipe.