Kolach

A kolach (also spelled kolache, kolace or kolacky /kəˈlɑːtʃi, -tʃki/,[1] from the Czech and Slovak plural koláče, sg. koláč) is a type of pastry that holds a portion of fruit surrounded by puffy dough.

Not to be confused with Kalach (food).
Kolach
Larger koláč, called "frgál", typical of the Moravian Wallachia area
TypeSweet bread
Place of originCzech lands and Slovakia
Region or stateCentral Europe
Kolache preparation in bakery

Originating as a semisweet wedding dessert from Central Europe and later a breakfast item in South London, they have become popular in parts of the United States. The name originates from the Czech (Bohemian), and originally Old Slavonic word kolo meaning "circle", "wheel". A klobásník, which contains sausage or other meat, is often thought to be a variation of the kolach (koláče); however, most Czechs hold the distinction that kolache are only filled with non-meat fillings. Unlike kolache, which came to the United States with Czech immigrants, klobásníky were first made by Czechs who settled in Texas.

Kolaches are often associated with Cedar Rapids and Pocahontas in Iowa where they were introduced by Czech immigrants in the 1870s. They are served at church suppers and on holidays but also as an everyday comfort food. Recipes are usually passed down with some including spices like mace or nutmeg. They can be filled with a combination of prune, apricot, cream cheese, poppy seed or assorted other fillings.[2]

Kolache celebrations

Several cities, including Tabor, South Dakota; Verdigre, Nebraska; Wilber, Nebraska; Prague, Nebraska; Caldwell, Texas;[3] East Bernard, Texas; Crosby, Texas; Hallettsville, Texas; Prague, Oklahoma; St. Ludmila's Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Kewaunee, Wisconsin[4] hold annual Kolache Festival celebrations.

Montgomery, Minnesota, is the "Kolacky capital of the world"[5] and holds an annual festival known as Kolacky Days. Verdigre, Nebraska, stakes the same claim with their Kolach Days.[6] Prague, Nebraska, claims to be known as the home of the world's largest kolache. Both Caldwell and West, Texas, claim the title of "Kolache Capital" of the state[7] and kolaches, in general, are extremely popular in Central and Eastern Texas.[8][9] There is even a Texas Czech Belt[10] which grew in the 1880s and is full of kolache bakeries.

Haugen, Wisconsin is the Kolache Capital of Wisconsin. The village is a Bohemian settlement that celebrates its Czech Heritage during an annual festival (Haugen Fun Days). Kolaches are a staple of the village's festival with Kolache sales, bake-offs, and tastings. Kolache may be found at Czech-American festivals in other communities in the United States.

It was the sweet chosen to represent the Czech Republic in the Café Europe initiative of the Austrian presidency of the European Union, on Europe Day 2007.

Many people in the United States refer to the sausage-filled Czech pastries as kolaches, but these are klobasniky which were invented by Texas families.

Kolachy cookies in the United States
New York-style strawberry kolach.

A related dish is a klobasnek, which is popular in central and southeast Texas, specifically Houston. It often uses similar bread but is filled with a link of sausage or ground sausage. Some people also refer to these as kolache, but they are more closely related to a "pig in a blanket".[11] They may also contain ham, cheese, jalapeño, eggs and bacon/sausage, potato, etc., and resemble a "pig in a blanket". Czech settlers created klobasniky after they immigrated to Texas.[12]

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See also

References
  1. "kolacky". Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House. Retrieved 2016-01-22.
  2. Roadfood : The Coast to Coast Guide to 500 of the Best Barbeque Joints, Lobster Shacks, Ice Cream Parlors, Highway Diners and Much, Much More.
  3. "Michele Casady, "Rain and kolaches? Czech"". Bryan-College Station Eagle, September 13, 2009. Archived from the original on September 15, 2009. Retrieved October 24, 2009.
  4. "Czech & Kolache Festival : Agricultural Heritage & Resources". Agriculturalheritage.org. 1999-02-22. Retrieved 2019-12-28.
  5. "Montgomery, Minnesota City Information". US-MN: ePodunk. Archived from the original on 2012-02-05. Retrieved 2012-02-20.
  6. "Village of Verdigre". Village of Verdigre. Archived from the original on 5 September 2010. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  7. "Official Capital Designations | TSLAC". Tsl.state.tx.us. 2019-07-26. Retrieved 2019-12-28.
  8. Dao 2017-04-10T10:00:00-04:00, Dan Q. "Kolaches Are the Texas Breakfast Staple Worth a Trip to the Lone Star State". SAVEUR. Retrieved 2019-04-17.
  9. "Where to find the best kolaches in Texas". ABC13 Houston. 2018-08-16. Retrieved 2019-04-17.
  10. "The Czech Pastry That Took Texas By Storm, And Keeps Gaining Strength". NPR.org. Retrieved 2019-04-17.
  11. "Czech, Please: 2000s Archive : gourmet.com". Prod.gourmet.com. 2011-08-01. Archived from the original on 2012-03-17. Retrieved 2012-02-20.
  12. Siegel, Jeff (January 2014). "The Kolach Trail". Texas Co-Op Power: 11.
  • The dictionary definition of kolach at Wiktionary
  • Media related to Kolache at Wikimedia Commons
  • Works related to Kolache at Wikisource
  • Kolach Video produced by Wisconsin Public Television
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