10 Best Kolache Recipes (Sweet and Savory)

Are you excited to try the best kolache recipes ever?

From savory bacon and egg to dreamy, sweet cream cheese with blueberries, I’m super excited to share them with you!

If you’ve never had a kolache, you’re in for a treat. This Czech pastry is made with sweet dough and all sorts of delicious fillings.

They’re very popular in Central Europe and have recently become more well-known in the United States. 

If you’ve never made one before, now’s your chance to learn how.

Here are my picks for the ten best kolache recipes. Try them and let me know what you think!

How To Make Homemade Kolaches

1. Homemade Kolaches

Before we jump into some of my favorites, let’s talk about kolaches in general.

People often shy away from making them because they seem so complicated. But in reality, they aren’t that difficult to pull together.

They do require plenty of time to rise, though, so plan for that in advance.

Once that’s taken care of, you only have to worry about your filling. And this recipe shows you how to add a cheese or fruit filling. 

If you go the fruit route, you can pick whatever flavor you like best.

But don’t limit yourself to the options they list here. If you have a fruit on hand that you want to try, go for it! 

You can even use canned pie filling to make it easier.

2. Texas Sausage Kolaches

Some kolaches, like those above, are round and tart-like. But others, like these Texas sausage ones, look more like stick-less corn dogs. 

The best option is to experiment to decide which kind you like best.

These are delightfully doughy with a hearty meat and cheese filling. They’re like a sweeter, oversized version of pigs in a blanket. 

You can decide whether or not to add the jalapeńos on top – you do you, Boo! Personally, I think that’s the only way to eat these!

3. Authentic Czech Kolaches

This kolache recipe is one of my all-time favorites. They’re just so thick and bready, which I love.

It takes a couple of hours to make a dozen, but they’re well worth it. 

They’re soft, fluffy, and will practically melt when they hit your tongue. I could probably eat the entire dozen by myself. 

I like to follow the recipe and make them with various fillings, so it’s more fun.

4. Cream Cheese Kolaches

If cream cheese is your thing, this is the kolache recipe for you.

They take less than two hours to make and overflow with sweet-n-tangy goodness. 

These are also thinner than some of the other recipes. So, these may be the better option if you’re looking to cut down on carbs.

(They still aren’t low-carb, of course.)

Still, if you prefer the filling to the dough, these are the ones you’ll want.

5. Traditional Hungarian Apricot Kolaches

Hungarian kolaches look a bit different, but that doesn’t mean they taste any less fantastic. 

They’re also easier to make since you need only six ingredients. Plus, the recipe is super simple to follow. 

In Hungary, people make and share these primarily at Christmas. However, they taste so good that you’ll want to make them year-round.

And hey, that’s perfectly okay!

They’re sweet and sugary with a bit of tartness from the apricot jam. As long as you like tangy fruit flavors, you’ll love them. 

6. Breakfast Kolaches

Let’s turn our attention back to the larger, savory kolaches.

These combine sausage, eggs, cheese, and hash browns. So, they’re a complete morning meal in a small, on-the-go package.

You won’t have to make the dough from scratch, either. Start with refrigerated French bread dough, and you can have these ready in less than an hour.

7. Bacon, Cheese, and Egg Kolaches

No one needs Hardee’s when these phenomenal bacon, egg, and cheese kolaches exist.

They’re cheesy, salty, doughy, and unbelievably filling. 

The buttery biscuit exterior is a nice, simple change from homemade dough. Oh, and it cuts your total prep and cooking time down to just half an hour. 

You aren’t likely to find kolaches you can make any faster.

And did I mention how cheesy and delicious they are? Because they are incredible. 

8. Kolache Cookies

Here’s another recipe for kolache cookies, and it’s similar to the Hungarian ones above. They’re sweet, fruity, crisp around the edges and soft in the center.

You can make them in about 35 minutes with only five ingredients. And you can pick whatever fruit jam you like best for the filling.

Try watermelon if you can find it. It’s surprisingly awesome.

Once they’re ready, you’ll dust them in powdered sugar for extra sweetness. They’re a sugary delight that kids and adults alike will love. 

9. Blueberry and Cream Cheese Kolaches

These gorgeous kolaches are a must-try for anyone who loves tart and tangy desserts.

Between the bright tanginess of the blueberries and the cream cheese, these are hard not to love.

They aren’t overly sweet like some of the others. And they have a bold, impossible-to-forget taste that’ll have you coming back for more. 

The optional posypka topping makes them a little sweeter. So, if you want them as zingy as possible, you may want to leave that off. 

Either way, they’re delicious, and you’ll want seconds. Maybe even thirds!

These are also lovely treats for Halloween. In low lighting, they look a bit like spooky eyes. 

10. Jalapeno Sausage Kolaches

Are you looking for kolaches with plenty of heat? If so, these are the ones you’ll want.

They are similar to the Texas sausage kolaches above. However, these also include ginger, which pushes the heat factor up to 11.

So, if spicy foods aren’t your thing, you may be better off avoiding these. 

However, give them a try if you enjoy food that makes you sweat. They taste amazing, and they’re also cheesy, hearty, and just a teensy bit sweet.

It’s a great combination.