From the Danish pastry to the pain au chocolat, there are lots of delicious pastries that hail from different areas of the globe. If you are a keen pastry lover, then you might have heard of a kolache.
A kolache is nowhere near as well-known as some of the other pastries out there. But, if you live in Texas or have Czech family history, you might have heard of this delicacy.
If you’ve never heard of a kolache before, you are absolutely in the right place because that is exactly what we’re looking at in this guide.
So, if you want to find out more about what a kolache is, including the history of this treat, and what makes it so unique, you’re in the right place.
Keep on reading to find out more!
What Exactly Is A Kolache?
First things first, let’s take a look at what Kolache is. Kolache is a pastry that comes from Czech origin. However, the majority of its popularity comes from the state of Texas.
Since the 1800s this pastry has been really popular in Texas, and it is one of the best places to go if you want to try a kolache. But what exactly is a kolache?
Well, as we have said, a kolache is a pastry. It is generally a sweet pastry and it is made using a mixture of different fruits.
The pastry itself consists of a portion of fruit at the center. Around the fruit, puffy yeast dough is layered to encase the fruit into a delicious pastry.
A kolache might be filled with a variety of different flavors, but a lot of the fruits used to fill a kolache come with Czech heritage.
Some popular fillings include fruit jam, poppy seeds, tvaroh, or a combination of all three. Of course, depending on which bakery you visit, the fillings that you find in your kolache will differ.
Traditionally, kolache pastries are sweet pastries. However, a lot of bakeries in Texas have started to serve savory varieties of this treat.
We’ll take a little look at what these are called later on, but first, let’s take a look at the history of the kolache pastry.
Where Does The Kolache Come From?
Well, as we have said, the kolache pastry is a pastry that comes from the Czech Republic.
It is a pastry with a rich history, but it has really become popular since the 1800s when Czech immigrants introduced this pastry to the state of Texas.
Since then, this pastry has not only become synonymous with the Czech Republic but also with Texas.
The kolache pastry is widely enjoyed in Texas to the point where it has become a staple for this state.
It is something that a lot of people hope to taste when they visit Texas, and when you get your hands on a kolache you will easily be able to understand why.
The sweet taste of this pastry is simply unbeatable. There isn’t another flavor quite like it, and it tastes like it has a rich history.
You can tell that the recipe of the kolache is one that has been perfected over centuries, and that is what makes it so brilliant!
What Is A Kolache With Meat Called?
As we said earlier, something that has become really popular in some Texan bakeries is a savory version of the kolache. These savory snacks are usually created using meat as the central filling instead of fruit.
Kolaches containing meat aren’t actually called kolache pastries. Instead, they have a totally different name according to the Czech Republic where they originally came from.
In the Czech Republic, meat-filled kolache pastries are not referred to as kolaches, instead, they are referred to as klobasneks.
Klobasnek pastries are traditional pastries, just like kolache pastries. In the Czech Republic, they are made in a very similar way to kolache pastries.
However, instead of containing fruit surrounded by pastries, klobasnek pastries contain meat surrounded by pastry – similar to a sausage roll.
That being said, in some Texan bakeries, you will simply see meat-filled klobasnek pastries advertised as kolache pastries.
So be sure that you are ordering the right type of kolache when you order one. It would be a shame to order a kolache expecting a fruit-filled pastry, only to end up with a meat-filled pastry.
What Is The Difference Between A Danish Pastry And A Kolache?
Finally, let’s wrap this up by taking a look at the difference between a Danish pastry and a kolache.
Any keen pastry lovers will easily be able to observe that these two pastries are pretty similar to one another, not only in appearance but in taste too. So what is the difference between them?
Well, the key difference between a kolache and a Danish pastry is the type of pastry used in the creation of this treat.
Kolache pastries are made using pastry that is very dense and incredibly sweet. This adds to the flavor of the pastry and is a huge part of what makes them so good.
In contrast, Danish pastries tend to be created using dough that is light and flaky. A Danish pastry feels like it could break apart in your hands as you eat it, and that is due to the pastry.
This is what makes it taste so great.
Summary
In short, a kolache is a type of pastry. Traditionally, this pastry comes from the Czech Republic. However, it was brought over to the USA, specifically to Texas, by Czech settlers during the 1800s.
Since then, this pastry has become a firm favorite within the state of Texas.
If you have Czech ancestry, come from Texas, or are just a really big fan of pastries, then you might have heard of this delicacy before.
But if not, we’ve told you everything you need to know about the kolache pastry in this guide.
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