Slovak Koláčhe (Poppy Seed/Walnut Roll)

If it wasn't for kolache, I wouldn't be on this Earth. Literally.

My parents met on a business conference and both mentioned their Slovak heritage. They swapped recipes and decided to have a "Koláčhe Cook-off". My Dad messed up his recipe and lost the cook-off but in the long-run, he won because one thing led to another,they got married, and the rest is history.

So when I say if it wasn't for Slovak food I wouldn't be here- I genuinely mean it!

Ingredients:

For the Dough: Makes Two 12" loafs

All Purpose Flour--- 2 CUPS
Sugar--- 1/4 CUP
Milk--- 1 CUP
Instant Yeast--- 1 Packet (2 1/4 TSP)
Vegetable Oil--- 1/4 CUP
Salt--- Pinch

For the Filling: Use 1.5-2 CUPS Filling per loaf

Poppy Seed--- Recipe HERE
or
Walnut--- Recipe HERE
or
Lekvar

Egg (For egg wash)--- 1

STEP BY STEP:

• In a mixing bowl, combine flour, salt and yeast

• Warm milk so it's warm (but not burning hot) to the touch and dissolve sugar in milk.

• Add milk/sugar to flour mixture. Combine all ingredients and knead into a solid ball of dough

• Cover dough and let rise in a warm place for 15 minutes (I use a heating pad). Punch down dough and let rise for another 2 hours. Should just about double in size during that time. To make 2 loafs divide the dough in half.

• Preheat oven to 400F

• Flour a work surface and roll out dough to a thickness similar to a pie crust. Use a pizza cutter to square off edges.

• Evenly spread filling over dough leaving a thin, uncovered border around the edges.  

• Brush egg wash along border and fold dough in 3 equal sections and close bottom fold. Seam should be facing the bottom.

• Brush outside of the koláčhe and place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.

• Bake koláčhe at 400F for 25 minutes until outside is a beautiful golden brown

Let koláčhe cool and enjoy!