Grams Kolaches Recipes

KOLACHES

Steps:

• Make the pastry: In a large bowl, combine the yeast, milk, sugar and 1 cup flour. Mix well, cover and let rise until doubled in size, about 20 minutes.
• Melt 8 tablespoons (1 stick) of the butter. Pour into a large bowl and whisk in the eggs and salt. Add to the flour mixture and mix well. Slowly add the remaining 2 cups of flour; the dough will be soft and moist. Turn onto a floured surface and knead for 10 minutes, adding flour as necessary to make a soft workable dough. Place in an oiled bowl, cover and let rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour. Meanwhile, make your choice of filling.
• Make the dried-fruit filling: Place the fruit in a small saucepan and add 1/2 cup water or just enough to cover. Set aside until plumped and softened, about 1 hour. When the fruit is ready, add the sugar, cinnamon and lemon zest. Simmer over low heat for 15 minutes. Purée in a food processor or blender and set aside.
• Make the cream cheese filling: Using an electric mixer, beat together the cream cheese and sugar until fluffy. Add the flour, egg yolk and lemon zest. Mix to blend and set aside.
• After the dough has risen, punch it down and divide evenly into 12 pieces. Roll the pieces into balls and place on an oiled baking sheet several inches apart. Flatten each ball slightly so it is about 3 inches in diameter. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes. Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Meanwhile, prepare the crumble topping.
• For the topping: In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, butter and cinnamon. Crumble with your fingers until the mixture resembles bread crumbs. Set aside.
• To assemble and bake the kolaches: With your finger, gently make an indentation in the center of each bun, being careful not to flatten too much. Fill with 1 tablespoon of filling and sprinkle with topping. Bake until risen and pale gold, 12 to 15 minutes. While baking, melt the remaining 4 tablespoons butter. When the kolaches are removed from the oven, brush with melted butter and serve warm.

SAUSAGE AND GRAVY KOLACHE

Steps:

• For the sausage and gravy filling: Put the Breakfast Sausage into a pan on the stove. Pour the oil into the pan and onto the sausage. Break into bite-sized pieces and turn on the heat. Season and distribute evenly with 1 tablespoon black pepper and 2 tablespoons salt. Mix together and cook the meat until done, about 10 minutes.
• Once the sausage is fully cooked, turn the heat to low and distribute the flour evenly onto the sausage. Make sure the oil and the flour combine to form a thick roux. Once each sausage piece is thoroughly covered with flour, turn the heat back onto high. Add the milk to the pan and stir to break up any sausage clumps. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon pepper and 2 tablespoons salt to the milk. Bring to a simmer and cook, mixing periodically so that the flour does not cook on the bottom of the pan. Once the milk starts to boil, continually stir the mixture as it thickens, ensuring it doesn't burn. Once the sausage starts to "pull" from the sides of the pan, the gravy is cooked completely. Pour into a dish and refrigerate overnight so it gets gelatinous.
• For the dough: In a sauce pan, melt the butter. When melted, whisk in the milk, then pour into a mixer bowl. Add the yeast, flour, sugar, egg yolks and salt to the bowl and mix on low until the mixture is fully incorporated. Turn the mixer up slightly and knead until the dough is smooth. Portion the dough into 3-ounce balls immediately and set aside to proof until the dough is soft and supple, about 30 minutes.
• Building the sausage and gravy kolache: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• When the dough is soft and plump, place a ball into one hand and flatten. Use a spoon to scoop the sausage and gravy filling into the center of the flattened dough in your palm. Pull the outside portion of the dough up and around the filling, pinching the dough closed at the top. Invert the ball with the seam on the bottom and place on a baking sheet. Continue with the remaining dough balls and filling.
• Bake the kolaches until golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool and enjoy.
• In a large bowl, add the pork, beef, salt and pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, sage and 1 tablespoon cold water and mix thoroughly.

GRANDMA'S GERMAN KOLACHES

Steps:

• Mix 2 cups of flour, 1/2 cup of sugar, yeast, and salt. Add 1.5 cups of hot water (but not boiling). Beat this and then add eggs, mixing. Add the other 3 cups of flour.
• Knead until smooth and satiny, about 8 to 10 minutes. Form into a ball.
• Lightly grease a large bowl (at least twice as large as your ball of dough). Put the dough round side down in the greased bowl, then turn over so that the greased side is up. Cover with a slightly damp towel. Put in a warm place (or as warm as you have in the winter, but not a lit oven). Let it rise until doubled, about 75 minutes. You don't want to leave the dough too long, however. Dough can actually over-rise.
• Punch down the dough. Reshape into a ball. Recover bowl. Let rise till double. It should take less time this time around, but it varies -- maybe 45 - 60 minutes. All of these rises can take longer if your house is cold.
• If using a prune filling, simmer them with some water until soft; mash thoroughly. Let cool.
• If desiring an apricot filling but not having access to canned Solo filling, you can make it out of dried apricots. Snip 3/4 cups of dried apricots into small pieces. Simmer,covered, with 1-1/2 cups water for 10 minutes. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes more. Stir in 2 tablespoons of sugar. Let cool before using.
• Pinch off balls of dough about 1.5 inches in diameter. Pat out into a circle. Put a spoonful of filling inside. Fold over and seal. Put in pan. Parchment-lined cookie sheets work well. The recipe doesn't say it, but I'd leave some room between them because they'll grow during the next rise -- yep, let rise again. This rise should be 45 - 60 minutes.
• Make topping: crumble together 1.25 cups flour, sugar and butter.
• Make a groove in the center of each and put on a big pinch of topping. Bake at 350°F until nicely golden brown, about 15-20 minutes.
• NOTE: This is how my recipe card reads; however, I swear that I remember her making them the following way. Pinch off the ball of dough. Make an indentation in it. Fill with a spoonful of the filling. Sprinkle topping on it before baking.