Kolachi Rolls

Every Christmas and Easter, my mother-in-law baked kolachi ~ and not just a roll or two. She'd make several rolls of nut, apricot, poppy seed and my favorite, cheese kolachi. And now that she's gone, the tradition lives on through her children. 

These rolls are delicious and make our holidays extra special❤️

Yield: 4 rolls

Ingredients

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups white whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 3 Tbsps sugar
• 2 packages dry yeast
• 1/2 cup warm milk
• 1/4 pound unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup vegetable shortening
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 1 cup sour cream

Dissolve yeast in warm milk (100 - 110 degrees); set aside. Mix together flour, salt and sugar. Add shortening and butter. Mix until it resembles coarse crumbs. Add beaten eggs and sour cream. Add yeast and knead well. Divide dough in 4 parts. Let rise 30 minutes.

On a floured surface, roll each part into a rectangle roughly 9" x 14". Spread any type of filling up to an inch of the edges.  (Nut and apricot filling recipes can be found below.)  

Pick up the long side and roll up tightly, closing seams by pinching.

Place 2 rolls on cookie sheets lined with parchment paper ( or lightly-greased). Cover with towel and let raise for1 hour or until double in bulk. Brush with egg wash before baking and/or melted butter after baking, if desired.  Bake 35 minutes at 350 degrees. If possible, bake one sheet at a time. Cool completely before slicing.  Freezes well. ~adapted from Jednota Newspaper

Nut Filling:

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 pound walnuts, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla 
• 3/4 cup scalded milk

Melt butter. Add walnuts, sugar and vanilla. Add scalded milk and mix well.

Apricot Filling:

• 1 pound dried apricot, support and management functions chopped
• 1 cup water (divided)
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Combine apricots and 3/4 cup water in small saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until water is evaporated and apricots plump. Add sugar, lemon juice and 1/4 cup water, cook, stirring frequently until thickened, about 8-10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.