Kolache / Bread Recipe

I have been making kolaches with this recipe for about 20 years. With the cold weather I have been making it into loaves of bread and when it comes out of the oven you just slap some butter on it and it just melts in your mouth. I made this for a housewarming gift and her sons ate it before she could even taste it.

Dough Recipe

1 package of rapid rise yeast

4 tablespoons of sugar

3/4 cup of very warm water

4 tablespoons of oil

1 egg yolk

3/4 teaspoon of salt

2 1/2 - 3 cups of flour

Mix the yeast, sugar and water and let sit for 10 minutes. Stir in the oil, yolk and salt.Stir in enough flour so that its easy to work with. Knead the dough for about 10 minutes on a floured surface (my counter top). Place it back in the bowl, cover it loosely with cling wrap and let it rise until doubled in size. During the cold months I place the bowl on a heating pad set on low to help it rise. Place the dough back on the floured surface and knead again. Shape the dough at this time. On the pan above is two loves of bread, I covered them loosely with cling wrap and placed the pan back on the heating pad until doubled. Bake at 300 degrees for 15-25 minutes. For kolaches divide the dough into 16 balls and wrap it around a sausage or fold a piece of ham around a 1/4 of a slice of cheese. Pinch the dough to seal it so the cheese doesn't ooze out. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes. It is best not to let them touch each other or they might not cook all the way through.