Do you have a memory of a particular food from your childhood that is so strong you can see it in your mind’s eye and smell it, just by thinking of it? Kolace (pronounced ko-lach-eh) is that food for me. It is a yeasty pastry round filled with apricot preserves, poppy seed, prune preserves or cheese. My grandmother made them every Christmas, and for special occasions throughout the year. It’s a sweet snack or a grab-and go-breakfast treat, lightly dusted with powdered sugar. I can remember the smell of the baking dough wafting through the house, and various members of the family hanging around the kitchen waiting for them to come out of the oven. We always used to ask if my grandmother had any “mistakes” – kolace that were not perfectly round, or whose filling had expanded over the side during baking. We knew she wouldn’t put those on her platter and they were fair game for whomever came into the kitchen first to claim them.   These are not difficult to make: I’ve seen my mother bake them with a yeast dough mix when she was in a hurry. You just don’t want to overwork the dough or bake them for too long, both of which will make them tough. I buy the fillings at the Safeway: Solo makes the poppy seed, prune and apricot flavors. The cheese used is dry cottage cheese or farmer’s cheese, and to be honest, I never liked that particular flavor much, but if you love cheese Danish you will love the cheese kolace.. This is a great Christmas morning treat with coffee, while gifts are being handed around and opened. I hope your family loves them as much as mine do!

Serves: Makes one dozen

Prep time: one hour and a half, including rising time