Raspberry Cream Cheese Kolache

Step 1

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. Then turn the mixer up slightly and knead until the dough is smooth. Portion the dough into 2-ounce balls immediately and set aside to proof until the dough is soft and supple, about 30 minutes.

Step 2

For the cream cheese filling: Combine the cream cheese and sugar in a mixer. Clean the sides of the bowl with a spatula. Add the egg yolks and mix until combined. Add the cottage cheese and combine by hand.

Step 3

For the raspberry filling: Combine the crushed raspberries, sugar and both juice concentrates in a sauce pan and bring slowly to a boil. While the raspberries come to a boil, dissolve the cleargel into 1/4 cup cold water. Remove the boiling raspberries from the heat and slowly whisk in the cleargel slurry until thick. Set aside to cool.

Step 4

Building the raspberry cream cheese kolache: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Step 5

When the dough is soft and plump, use fingers to form a well in each, leaving a thicker wall of dough around the circumference and a flatter portion in the middle. Fill piping bags with both the raspberry and cream cheese fillings. Using the piping bags, fill the flattened portions with a combination of the fillings.

Step 6

When completed, bake the kolaches until golden brown, or 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool and enjoy.