As well as being the BBQ capital of the state, Austin is known for its sweet and savory Kolaches. Kolaches are iconic throughout the Lone Star State, and you'll commonly find them served alongside breakfast tacos for a hearty start to the day.
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A kolache is a dough-filled pastry with either a sweet or savory filling. Kolaches made their way to Texas via Czech immigrants in the 1800s. Czechoslovakians came to Texas, settling the more rural parts of the state. When they arrived, they brought a round, dough, pastry. Most of the original kolaches were made with a sweet yeast dough with a similar texture to a yeast donut. In the center was typically a sweet fruit or seed filling. The most popular fillings depended on the season and included apricot, prune, poppy seeds, and cherries.
Kolaches were a staple at Czech family gatherings and weddings. The name kolache comes from the Czech word kola, meaning wheels or rounds.
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Local Texans fell in love with the Kolaches and they've been a staple ever since. The savory versions of kolaches, called Klobasniky, have increased in popularity over time. Klobasniky is a total Texas creation, rumored to have been invented at The Village Bakery in West, Texas. This pastry is reminiscent of a pig in a blanket. Klobasniky translates to little sausages. These dough pastries are filled with sausages, cheese, or jalapeno.
Over time, bakeries have gotten more creative, and you can find kolaches (and klobasniky) in nearly every flavor combination you could dream up. Read on for the best places to score this delicious treat in Austin, Texas.
Best Places for Kolaches in Austin
Mrs. Johnson's Bakery
This bakery has been around since 1948 and is well known for its freshly baked donuts. Their fresh-baked kolaches may be as popular as their donuts and they only make a limited amount each evening. Their savory flavors are sausage and cheese, ham and cheese, and jalapeno cheese. They start serving them fresh at 7:30 pm nightly.
Check out the menu here.
Batch Craft Beer and Kolaches
What could be better than a kolache and an ice-cold beer? Batch has you covered, offering several selections of sweet and savory pastries, as well as craft beer on tap. Some local favorites include their peanut butter and jelly kolache, chocolate, pecan, caramel, and jalapeno sausage.
Check out the menu here
Moonlight Bakery
Moonlight is a tiny bakery tucked away in a strip mall. They make delicious croissants, bread, and muffins, but it's their kolaches that keep people coming back. Their sweet kolache flavors include apple, apricot, blueberry, cherry, cream cheese, lemon, and pineapple. They also serve savory versions filled with jalapeno or ham and swiss. The bakery opens at 6:30 am, perfect for an early breakfast.
Check out the menu here.
Kerlin BBQ
This well-known BBQ joint serves up delicious meat daily, but their bbq kolache is a Sunday-only specialty. The standard version is made with homemade dough, tender brisket, and cheddar cheese. If you pre-order, you can customize your fillings with pickled jalapenos, feta cheese, sausage, and more.
Check out the menu here.
Lone Star Kolaches
Lone Star Kolaches has six locations throughout Austin, so you can get your kolache fix anywhere in the city. They also open at 5:30 am every day for those early risers. Lone Star Kolaches has an impressive array of kolaches, with some unique fillings like Philly cheesesteak and pizza roll. They also cater large-scale events. If you're unsure where to start, get their $60 Kolache Combo, which gives you a sample of everything.
Check out the menu here
Capital City Bakery
This bakery is 100% vegan, but you'd never know if judging by their array of "meat" kolaches. They have sausage, jalapeno, cheese options, as well as buffalo chicken. They also have sweet kolaches, made with vegan cream cheese. While you're there, check out their other awesome vegan pastries and cakes.
Check out the menu here
