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    Home » Desserts

    Czech Pastry

    Published: Nov 25, 2022 · Modified: Jun 22, 2024 by Petra Kupská | Cook Like Czechs · 23 Comments

    • 1.2Kshares

    Nothing beats the flavor of a freshly baked pastry. And the Czechs are crazy about pastries! With a cup of coffee for breakfast, a snack, or even a quick dinner, a piece of sweet kolach or strudel serves as a satisfying treat everywhere. Interested in Czech pastry names? In this article, I will go over some of the most popular types of sweet pastries in Czech cuisine.

    Czech pastries arranged on a desk.

    I present many of these goodies in separate articles on my blog. I added the link to the recipe below each photo; feel free to click and explore each recipe in detail!

    Koláč (Kolach)

    Two Czech kolaches, served on a plate.

    ➜ Get the recipe: Czech kolache

    Probably the most famous representative of Czech bakeries. Traditional koláč is always round in shape, with various fillings in the middle, most often poppy seed, Tvaroh cheese, or plum butter. The surface of the cake may be decorated with blanched almonds, raisins, or sprinkled with streusel topping, called drobenka or posypka in Czech.

    The classic koláč is about the size of your palm. If it is smaller, it is named a koláček.

    Fun fact: One piece is called koláč (kolach), while two or more pieces are koláče (kolache). The word "kolaches," the American version of the plural, is not used in the Czech Republic because it is essentially a double plural.

    Vázaný koláč, Šáteček (Tied kolach, Scarf)

    Czech vazany kolac pastry, served on a plate.

    ➜ Get the recipe: Vázaný koláč, šátečky

    A type of kolach that is not round but square. A square-shaped piece of dough is covered with filling in the middle, and the sides are folded over it. A precise baker also sprinkles this pastry with a crumble topping. The Czechs call this kind of koláč vázaný, which could be freely translated as tied or folded. The other name the Czechs know for this pastry is šáteček, which means little scarf.

    Vdolek

    Czech vdolek pastry, served on a plate.

    ➜ Get the recipe: Czech vdolky

    Made from yeast dough, a vdolek (or vdolky, plural) belongs to the popular Czech sweet pastries, either fried in fat or baked in the oven. When finished, it is covered with povidla plum jam and then topped with a cap of cream cheese filling.

    Loupáček

    Czech loupacek pastry, served on a plate.

    ➜ Get the recipe: Loupacek

    A favorite sweet pastry that children love when spread with butter and jam or snacked on with yogurt. Loupáček is baked from yeast dough, made like a roll, and bent into the shape of a crescent. Before putting it in the oven, brush a loupáček with egg wash and sprinkle with poppy seeds.

    The other Czech word for loupáček is makovka.

    Šáteček (Turnover)

    Czech satecek pastry, served on a plate.

    A simple pastry shape with a sweet filling. It is made from different types of dough; the one you see in the picture is made from puff pastry.

    Mazanec

    Czech mazanec Easter bread, in small version, served on a plate.

    ➜ Get the recipe: Mazanec

    Mazanec is a Czech Easter bread made from rich yeast dough. The mazanec in the photo is a mini version. Before baking, traditional mazanec (regular size) is cut into a cross shape on the surface.

    Štrúdl, závin (Strudel or Roll)

    Two slices of a cream cheese roll, served on a plate.

    ➜ Get the recipe: Easy apple strudel

    While the word "strudel" originates from German, it is also widely used in the Czech Republic. The Czech alternative, "závin," refers to a rolled pastry, most often filled with grated or sliced apples, poppy seeds, or cream cheese (tvaroh). 

    Vánočka, Houska

    Two slices of vanocka, Czech Christmas bread, served on a plate.

    ➜ Get the recipe: Vanocka or houska bread

    Delicious buttery pastry, traditionally baked at Christmas. It is a braided sweet bread with a rich addition of almonds and raisins. In the past, vánočka was known as houska, which can be confusing today because modern Czechs associate houska with a completely different type of savory baked good (see housky braided rolls).

    Buchty

    Czech buchta pastry with poppy seed filling, served on a plate.

    ➜ Get the recipe: Buchty buns

    No one can bake buchty better than our moms or grandmas! Buchty buns are sweet, brioche-like pastries with various fillings such as ground poppy seeds, plum butter, cheese, or fruit. They are square in shape, which is why they are sometimes called "bricks."

    This pastry also appears in classic Czech fairy tales, where a mom gives a bunch of buchty buns to her son named Honza, who goes out into the world to gain experience.

    Kobliha

    Czech kobliha pastry, cut into halves, served on a plate.

    ➜ Get the recipe: Koblihy

    Yum! This pillowy round pastry, filled with fruit jam, is fried to perfection and then generously sprinkled with sugar. Traditionally, Czechs baked koblihy during the winter carnival called masopust, but nowadays you can find these pastries in bakery shops all year round. The Czech kobliha is similar to donuts, beignets, or Berliners. It is a sweet treat that is sure to make your day!

    Ještědka

    Jestedka pastry roll filled with poppy seed, served on a plate.

    Ještědka is a sweet pastry roll filled with poppy seeds and sprinkled with drobenka crumbs. It is a regional specialty from the region where I live. It got its name from the Ještěd mountain, looming above the city of Liberec.

    Skořicový šnek

    Czech skoricovy snek pastry, served on a plate.

    The best translation of this pastry's name is "cinnamon snail," known in the American world as cinnamon rolls. This pastry probably isn't very Czech, especially since it has icing on it, which is not very common in Czech pastries.

    Trdelník

    Trdelnik recipe.

    ➜ Get the recipe: Trdelnik

    Trdelník is a famous Czech street pastry, sold by vendors in Prague and other major Czech cities. Often filled with ice cream, nutella or fruits, this dessert is a big hit with tourists, both from abroad and within the Czech Republic. What makes trdelník extra special is the way it is made – baked right on the street over hot coals!

    Kohoutí hřebeny (Rooster combs)

    kohoutí hřebeny recipe

    ➜ Get the recipe: Kohoutí hřebeny

    Made from puff pastry and with various sweet fillings, this pastry tastes not only good but also looks beautiful. Making it can be a little tricky, but with just a little care, you'll wow your guests with this tasty goodness when they pop in for a talk and a cup of coffee.

    If you visit a local bakery in the Czech Republic, you will discover a wonderful world of classically shaped pastries, as well as modern delicacies that have come to us from neighboring countries.

    I believe that whatever piece of Czech baked goods you choose will melt on your tongue and leave you with a pleasant memory!

    • 1.2Kshares

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      Czech Peach Buchta Sheet Cake
    • Fried and sugared rosettes.
      Fried Rosettes (Czech Rozetky)
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    Comments

    1. Kristina says

      June 22, 2024 at 6:14 am

      Loved anything my Bubi would make, usually a pastry with sweet cheese/ plum filling or strudel

      Reply
      • Karen Carnot says

        June 22, 2024 at 9:08 pm

        My Babi made them all, so hard to choose a favorite because they are all yummy! ❤️Karenka

        Reply
        • Anicka Cooklikeczechs.com says

          June 23, 2024 at 3:59 pm

          Touché 🙂 Thank you for your comment, Karenka.

          Reply
      • Anicka Cooklikeczechs.com says

        June 23, 2024 at 4:01 pm

        Thank you for the nice comment, Kristina.

        Reply
    2. Dinah Stowers says

      June 22, 2024 at 7:57 am

      My favorite is venecky!

      Reply
      • Anicka Cooklikeczechs.com says

        June 23, 2024 at 3:58 pm

        They are one of my favorites too 🙂
        Thank you for your comment, Dinah.

        Reply
    3. Nathan says

      June 22, 2024 at 9:37 am

      The only one pastry I’ve tried is kolache, though here in southern Minnesota it is spelled kolacky or called filled biscuits. It also does not have the crumb topping. Apricot is by far my favorite though prune, and poppy seed filling is more common.

      Reply
      • Anicka Cooklikeczechs.com says

        June 23, 2024 at 3:57 pm

        Thank you for your comment, Nathan!

        Reply
    4. Debbie says

      June 22, 2024 at 10:44 am

      I remember my Babi making so many of these pastries. She was the best baker! Thank you for sharing this.

      Reply
      • Anicka Cooklikeczechs.com says

        June 23, 2024 at 3:54 pm

        Happy to hear the post brought back fond memories!

        Reply
    5. Jim says

      June 22, 2024 at 11:23 am

      Kolach was my favorite growing up. My grandmother and many relatives made them. Also Hoska was a favorite at holidays.

      Reply
      • Anicka Cooklikeczechs.com says

        June 23, 2024 at 3:47 pm

        Thank you for your comment, Jim!

        Reply
    6. Paula Friedman says

      June 22, 2024 at 4:04 pm

      My grandmother, Anna Fronek, Forster, always made them on Christmas Eve. She would fry them. Those were the days.

      Reply
      • Anicka Cooklikeczechs.com says

        June 23, 2024 at 3:41 pm

        That sounds lovely, Paula. Thank you for your comment.

        Reply
    7. Mary Durfor says

      June 22, 2024 at 10:30 pm

      My favorite is kolache! I love the cottage cheese one with posiptka on top. I love the prune ones, and apricot. The poppyseed are great, we make them a roll with poppyseed inside. My family has made them together since our parents and grandparents are gone. We made them together when they were alive.

      Reply
      • Anicka Cooklikeczechs.com says

        June 23, 2024 at 3:47 pm

        Thank you so much for your comment and sharing nice memories, Mary.

        Reply
    8. Carol says

      June 24, 2024 at 11:14 am

      Favorites are Buchty, Vanocka, Babovka, and a pastry my grandmother made with either strawberry or apricot preserves.

      Reply
      • Anicka Cooklikeczechs.com says

        July 02, 2024 at 11:37 am

        I appreciate your comment, Carol - thank you!

        Reply
    9. Donna says

      June 26, 2024 at 7:29 pm

      Do you have a Shiski recipe? The filled round donuts you fry.

      Reply
      • Anicka Cooklikeczechs.com says

        July 02, 2024 at 11:59 am

        Hello Donna, thank you for your comment!
        As for your question, I believe you might be thinking of Koblihy (sg. Kobliha) - round fried donuts, most commonly filled with jam or chocolate.
        Here is the link:
        https://www.cooklikeczechs.com/koblihy/
        Hope this helps!

        Reply
    10. Val says

      September 16, 2024 at 7:23 am

      Hi Petra,
      I am searching for a cookie, pastry recipe that my friend’s mother used to bake. She was of Czech descent and she called them Boofda or Bufda. They were a little rolled up pastry with ground nuts inside. Do you have any ideas? She passed on many years ago and no one in the family has her recipe.

      Reply
      • Anicka Cooklikeczechs.com says

        September 18, 2024 at 3:26 pm

        Hello Val, thank you for asking!
        I believe you might be thinking of Orechovy zavin - a rolled ground nut pastry (here is the recipe: https://www.cooklikeczechs.com/nut-roll-recipe/). And as for the term - Buchta comes to mind. However, in my experience, it does not describe a specific pastry - it is more of an umbrella term for sweet pastries baked in the oven.
        Hope this helps!

        Reply
    11. Sherry Shivley says

      April 27, 2025 at 12:30 pm

      My MIL parents were Czech immigrants coming here through Canada. She made a crescent like roll called a Rulik. I have not found anything like it. It was so delicious! She also made hogs head sausage in a loaf pan, which was sliced, rolled in flour then fried for breakfast called Inza Ninza.

      Reply

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    Hi, I am Petra, a born-and-raised Czech and self-taught cook with 25+ years of experience. I am here to show you that you can cook Czech food—even if you live abroad or never learned it growing up. With clear steps and trusted guidance, Czech cooking becomes simple, joyful, and meaningful, right in your own kitchen.

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