Šátečky

Šátečky with traditional fillings are one of the most iconic pastries of Czech cuisine.

Just like Koláče, šátečky are made from raised dough and with delicious fillings. The word šáteček means “small scarf” and looking at its shape, you can probably guess why. The pastry is made from thin dough wrapped around a thick layer of filling like if you wrap something in a scarf.

Why are šátečky sometimes called koláče?

Šátečky (literally “little scarves”) is the word used in most parts of the Czech Republic and the one that you should preferably use if you want to be understood. However, in some regions, they are called vázané koláče which translates as “tied koláče“, just like you tie the four corners of a scarf. Although the name vázané koláče is slowly disappearing, especially emigrants from the early 20th century and before brought this name abroad with them and we can see it being used by their descendants.

Šátečky – Recipe

Ingredients

Dough

• 500 g/17.6 oz of plain flour (hladká mouka, see Czech Flour Guide)
• 80 g/2.8 oz of powder sugar
• 1 cube of yeast / 1 tbsp of dried yeast
• 3 egg yolks
• 250 ml8.5 fl oz of milk
• pinch of salt
• 125 g/4.4 oz of melted unsalted butter
• 50 g/1.8 oz of vegetable fat (softened or oil)
• zest from 1 lemon

Cheese filling

• 500 g/17.6 oz of tvaroh – quark cheese
• 1 egg yolk
• 80 g/2.8 oz of powder sugar
• optional: 2 tbsp of vanilla pudding in powder

Poppy seed filling

• approx. 200 g/7 oz of ground poppy seed
• 100 g/3.5 oz of powder sugar
• 200 ml/6.8 oz of milk
• 1 tsp of ground cinnamon

Povidla filling

• 500 g/17.6 oz of povidla (can be mixed with poppy seed filling or 2 tbsp of rum/slivovice)

Glaze

• 1 egg mixed with a little milk

The amount for the filling is given to fill all šátečky with one of them. If you want to combine them, make more dough or less filling.

How to make Šátečky

In a small bowl, combine lukewarm milk, yeast, 1 tsp of sugar and 1 tsp of flour. Stir, cover and let it rest for 15 minutes, this will be the starter.

In a large bowl, combine flour with sugar, lemon zest and salt. Then add egg yolks, butter, oil and the starter. Knead the dough until smooth. Cover the bowl and let the dough rise until it doubles in volume.

Roll the dough out  and cut it into squares.

Put a tablespoon of filling in the center of each square.

There are two ways to close šátečky. One way is to flip the opposite corners to the center and overlap them. Press the center a little.

I prefer this way but sometimes, it leads to this – it opens while baking.

The other way is to pinch the sides together like you see in the picture. There’s less chance of them opening later.

Glaze šátečky with egg and milk.

Preheat the oven to 180°C/356°C and bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown.