Recipe: Kolache Deluxe and Fillings

Hi Kathi...here's my "tried and true" kolache recipe. I made about 25 of these every Holiday season. Enjoy! Sandy from Ohio
Kolache Deluxe
6 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup sugar
2 packages dry yeast
Grated rind of 1 lemon
1/2 cup warm milk
1 cup butter
6 egg yolks
1 cup sour cream
Dissolve yeast in warm milk with 1 tbsp. of the sugar and set aside to bubble.
Sift together flour, salt and remaining sugar into a large mixing bowl; cut in butter as for pie crust. Blend together in another bowl sour cream, lemon rind and egg yolks. Make a well in flour mixture and add yeast mixture and sour cream-egg yolk mixture. Mix with hands to form a ball of dough. Divide dough into 5 or 6 equal parts. Roll out on a floured surface to a 14x14" rectangle.
Spread with filling, leaving a 1-inch margin at sides of dough; but leave a 2-inch margin at top or final roll finish. Moisten edges with water; roll up tightly and seal seam. Tuck in ends. Place on lightly greased baking sheet; seam side down. Using a long wooden pick or cake tester, prick all over roll deeply all the way thru. Cover and let rise until doubled in bulk.
Preheat oven to 325 F. and bake 35 to 40 minutes or nicely browned. Brush with butter upon removing from oven. Cool before removing from pans. Cool completely before wrapping for freezing.
Filling:
My Favorite Nut Filling -
2 lbs. ground walnuts
1 1/2 cups brown or white sugar
6 egg whites, beaten just stiff
2 tsp. vanilla or 2 tsp. grated lemon rind
Melted butter and warm milk
Mix together nuts, sugar and flavorings. Fold in stiffly beaten egg whites. If mixture is too dry, gradually add enough warm milk for easy spreading consistency. This is enough filling for 6 to 8 kolaches (nut rolls) depending on size of rolled out dough.
My Favorite Poppyseed Filling -
1 lb. ground poppyseed
1 lb. can applesauce
1 1/2 cups sugar or to taste
2 tbsp. melted butter
2 tsp. grated lemon rind or vanilla extract
Combine all preceding ingredients and mix thoroughly. Allow mixture to stand several hours or overnight to thicken and blend flavors. This is enough filling for 7 or 8 average size kolaches.