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Some foods taste like a holiday kitchen, and a fruit-filled kolache is near the top of that list. Across Illinois, a handful of bakeries still turn out these little pastries, from Bohemian kolacky in Chicago to savory sausage-and-egg kolaches in Quincy.
Most cost just a few dollars, which makes them an easy weekend treat or a box to bring to family. Here are seven spots where you can grab a taste of Grandma’s recipe without turning on your own oven.
1. American Kolache, Quincy, IL
Breakfast on the go gets a lot easier when it comes wrapped in soft dough. American Kolache on Broadway Street in Quincy builds its whole menu around kolaches, with both sweet and savory choices.
The sausage, egg and cheese kolache is a favorite for drivers heading to work. It is fresh, soft and easy to eat with one hand.
Prices run about $1 to $10 per person, so a full breakfast stays cheap. Coffee is on the menu too.
Plan on takeout, since there is no dine-in seating or restroom. Hours are 6 AM to 2 PM Monday through Saturday and 7 AM to 2 PM on Sunday, with plenty of free parking.
Catering and delivery are available if you want to surprise the office.
2. American Kolache – O’fallon, IL, O’Fallon, IL
Saturday and Sunday mornings are the busy shifts at this Highway 50 shop, and the reason is simple. The case holds a wide spread of savory and sweet kolaches.
Ordering six different flavors is a fun way to sample the lineup. Beyond kolaches, there are brownie pastries and gooey butter cake, a nod to the St. Louis area.
Unlike the Quincy location, this one has dine-in seating and a restroom. The space is casual and quiet, a good fit for a solo breakfast with coffee.
Most orders land between $1 and $10. Curbside pickup and delivery are options, and weekday afternoons tend to be the calmest time to stop by.
3. Pticek’s & Son Bakery, Chicago, IL
Bakery boxes tied with twine are still a thing at Pticek’s & Son. That detail sets the tone for this veteran neighborhood shop on South Narragansett Avenue.
The specialty is Croatian baked goods, and the Bohemian kolacky here are made the old-fashioned way. Danish, apple strudel, apple bread and cake donuts share the cases.
The cheesecake has a big following, and rainbow birthday cakes are popular for parties. Staff are quick to point out what is fresh.
Get there early. Doors open at 5:15 AM Tuesday through Saturday, closing at 4 PM on weekdays and 3 PM on Saturday, with Sunday and Monday off.
Free parking makes it a quick stop.
4. Racine Bakery, Chicago, IL
Kielbasa and kolacky in the same shopping trip is a very Southwest Side kind of errand. Racine Bakery on Archer Avenue is a long-standing shop known for classic Lithuanian and Polish baked goods plus deli products.
Kolacky sit alongside paczki, coffee cakes and dense rye bread. Bacon buns are a Lithuanian specialty worth grabbing while you are there.
The deli side adds Lithuanian food and sausage, so you can leave with dinner too. Coffee is available for the drive home.
Hours run 6 AM to 6 PM Monday through Saturday and 7 AM to 2 PM Sunday. Weekend mornings get busy, while evenings are usually quieter.
5. Lutz Bakery, Chicago, IL
Walking into Lutz is a bit like stepping back a few decades. The Montrose Avenue bakery is lined with pastry cases and keeps a classic continental style.
Kolacky are part of the cookie lineup, next to turtle cookies. The bigger stars are cakes, especially Black Forest, chocolate ganache and strawberry whipped cream torte.
Apple strudel is another favorite, and there is a patio for warm days. Marzipan writing plaques can personalize a celebration cake.
Late hours help here. It stays open until 8 PM most days and 9 PM on Friday and Saturday, and weekday mornings are the quietest time to browse.
6. Euro Homemade Bakery and Deli, Chicago, IL
Need a dessert and a week of groceries in one stop. Euro Homemade Bakery and Deli on North Harlem Avenue handles both.
The store is large and clean, with beautiful kolaches, cakes and pies in the bakery cases. Blueberry cheesecake by the slice is an easy add-on.
The rest of the shop carries Polish and European sweets, fresh deli meats and prepared Polish food. Organic produce, bulk herbs and some dry goods round it out.
Free parking and a restroom make it practical with kids in tow. Sunday mornings and most weekday mornings tend to be quiet, and Sunday hours are 9 AM to 3 PM.
7. D’Amato’s Bakery, Chicago, IL
Here is the surprise of the list. D’Amato’s is a traditional Italian bakery on West Grand Avenue, yet kolaczki show up among the cookies.
They carry a buttery Italian cookie style, a fun twist on a Polish classic. Cannoli, tiramisu and focaccia fill out the sweet and bready side.
The coal-fired oven turns out Italian and French bread, plus pizza. Subs like the Italian, cutlet and chicken Caesar make it a lunch stop too.
Bring cash, since the shop is cash-only. It is takeout only, so grab a bag and enjoy your cookies on the walk.
