Cake Mix Kolaches (doctored cake mix)

If you love pastries but you’re intimidated by the process, I’ve got great news for you! You can make these crisp, sweet kolaches in minutes! Best of all, they start with a simple white cake mix.

What is a Kolache?

A Kolache is a sweet cake (sweet pastry) with fruit preserves inside. They got their start in Central Europe. Czech immigrants introduced Kolaches to America in the 1870s. People serve them at special events or as an everyday sweet treat.

What sets a kolache apart is the way it’s folded over to hold the sweet preserves or other fruit inside. After I made my Cake Mix Cinnamon Rolls, I got to thinking about the dough I had created and I wondered if I could use a variation of that dough to make Kolaches.

So, I decided to give it a go. I wasn’t really sure how it would go, but the outcome was out of this world! This was my first time making Kolaches and I was absolutely tickled at how they turned out. I sent them with a friend to a baby shower. She said that everyone loved them!

Can I Use a Cake Mix to Make Pastries?

If you’ve been following me over the past month or so you’ve noticed a theme: I’ve been on a roll converting white cake mix into other things. I was so happy with how my Cake Mix Cinnamon Rolls turned out. I was also very happy with my Cake Mix Scones.

I’ve put together a post listing all of my concoctions titled A Dozen Sweet Treats that Start with a White Cake Mix. But trust me when I say that an average cake mix can be use as the basis for any number of sweet treats!

Best of all, making pastries from cake mix is easy! You don’t have to create a puff pastry or wait for your dough to rise.

Cake Mix Kolache Ingredients

So, what’s keeping you? Let’s get going! Here’s what you’re going to need to make these amazing Cake Mix Kolaches. You can skip to the bottom of this post for a full printable recipe, but here’s a peek at what you’ll need:

• 1 box white cake mix
• 1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) cold butter
• 1/2 – 2/3 cup whipping cream (or whole milk)
• 1 large egg
• 1 box instant cheesecake pudding (dry)
• 1/2 – 2/3 cup strawberry preserves
• granulated sugar (for sprinkling)

That seems simple enough, right? So, let’s look at how to whip up these tasty treats. They’re not difficult at all. You can do it with little trouble.

How to Make Cake Mix Kolaches:

Grate butter and add to cake mix. Place in food processor or combine using stand mixer with paddle attachment. Work until butter is fully incorporated.

Add flour and pudding and mix well.

Now it’s time to add the whipping cream and egg. Mix well! Work the dough until it’s pliable. (You can use your hands for this.)

Prepare a work station. I use waxed paper above and below the dough.

Roll about 1/4 inch thick and cut into squares, just as you would with my cut-out sugar cookies. I used a scalloped cutter. Place on parchment paper lined baking sheet.

Run a line of preserves on the diagonal.

Fold over and press down.

Sprinkle with sugar.

Bake at 350 for 17 minutes or until golden. Allow to cool on a wire rack before eating (preserves could burn you)

What to Expect from these Pastries

These are light, crisp and loaded with sweetness from the berry filling. I loved the added touch of sugar on top.

The texture with these kolaches is perfect–almost cake like, but with a crispness you might not expect.

Best of all, these were super easy to make!

See this recipe at

Full Plate Thursday 

Weekend Potluck

Sunday LinkUp

Variations on this recipe:

I think these would be yummy with any of the following fillings:

• blackberry preserves
• raspberry preserves
• blueberry preserves
• lemon curd

You could start with a flavored cake mix. Here are some fun suggestions!

• I think chocolate would be yummy with strawberry filling.
• Or what about lemon cake mix with raspberry filling.
• Maybe you could consider a spice mix with a cream cheese (with egg yolk) filling.
• Or. . .you might give thought to a yellow cake with some sort of nut-themed filling.

Use your imagination!

Other Cake Mix Recipes

Easy Cinnamon Sugar Muffins: These are loaded with warm cinnamon and start with a boxed cake mix.

Peanut Butter Cake Mix Cookies: These are almost as delicious as my homemade peanut butter cookies and they start with a white cake mix.

Strawberry Pie Filling Cake: This one is a yummy, moist cake that starts with a white cake mix.

While you’re contemplating recipes, check out this Lemon Crumble Cream Cake from South Your Mouth!

That’s it for today’s recipe! I’d love to leave you with an encouraging verse to brighten your day.

“He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.” 

Isaiah 40:29

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Learn more about doctored cake mixes, the theme of this blog. 

For the master list of all doctored cake mix recipes on this site, visit Doctored Cake Mix Recipes, Master List. 

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About the Author

Janice Thompson is an author, baker, and all-around mischief maker! She has overcome a host of baking catastrophes, including a toppled wedding cake, to learn more about the baking process. Janice has published over 150 books for the Christian market but particularly enjoys writing recipes and baking devotions. To learn more about Janice or to drop her a note, visit her About the Author page.