Kolaches hit Wimberley

Kolaches are a baked delicacy, a traditional Czech pastry. While there are historic kolache locations throughout Texas, they are just recently being made in Wimberley. Texas has a huge base of Czech original settlements, and until just recently was the third most spoken language in Texas, after English and Spanish.

All around the state is where kolaches are available along with the most famous kolache factory in West, Texas north on I35. Long lines wait to get inside the door to buy this delectable treat, in an assortment of fruit and other flavors.

The phrase “horror vacui” or “Nature Abhors a Vacuum” was said by Aristotle a long time ago. The availability of kolaches had a vacuum here in Wimberley, to put it on a personal level. The only time they were available were when driving to West, waiting in line, picking the right ones and freezing the ones you don’t eat quickly.

Vanessa Kolacny Mauk grew up in Ganado, southwest of Wimberley close to Victoria, Texas. Growing up she was surrounded by kolache making women including her grandma, but never made them early in her life.

“I never made kolaches before 40. Then in December (2018) I was watching Hallmark movies and made kolaches… I could take this and turn it into a business,” Mauck said.

The enterprising teacher’s aide at Danforth Junior High had a crazy idea. And she thought about it. Then what happened was what she calls a “devotional. A spiritual intuition,” talk with God. She went forward with her plans more confident than ever.

She got the proper permits and licenses and rented the commercial kitchen at the old First Baptist Church complex on Old Kyle Road next to the cemetery. The next step was to test her product.

Testing it on her co-workers at Danforth was critical. It was not a pretty sight.

“Okay it was a good start,’ Principal Greg Howard said, using educator jargon to say it wasn’t very good but keep trying. “The next time we lost our minds. It was the greatest. It was like West was relocated here.”

She makes the traditional flavors of kolaches like apple, raspberry, cherry, poppy seed and apricot, with cream combined with any flavor as another choice. She likes to do custom flavors.

Since she received her commercial mixer, making the kolaches goes a lot faster and depending on how many orders she has, she’ll start around 5:00 a.m. before going onto work at Danforth. Her husband, a coach, also works at Danforth.

“I’m always going. There’s the yeast to rise and cool, there’s prepping the cheese and meat to cut up, (for the pigs in the blanket, different than a kolaches).” Then it is off to Danforth at 7:15 a.m. with her kids for a full days’ work, then to make sure her three children are where they are supposed to be after school.

Baking kolaches in Wimberley is good news. She’ll also do weddings, Bed and Breakfasts, church gatherings and kid’s events. On her dream list is to be named on the Texas Kolaches Trail, which are stops for kolaches from around the state.

“I want to provide good quality and being consistent which each order,” she said.

They are available around town such as Sip on the Square, Creekhaven Inn and Cypress Falls.

But this is no bakery where one can just stop by and purchase one and hit the road.

They must be ordered in dozens. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 or noon and on Saturdays 7:30 a.m. until noon. She has Sunday through Tuesday off.

You can order on Facebook Messenger or phone at (512) 217-5582.