EASY Texas Sausage Kolache (Sausage Rolls)

Sausage Kolache is a yummy breakfast item that you find in the donut shops all over Texas. It is basically a yeast bread pastry wrapped around a cheesy sausage (or Jalapeño sausage for spice lovers out there).

I’ve been obsessed with these yummy breakfast pastries since I moved to Texas, and after much experimenting, I have put together the EASIEST and yummiest homemade kolache recipe – requiring only 5 ingredients! Do make sure to plan ahead to give the dough time to defrost and rise.

A plate of two sausage kolaches with more sausage kolaches in the background

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Rhodes Bake-N-Serv. All opinions and texts are mine.

Looking for classic well loved Texas foods? Don’t forget to also check out my authentic Texas Chili, Easy Queso, and Breakfast Tacos!

Table of Contents

The Easiest Sausage Kolache Recipe!

Sausage Kolache is actually originally a Czech Republic pastry brought by Czech immigrants to Texas. Today, you can find sausage kolache in donut shops all over Texas, and they are commonly enjoyed as breakfast or snack item.

Fun fact: what is widely known as Sausage Kolache today was once upon a time more accurately known as Klobasnek. “Kolache” is the name given to a similar pastry but with fruit filling. Over time, these sausage Klobasnek became conveniently known as “Sausage Kolache”.

The sausage kolache recipe I am sharing today is the common sausage roll with yeast dough that you can find at pretty much any donut shop in Texas. Ask anybody living in Texas and they will know exactly what this is.

You can make sausage kolaches from scratch with a dough recipe, but when I want “from-scratch” quality without all the hard work, Rhodes make this possible. AND even more delicious than when I made it from scratch!

Rhodes Yeast Dinner Rolls are seriously perfect for this. These rolls come frozen in dough form. Let them defrost/rise and use them as the the pastry for these sausage kolaches.

They are called dinner rolls, but they are seriously so versatile and they are made for Texas Sausage Kolache! The Rhodes way is the only way we do sausage kolache in our household these days.

This particular easy kolache recipe is awesome because:

So convenient – no kneading required!
5 ingredients only – because we are using pre-kneaded dough, we are looking at 5 simple ingredients!
The fluffiest, freshest, best tasting dough EVER! It taste like homemade dough without all the efforts of homemade. WIN-WIN-WIN!
As good as store-bought kolaches. Yes you heard it. Just like the ones sold in donut shops. Now you can make it at home and eat it in your pajamas!

A stack of sausage rolls with one that is already bite into on the top of the stack

Ingredients

You’ll only need 5 ingredients to make this kolache recipe:

Rhodes yeast dinner rolls: This is the key to the easiest kolache recipe…no knead for a dough recipe! These Rhodes rolls are soft, slightly sweet, and reminiscent of the real deal.
Smoked sausage: These are typically pre-cooked, smoked pork or beef sausage links. Common brands are Eckrich, Kiolbassa, and Johnsonville. If you can find the ones with cheese inside, that’s even better! It’s my favorite and it’s what I used in the photos. These are different from hot dogs or breakfast sausages, although those can be used as well. If sausage is raw, cook them fully first before wrapping it in dough.
Cooking spray/oil: Used to grease the dough to prevent sticking.
Egg: Used with the milk to make an egg wash, creating a nice sheen on the kolache once baked.
2% milk: You can also use whole milk or low/non-fat milk.

How to make Kolache

This is probably the easiest from-scratch sausage kolache you will find on the internet.

It’s very simple because we are using frozen dough that is already portion out, but you will need to plan ahead for the dough to rise.

Place frozen dough in room temperature and let it rise for 3.5 – 4 hours.

If your room is colder (especially during winter months), it might take a bit longer. The temperature of your room really makes a difference to the rise time.

Once it rises, use a rolling pin and roll dough into oval/rectangular shape, with its length about the same as the length of the sausage.

sausage placed on a rolled out dough on cutting board

Then wrap the dough around the sausage and seal. Apply pressure well to seal tightly.

sausage rolled in dough on cutting board

Place dough + sausage seam side down on a baking sheet line with parchment paper or baking mat.

And then let it rise a little longer.

Patience, my friends. Patience. 😉

Brush with egg wash then bake Sausage Kolache at 375ºF for 15-17 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.

Dough should rise and become this soft, fluffy bread with a golden brown crust.

And that’s it! You just made yourself a homemade sausage kolache!

Cheesy savory sausage and that soft pillow-y bread with a hint of sweetness all in one delicious bite. Yum!

I highly recommend pairing these sausage kolaches with some iced or hot coffee. I’m feeling the iced coffee thing lately because it’s about 100ºF outside as we speak…

Storage and Reheating

What’s even better about these homemade sausage kolaches? They keep super well and make great leftovers!

Store in the fridge for up to 5 days and pop them into the microwave for 20-30 seconds to heat them up.

Not only are sausage kolaches great grab-and-go breakfast for busy mornings, they make great snacks for kids’ lunch boxes as well.

Texas Sausage Kolaches stacked on a plate

Tips and Tricks

Pat dry sausage: make sure to remove excess moisture before wrapping it with dough.
Use cooked sausage: I would actually recommend using cooked sausages to make sausage kolache. If using raw sausage, cook them first before wrapping them in dough.
Let the dough rise well: it takes time for the dough to rise but be patient and do not short cut the process. Rising the dough well will ensure a nice fluffy soft bread texture. If the room is cold, give the dough more time to fully rise.
Remember to cover the dough: Whenever rising dough, cover with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap to prevent dough from drying out.
Brush oil to prevent sticking: If the dough is sticking or hard to come off when you are pulling them apart to roll, brush the rolling pin, surface, and your hands with oil.
Silicone baking mats and parchment paper are your friends: Line your baking sheet with either of these for easy removal and minimal cleanup.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of sausage is in a kolache?

Pre-cooked, smoked pork or beef sausage links are common sausages to use. Brands like Eckrich, Kiolbassa, and Johnsonville are widely used.

What do I do if my sausage is very moist?

The sausage links can be very moist. I would recommend patting it dry with paper towels so that your bread does not get soggy on the inside.

My rolls are sticking to each other and/or the pan. What should I do?

Use parchment paper or silicone baking mat to line your pan. Also brush or spray oil onto the kolaches and make sure to space them out so they don’t stick together as they bake.

I’ve fallen in love with Rhodes rolls! What else can I do with them?

Us too! We have been using Rhodes for years. Check out these Cheesy Garlic Rolls using the same Rhodes dough, and enjoy!

What else can I make with this easy kolache recipe as a base?

I’m glad you asked! There’s no better kolache than the kolache you make to your heart’s desires. 🙂 Some variations to try: jalapeño kolaches (place 3-4 fresh sliced jalapeño on top of the egg wash before baking), cheese kolache (roll cheese along with the sausage links when you are rolling out the dough), and sweet kolaches (add fruit filing/jelly instead of sausage).

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Other Breakfast Ideas

Other easy breakfast recipes that can be made ahead!