Have you ever had a Kolache? These small Czech pastries have built a cult following around Iowa, thanks to their delicious components – a light, glazed yeast dough topped or filled with an assortment of jams or custards. You can usually find no shortage of them on sale in Cedar Rapids’ Czech Village – but to find the best Kolaches in Iowa, you’ll want to head to the small town of Urbandale, on the outskirts of Des Moines and about two hours from Cedar Rapids. That’s where you’ll find Coaches Kolaches, a tiny cafe that takes the classic dessert and gives it an over-the-top modern twist. Made fresh daily, this cafe is always experimenting with new flavors of Kolache that not only pay tribute to the original but fuses it with a distinctly American sensibility that has the locals coming back time and time again.
Coaches Kolaches has recently moved into a new Urbandale location, and it’s brought its legions of adoring fans with it.
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The small cafe could pass for any other coffee shop, but this is a place that celebrates one of Iowa’s hometown pastries - the Czech-inspired Kolache.
Allen Huffman/Google Local
This isn’t an old-school place, though - they put new and inventive twists on the Kolache, and the menu is changing daily.
MD K/Google Local
So where to start? Just look into the case of fresh-baked Kolaches and see which decadent pastry tempts your taste buds.
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Of course, those with a sweet tooth will be happy with the wide assortment of more traditional kolaches filled with jam or custard.
Katie Jensen/Google Local
But the real specialty at Coaches Kolaches is the savory kolaches - starting with the bacon-and-egg-stuffed breakfast kolache.
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At lunch, the headliner is the large, elongated smoked sausage kolaches. You’ll never want to go back to a typical hot dog again!
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The cafe puts all sorts of twists on the classic pastry, like this Texas-inspired BBQ Kolache topped with pulled beef, barbecue sauce, and shredded cheese.
Coaches Kolaches/Facebook
If you can’t get enough, the cafe also packs Kolaches to go for easy transport - which means you can bring them home and spread the word of just why this place has developed such a cult following!
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Have you tried the new creations at Coaches Kolaches in Urbandale? Let us know what you thought, and tell us where you find the best Kolaches in Iowa in the comments section! You can find out about the latest creations on the official Coaches Kolaches Facebook page. If your tastes in Czech desserts trends more old-school, don’t miss this classic Czech Village bakery.
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MD K/Google Local
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Katie Jensen/Google Local
Karl Althaus/Google Local
Kim Vaughan/Google Local
Coaches Kolaches/Facebook
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Address: Coaches Kolaches, 2777 100th St, Urbandale, IA 50322, USA
