Where Can You Get Good Kolaches in Houston?
Red Dessert Dive
Jessica Lusk’s Heights bakery isn’t your typical sweet shop. The 2-year old, industrial-style store prepares rotating sweet and savory specials that keep diners on their toes, such as the crunchy butterscotch scone, rich red velvet cupcakes and best-selling debusker—a soft chocolate brownie baked with an M&M cookie. But it’s the neighborhood shop’s Willy Wonka– style kolaches that have inspired repeat visitors from all over the city. The pastry team crafts outside-the-box artisanal kolaches like cream cheese with bacon and chive; Fredericksburg peach and blueberry; Buffalo chicken; Italian sausage and brie; and a lovely poppy seed.
Fluff Bake Bar
Whoopie pies, Fluffernutters and birthday cake cinnamon rolls—that’s how we’ve come to know the decadence that is Fluff Bake Bar. But ever since owner-chef Rebecca Masson debuted her pastry shop’s brick-and-mortar location last year, the inventive baker has partnered with renowned Texas chefs and restaurants like Philip Speer, Hugs & Donuts and Wayne Mueller to prepare a lineup of you-have-to-try-it-to-believe-it kolaches for her weekend bake sales, including boudin kolaches with kimchi and bacon; Cubano kolaches; and sausage with pickled jalapeño.
The Hot Bagel Shop
Don’t let the name fool you: This decades-old, family-owned River Oaks shop boasts a menu of fluffy kolaches in addition to wire baskets stocked full of fresh-baked, fragrant bagels and breakfast sandwiches like jalapeño, salmon lox and banana walnut. Taking a departure from traditional Czech customs, the native New Yorkers prepare the egg and meat kolaches using their signature bagel dough, and the resulting portions are massive. While we aren’t apt to break away from our love for Czech traditions, we can’t deny the sight, scent and taste of these golden buns.
