Ukrainian Christmas Bread Kolach ( VIDEO)

A Braided Holiday Bread of Light, Unity, and Blessing!

By Inna Lanigan – Innichka Chef

In my home country of Ukraine, nearly every holiday and celebration begins with a grain dish or a loaf of bread. There is a simple reason for that: Ukraine has long been the breadbasket of Eastern Europe, blessed with rich harvests and soil so fertile that crops grow without the need for fertilizer. Where I grew up, I didn’t even know the word fertilizer. Everything we planted thrived naturally in our chornozem — the deep black soil found in only a few places in the world. Bread is part of our history, our land, and our spirit.

The Christmas Eve Table: Kutia and the Twelve Dishes

Christmas Eve in Ukraine is a sacred evening — the final day of the Nativity fast. Every family sits down to a traditional twelve-dish Holy Supper, symbolizing the twelve Apostles. At the very center of the table is kutia 

— a wheat dish cooked with poppy seeds, honey, and nuts. It is humble, vegan, and deeply symbolic, representing peace, prosperity, and the hope of a blessed year ahead. And then, everything changes the next day.

Christmas Day: When the Celebrations Begin

The moment Christmas Day arrives, the fast is over and the true celebration begins — and it lasts twelve full days. And how do we begin this joyful time? With Christmas Bread Kolach, the rich, golden, braided Christmas bread of Ukraine.

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Kolach: The Bread of Unity, Light, and Blessing

Kolach is more than just bread. It is a symbol:

• A circle of life and eternity – shown through the braided rings.

• Family unity and togetherness – every strand woven like the members of a family.

• The return of warmth and light – golden crust shining in the darkest days of winter.

This recipe is enriched with everything we have been fasting from — eggs, butter, milk — making it a joyful and luxurious bread meant to welcome Christmas with abundance and gratitude.

My Family Tradition: Exchanging Kolach at Holy Supper

In my family back in Ukraine, Christmas Eve holed a beautiful tradition that cherish me up to this day. When guests arrive for Holy Supper, each person brings a loaf of Kolach. And when they leave — heading to the midnight church service that begins at 12:00 AM and lasts until 5 or even 6 in the morning — they take a Kolach with them.

We exchange them, one family to another, so that every home wakes up on Christmas morning with a Kolach baked by someone they love.

It’s a gesture of blessing, care, unity, and continuity — a way of carrying each other’s love into the new day and the new year.

A Bread That Travels Through Generations

With this blog, I hope to share Kolach not only with those who grew up with it, but also with second- and third-generation Ukrainians around the world who may feel the traditions slipping away.

I want this recipe to be part of my family’s legacy — and maybe a part of yours too. A way to reconnect with heritage, memory, and the flavors of home. Because Kolach is not just something we bake. It is something we share, we bless, and we carry forward.

In Ukrainian homes, Kolach is more than bread — it’s a celebration of life, unity, and the joy of Christmas.

Let's begin to celebrate this Christmas with tradition...

Prep time: 5 minutes

Soaking time: 8 -10 hours

Cooking time: 45 minutes

Total time: 10 hours and 55 minutes

Author: Inna of innichkachef.com

Ingredients for the sponge:

1 cup warm milk (about 110°F / 43°C)

2¼ tsp active dry yeast

3 Tbsp honey or sugar

3 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour

Ingredients for the dough:

Sponge

4 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted

3 large eggs, room temperature

1 tsp fine pink salt

1/2 raw cane sugar

4,5-5 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

1 tsp vanilla paste or 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon turmeric

Ingredients for the Topping:

1 egg yolk + 1 Tbsp milk (for egg wash)

Pinch of  fine pink salt

3 tablespoons poppy seeds

Directions:

1. Activate the yeast (making a sponge):

In a large bowl or stand mixer, combine warm milk, yeast, and 3 tablespoons of flour and sugar. Cover and let sit for about 10 minutes, or until foamy.

2. Mix the dough:

Add the remaining sugar, melted butter, eggs, salt, turmeric, and vanilla. Gradually stir in the flour, one cup at a time.

3. Knead the dough:

Using a stand mixer with a dough hook, knead for 8–10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic. It should be soft and just slightly tacky.

4. First rise:

Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place for 1½–2 hours, or until doubled.

5. Shape the Kolach:

Punch down the dough and divide it into 4 equal parts. From each part, pinch off a small piece about the size of an egg — you’ll have 4 big pieces and 4 small. Roll each piece into a ball with your hands, then roll each ball into a long rope, about 20 inches (50 cm).

Loosely braid the 4 big ropes, then form the braid into a circle and pinch the ends together. Place the ring into a parchment-lined springform pan or any round baking dish. Important: Place something in the center to prevent the dough from rising inward — an empty can, a cookie cutter, or any heat-safe round object works.

For the small ropes, roll them in dry poppy seeds. Braid them together and place the poppy-seed braid around the larger ring, pinching the ends to seal.

6. Second rise:

Cover the shaped bread and let it rise for another 20-30 minutes.

7. Preheat the oven:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).

8. Brush and bake: Brush the Kolach with egg wash. You can sprinkle with poppy or sesame seeds if you like, but in the video you kept it simple — one poppy-seed rope and the rest glossy from egg wash. Bake 30–35 minutes or until golden and fragrant.

9. Cool and serve:

Let the bread cool on a rack. Traditionally, Christmas Bread Kolach sits in the center of the Christmas Morning table with a candle — a symbol of light and Christ’s presence in the home.

Innichka Chef Notes

If you have a time leave dough to raise slowly in the fridge its called slow fermentation, when yeast almost going to sleep. Gives you a deeper flavor and longer keeping quality. Never mention it is better for your digestive system and absorption for your nutrients.

More Christmas Recipes From Ukrainian kitchen

Ukrainian Christmas Nut Roll – Traditional Holiday Recipe

Sourdough Poppy Seed Rolls, Ukrainian Recipe

How and When to serve Bread Kolach?

For a cozy Ukrainian-style Christmas morning, serve Kolach with:

• Honey — a symbol of sweetness and blessings for the coming year.

• Herbal tea — mint, chamomile, or linden blossom to keep the meal light and comforting.

• Cranberry compote or uzvar — a festive, naturally sweet fruit drink that balances the soft, buttery bread.

• Fresh farmer’s cheese or creme fraiche — simple, nourishing sides that complement the delicate sweetness of the bread.

• Butter and jam — especially plum, apricot, or rosehip for a traditional flavor touch.

Kolach also makes a beautiful addition to brunch tables, holiday gatherings, or as a homemade gift for friends and family. Its soft, enriched dough and symbolic shape bring warmth and togetherness to any celebration.

I hope you'll make this recipe soon. If you do, please tag me #innichka_chef on Instagram, Facebook, Patreon, or Pinterest.