TL;DR
Kolache Factory has announced the top five finalists in its annual Create a Kolache Contest, and the public can vote for their favorite until August 24. The winning recipe will be considered as a future Flavor of the Month and the creator will receive a free kolache and drink for a year.
The finalists are in! After reviewing hundreds of creative submissions from kolache lovers across the country, Kolache Factory, a bakery-café, has narrowed its annual Create a Kolache Contest to the finalists in the ranking. Now, the public is invited to help choose the winner.
Through August 24 fans can cast their vote for their favorite original kolache creation.
The winning recipe will be evaluated for consideration as a future Flavor of the Month; the creator will receive a free kolache and drink for a year.
Prizes include:
Top prize – Free kolache + drink for a year + flavor featured on menu
Runner-up prize – Free kolache + drink every day for 6 months
Additional prize – Free kolache + drink every day for 3 months
"Every year we're amazed by the creativity and passion our customers bring to this contest," said Hermann Gruebler, Master Baker at Kolache Factory. "The submissions continue to push the boundaries of flavor, from comforting classics to bold culinary mashups. Choosing just five finalists is never easy, and we're excited to let our guests decide which creation will become our next featured kolache."
The finalists in the ranking are:
Hot Honey Chicken Finalist: Deedra Scherm – Richardson, Texas Ingredients: Chicken, hot honey and pepper jack cheese
Peach Cobbler Cream Cheese Finalist: Alia Mitzer – Houston, Texas Ingredients: Fresh peach filling, cinnamon, brown sugar crumble, cream cheese and vanilla glaze
Mexican Street Corn Finalist: Judith Cleaver- Virginia Beach, Virginia Ingredients: Roasted corn, cotija cheese, Mexican crema, lime, mayonnaise, red bell pepper
Chicken Bacon Ranch Finalist: Kelley Doll – League City, Texas Ingredients: Ranch-seasoned chicken breast, bacon and cheddar cheese
Key Lime Pie Finalist: James Stockberger – Brentwood, Missouri Ingredients: Key lime custard, graham cracker crumble, whipped cream
The winning recipe will be determined by public vote and announced on August 27, 2026.
In this story
This story was originally published in Franchising.com on August 14, 2026. Burnaze summarizes and links to the original reporting.
Read the full story at Franchising.comLiked this? Get the week's franchise news, explained
- Sunday 8 AM ET weekly + a monthly deep dive
- Sections picked for the industries you follow
- Every claim linked to its source. Free.