Jolly Gingerbread Takes Home Top Prize in National ‘Create a New Holiday Kolache’ Contest

Amber Miller from Noblesville, Indiana, has been named the Gold Medal Winner in the kolache contest, sponsored by the Katy, Texas-based bakery-café franchise. That means she wins free breakfast for a year from the kolache shop that specializes in offering creative, savory, and sweet Czech-inspired pastries that are filled with fruits, meats, and cheeses.

More than 1,200 fans submitted recipe ideas during the “Christmas in July” kolache contest and Miller was chosen as one of five finalists with her “Jolly Gingerbread” entry. Fans then voted for their favorite flavor idea in an online contest and Miller was the top vote-getter! Kolache entries from Dallas, Texas, and Omaha, Nebraska, rounded out the top three!

• Gold Medal Winner: The Jolly Gingerbread - Amber Miller - Noblesville, IN Gingerbread, cinnamon, and nutmeg, topped with streusel and drizzled honey icing.

• Silver Medal Winner: Santa’s Chocolate Pecan Pie - Allene Boone - Dallas, TX Chocolate chips, pecans, and pecan pie filling, topped with caramel drizzle.

• Bronze Medal Winner: Little Drummer Boy - Kelli Kramer - Omaha, NE Shredded chicken sauteed with fresh-squeezed lemon juice, garlic, rosemary, paprika, and brown sugar. Then mixed with a cranberry sauce made with real cranberries.

As the gold medal winner, Miller will receive free breakfast for a year and the Jolly Gingerbread will be featured on the Kolache Factory menu as the 2021 December Kolache of the Month! Boone will receive free kolaches for six months and Kramer will win free kolaches for three months.

“We received so many original and tasty ideas from our customers in this contest – as we always do – but the Jolly Gingerbread was absolutely amazing, and we can’t wait to share it with our customers nationwide this December. We want to thank all of our kolache fans for sharing their creativity and love of kolaches with us. We love involving our customers and hope everyone will come in and try the Jolly Gingerbread in December!” said Dawn Nielsen, COO of Kolache Factory.