Step 1

Combine the sugar, yeast, 1/4 C of the flour, and 1/4 C of the milk (verify it is warm enough with your Thermapen ONE) in a small bowl. Set aside to allow it to activate for about 15 minutes.

Step 2

In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the yeast/flour mixture and the remaining dough ingredients. Mix with the dough hook, kneading until the dough is smooth and supple.The dough will still seem sticky and somewhat slack. That is ok!

Step 3

Scrape the dough out onto an oiled surface.

Step 4

Using a scale, portion out the dough into 3-oz portions.

Step 5

Roll each portion into a ball on the countertop using a cupped palm.

Step 6

Set each dough ball on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Set the dough balls aside, covered, to proof and rest for 30 minutes.

Step 7

Remove any skin from the turkey as well as any non-edible bits of bone, etc., then chop it into ~1/4″ pieces.

Step 8

Combine about 1 cup of turkey with 1/2 C mashed potatoes, 1/2 C stuffing, and 3/4 C cold gravy. Mix it all up by hand, then warm a spoonful of it up to check for balance and seasoning.

Step 9

Have the cranberry sauce close at hand.

Step 10

Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C).

Step 11

To fill a kolache, take one ball of dough, and flatten it into a round, about 6-inches across.

Step 12

Spoon 1–2 tsp cranberry sauce into the center of the round and top with 1–2 Tbsp turkey filling.

Step 13

Pull two opposite sides up over the filling and pinch them together, then pull the two other sides up and pinch the whole thing together. Pinch and twist the seam together and set the kolache, seam-side down, back on the pan.

Step 14

Fill the remain in kolaches the same way.

Step 15

Put the kolaches in the oven and bake for 15–25 minutes. Set a timer to know when to check their temp. The wide window for the time accounts for how much filling you use as well as how cold that filling is. Cooking strictly by time won’t do!

Step 16

When the timer sounds, check the temperature of the filling with your Thermapen. If it hasn’t reached 165°F (74°C), continue to cook. If it has, and the kolaches are beautifully golden (they will be by this time), remove them from the oven.

Step 17

Allow them to cool somewhat, and dig in! You may want to serve them with extra cranberry sauce for topping or even extra gravy (warmed) for dipping.

Step 18

1 lb fresh cranberries

Step 19

1 large, juicy orange

Step 20

1 cinnamon stick

Step 21

1/2 tsp ground black pepper

Step 22

~1/4 C brown sugar (more or less to taste)

Step 23

Kosher salt, about 1/2 tsp, to taste

Step 24

Put berries, cinnamon, sugar, 1/2 tsp salt, and black pepper in a small saucepan.

Step 25

Use a veggie peeler to peel 5 or 6 strips of zest off of the orange—almost half the zest of the orange. Add them to the pot with the other ingredients.

Step 26

Cut the orange in half and juice it into the saucepan, too.

Step 27

Add enough water so that there is about 1/2″ or liquid in the bottom of the pan.

Step 28

Cook the sauce, stirring occasionally, over medium heat until all the berries have burst and the sauce becomes jammy.

Step 29

Check for sugar/salt balance. remove the cinnamon stick. You can remove the zest strips or leave them in.