The Sweetest Tradition: Explore the world of Croatian cakes and discover these delightful treats that have been beloved for generations.
Photos: S.Fantov, Snježana Buljan
If you’ve ever been to a Croatian zabava or community gathering in Australia, you already know the unspoken truth. It’s not written on any poster or invitation, but it’s deeply understood: you don’t show up empty-handed. And ideally, your hands are holding a tray of kolači (cakes).
Some call it a tradition, others a rite of passage. In reality Croatian cakes, are one of the great customs that binds generations of Croatians in Australia—a beautiful blend of hospitality, pride, and yes, a bit of friendly competition.
“Bringing a Plate” – But Not Just Any Plate
It starts with the planning. A wedding, a church festa, a concert, or even a casual BBQ at the Croatian club. Somewhere between deciding what to wear and checking who’s playing music, someone will ask: “Tko donosi kolače?” (Who’s bringing cakes?)
That’s when the great baking begins. Out come the handwritten recipes from Baba’s old notebook, the bottles of rum for the infamous “rum kocke”, the coconut for čupavci, the nuts for orahnjača, and always, someone attempting kremšnite with varying levels of success.
But let’s not pretend everyone has the time (or the nerve) to bake Croatian cakes from scratch.
The Social Media Poll That Told the Truth
A recent cheeky social media poll posed a very real question to Cro-Aussies:
Do you proudly bring homemade sweets?
Do you sneak in a store-bought tray and pretend it’s homemade?
Or do you rock up just in time for dessert, never lifting a spatula?
The answers? As hilarious as they were revealing.
“Yes, I bake—it’s a matter of honour!”
“I always bring Costco cupcakes and say I made it.”
“I haven’t baked since the Sydney Olympics, but I can sniff out the dessert table like a bloodhound.”
And that’s the thing. No one really cares if it’s store-bought or hand-crafted, so long as the dessert table is full, colourful and sweet enough to keep everyone gathered after coffee. Because in the end, it’s about togetherness.
More Than Just Sugar and Flour
It might look like just a plate of cakes, but it’s actually a quiet act of love, community spirit and connection to our roots. Every slice carries a story—of someone’s mum, aunt, baba, or even neighbour who passed on the recipe.
At these gatherings, while music and dancing take centre stage, it’s often around the dessert table where real conversations happen. Stories are shared, jokes are told, compliments exchanged (“Tko je radio ove mađarice?!”), and leftover boxes filled for tomorrow’s tea.
So… Will There Be Kolači?
Of course there will. There always are. Whether you’re the proud baker, the sneaky tray-shuffler, or the dessert ninja who arrives late but never misses a slice— with Croatian cakes you’re part of the tradition.
Just don’t forget to return the Tupperware.
We’ve selected one favourite recipe classic Croatian Breskvice (Peach Cookies) recipe — the beloved little pink balls that look like mini peaches and always steal the show at any Croatian celebration:
Breskvice – Croatian Peach Cookies
These adorable little cookies are soft, sweet, and sandwiched together to look like tiny peaches. A nostalgic favourite at Croatian weddings, baptisms, and zabave!
Ingredients
For the dough:
2 large eggs
200g (1 cup) sugar
125ml (½ cup) milk
125ml (½ cup) sunflower oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
Zest of 1 lemon (optional but lovely)
2 tsp baking powder
~500g (about 3½ cups) plain flour (enough to make a soft, non-sticky dough)
For the filling:
Crumbled centres of baked cookies
100g (½ cup) sugar
2–3 tbsp cocoa powder
A splash of rum or vanilla essence
A few tablespoons of milk (to bind)
Optional: ground walnuts or apricot jam for extra texture
For decoration:
Red and yellow food colouring
Sugar for rolling
A few drops of peach or rum flavour (optional)
Small brush and a bowl of water
Method
Make the dough:
Beat the eggs and sugar until light and fluffy. Add milk, oil, vanilla, and lemon zest. Gradually mix in flour and baking powder until a soft dough forms.
Shape and bake:
Roll dough into small balls (about the size of a walnut) and place on a baking tray lined with paper. Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 10–12 minutes — they should stay pale.
Scoop and cool:
Once cool, carefully scoop out a little hole at the bottom of each cookie to make space for filling (a small spoon or knife works well). Save the crumbs for the filling.
Prepare the filling:
Mix the crumbs with sugar, cocoa, rum or vanilla, and just enough milk to get a thick, spreadable paste. Add ground walnuts or jam if you like.
Fill and assemble:
Fill the hollow side of one cookie and press another on top to make a little ball. Repeat with all cookies.
Colour and decorate:
Mix red and yellow food colouring with a little water. Lightly brush each cookie with the colours to give a peachy look. Roll them in sugar to give that sparkly skin!
Tips & Traditions:
Let them sit overnight before serving – they soften beautifully! Some families add a tiny mint leaf to each to make them look even more like peaches. They freeze well – perfect to make ahead for a zabava!
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