Franke's Bakery

For a sweet taste of home and Czech baking in Minnesota's heartland, head to Franke's Bakery in Montgomery.

Bob Franke wakes up in the middle of the night to slide trays of scrumptious pastries into the oven long before the front doors open at the business his grandparents started in 1914. Just as his parents and grandparents did before him.

The bakery makes the absolute best cookies, bread, doughnuts, etc.... but it's arguably best known for its kolacky -- Czech fruit-filled rolls/buns that come in several varieties. Apricot, prune & poppyseed are the most traditional but also apple, raspberry, blueberry, etc.

The traditional Czech treat takes center stage during the town's annual Kolacky Days Festival, held each year the last full weekend of July.

Just so you know, these Kolacky are different than what you will get in other Czech communities or in the old country. These are a fruit filled bun, like a dinner roll, rather than being made with a pastry dough.

They are closed faced. All 4 corners are brought together to close them up. Old timers have said that this was done so that the men could take them in their lunch pails without the filling getting all over.