Dad's Famous Kolacky's

The flavor team

The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.

1. Cheese + cream cheesetop 4% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together473 recipes

   Shared aroma: ethyl 2-methylbutyrate (fruity, apple).

2. Milk + buttertop 7% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together81,283 recipes

   Shared aroma: (z)-4-heptenal (biscuit, cream).

3. Cream cheese + buttertop 8% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together2,747 recipes

   Shared aroma: ethyl octanoate (fruity, wine).

4. Cheese + buttertop 8% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together7,962 recipes

   Shared aroma: delta-dodecalactone (sweet, creamy).

5. Milk + cheesetop 10% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together4,426 recipes

   Shared aroma: delta-dodecalactone (sweet, creamy).

Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs

What each ingredient does

Flour

Forms the gluten structure that traps gas and gives the dough its chewy, sturdy body.

Eggs

Add richness, moisture and structure to the dough.

Yeast

Produces gas as it ferments, making the dough rise and become light.

Milk

Adds moisture and tenderness and helps feed the yeast.

Shortening

Adds fat that tenderizes the dough and softens its crumb.

Cream cheese

Provides a rich, tangy filling that sets as it bakes.

The step that matters

Swap the lemon

How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (milk, sugar, egg, flour, cheese, cream cheese, butter):

1. Vanillafits better
2. Figfits better
3. Strawberryfits better
4. Lemonthe original

Fit is the average pairing score against milk, sugar, egg, flour, cheese, cream cheese, butter. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.