Name: Vatrushka
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 155 min
Ingredients: 1 cup warm milk; 1 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast; 1 tablespoon sugar; 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour; 2 tablespoons butter (softened); ½ teaspoon salt; 1 egg; 1 cup farmer’s cheese (cottage cheese, or ricotta); 1 egg yolk; 2 tablespoons sugar ((adjust to taste)); 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; pinch lemon zest (or a handful of raisins optional); 1 egg ((lightly beaten, for glaze))

Vatrushka

Vatrushka is a traditional Eastern European pastry — especially popular in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. It’s usually a round, soft bun made from yeast-leavened dough with a filling of sweetened farmer’s cheese (similar to cottage cheese or quark) in the center.

You can think of it as a sort of “cheese danish,” but with a distinct Slavic flavor! The dough is often enriched with butter and milk, making it tender and slightly sweet, while the filling is creamy, sometimes flavored with vanilla, raisins, or a bit of lemon zest.

There are also savory variations — some filled with potatoes, mushrooms, or meat — but the classic version is sweet and enjoyed with tea or coffee.

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Prep Time 40

Cook Time 25

Rising Time 1 30

Total Time 2 35

Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine Eastern European, Russian, Ukrainian

Servings servings

Calories 500 kcal

Ingredients

For the dough:

1 cup warm milk
1 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons butter softened
½ teaspoon salt
1 egg

For the filling:

1 cup farmer’s cheese cottage cheese, or ricotta
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons sugar (adjust to taste)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch lemon zest or a handful of raisins optional

For brushing:

1 egg (lightly beaten, for glaze)

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Instructions

Activate the yeast:
Mix warm milk, sugar, and yeast in a small bowl. Let it rest for 5–10 minutes until foamy.
Make the dough:
In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Add the yeast mixture, softened butter, and egg. Stir and knead for about 5–7 minutes, until smooth and elastic.
(You can use a mixer with a dough hook or knead by hand.)
Let it rise:
Form the dough into a ball, cover, and let it rise in a warm place for 1–1½ hours, or until doubled in size.
Prepare the filling:
In a bowl, mix the farmer’s cheese, egg yolk, sugar, vanilla, and any optional flavorings until smooth and creamy.
Shape the buns:
Divide the dough into 4 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a ball, then flatten it slightly (about 4–5 inches in diameter).
Press a deep well in the center with your fingers or the bottom of a glass — that’s where the filling will go.
Add the filling:
Spoon the cheese filling into the center of each dough circle.
Brush and bake:
Brush the edges of the dough with beaten egg for shine.
Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C / 350°F for about 20–25 minutes, or until golden brown.
Cool and serve:
Let cool slightly on a rack. They taste wonderful warm or at room temperature — perfect with tea, coffee, or even a glass of milk.

Disclaimer

Some parts of recipe maybe AI-generated.

Nutrition

Calories: 500kcal (25%)Carbohydrates: 67g (22%)Protein: 20g (40%)Fat: 16g (25%)Saturated Fat: 8g (50%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 167mg (56%)Sodium: 542mg (24%)Potassium: 247mg (7%)Fiber: 2g (8%)Sugar: 13g (14%)Vitamin A: 578IU (12%)Vitamin C: 0.003mgCalcium: 313mg (31%)Iron: 4mg (22%)

Disclaimer

Nutritional information for this recipe is an approximation and is not to be construed as medical advice.

Keyword baked, cheese-filled, sweet, yeast-leavened

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Vatrushka