"Vatrushki", Russian sweet bread, filled with farmer cheese (tvorog). Recipe from my childhood.

tvorog (cottage cheese)

🥗Healthier: ricotta

💰Cheaper: cream cheese

Ricotta offers a similar texture with fewer calories.

butter

🥗Healthier: coconut oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Coconut oil is dairy-free and adds a unique flavor.

sugar

🥗Healthier: honey

💰Cheaper: brown sugar

Honey provides natural sweetness and moisture.

milk

🥗Healthier: almond milk

💰Cheaper: water

Almond milk is a dairy alternative, while water reduces cost.

Dissolve fresh yeast in warm milk (96°F or 36°C) with 1 tablespoon of sugar and let it activate for 5-7 minutes.

Sift 450 to 500 grams of flour onto parchment paper and transfer to a mixing bowl.

Add 1 teaspoon salt and the remaining sugar to the flour and mix.

Check on the yeast; it should have a foamy hat on top.

Add 1 egg to the yeast mixture and mix.

In a stand-up mixer, combine the wet ingredients with half of the flour mixture and mix until smooth.

Gradually add the remaining flour until the dough forms a ball, then add 70 grams of softened butter one tablespoon at a time.

If the dough is too wet, add a little more flour until it is soft and does not stick to hands.

Brush a large mixing bowl with oil and place the dough inside to proof until it triples in size (up to 1.5 hours).

For the filling, combine 400 to 500 grams of farmer cheese, 1 egg, half a cup of sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla sugar, and a quarter teaspoon of salt in a bowl and mix with a spatula.

Blend the mixture with a hand blender until smooth, then fold in half a cup of golden raisins if using.

Check the dough; it should have quadrupled in size. Weigh the dough and divide it into 12 equal pieces (about 80 grams each).

Shape each piece into a round bun and place them on a parchment-lined baking tray to proof for another 20 minutes.

Use a glass to make an indentation in the center of each bun for the filling.

Brush the buns with a mixture of 1 egg yolk and 2 tablespoons of milk or cream before adding the filling.

Fill each bun with about 2 tablespoons of the cheese filling using an ice cream scoop.

Brush the filling with the egg yolk and milk mixture to seal it.

Bake at 360°F for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and the filling is firm.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens