Easy and delicious recipes, inspired by my Ukrainian ancestry

I had such a craving for Vatrushki (Ватрушки с творогом), an Eastern European Sweet Cheese Buns! I’m not into overly sweet cakes, but I can’t pass by a pastry shop. If you are like me, this recipe is for you!


Vatrushka Sweet Cheese Buns, Vatrushki (Ватрушки)

WHAT IS VATRUSHKA

Vatrushka (ватрушка, plural: vatrushki or ватрушки) Ukrainian: ватрушка, is a kind of sweet bun filled with tvorog (Russian: творог). Similar to a danish, made with a sweet yeast dough.

Tvorog is a farmer cheese similar to ricotta or cottage cheese but on the dryer side. You can find Farmer cheese at most supermarkets, usually Friendship brand. Russian white cheese, tvorog, is sold at most European stores.The original Vatrushka recipe was too boring and bland tasting for me, so I’ve decided to take it to a more French pastry level and it worked! These taste like you bought them at the expensive French coffee shop! Enjoy!

You can make your own sweet buns, but to speed up the process, I like to use already made good quality dough.

To make your own buns. I found an excellent recipe for 16 buns (since we have the filling enough for 16 buns) on Natasha’s Kitchen blog.

Vatrushki, sweet buns baked

I bought White Cheese (tvorog) at the Russian store recently and had my favorite dough “Annie’s Organic Flaky Biscuits” that is perfect for this recipe.

You get 8 perfectly sized round biscuits per tube

HOW TO MAKE VATRUSHKA RECIPE 

Vatrushka ingredients

You can use White Cheese/tvorog, Farmer cheese (Friendship Farmer Cheese by DAIRIES is available at many supermarkets), or Ricotta cheese.

NOTE:  filling recipe is enough for two biscuits tubes. 16 perfectly sized sweet cheese buns.

Ingredients:

  • 2 tubes of Annie’s Organic Flaky Biscuits or Pillsbury Biscuits
  • 2 cups of one pound White Cheese (Farmer cheese or Ricotta)
  • 4 Tbs. Sugar or Stevia (we like them on the sweet side)
  • 2 Tbsp. Sour Cream
  • 1 Egg
  • 1 tsp. Vanilla extract
  • egg wash
  • sliced almonds
  • diced fruit
  • sugar sprinkles

Instructions:

In a medium bowl blend white cheese, sugar, sour cream, egg, and vanilla extract until smooth consistency. 

Vatrushka recipe prep

Place each biscuit on the baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Use a glass or cup to press an indention for the filling in the center of each dough piece.

Brush each biscuit with an egg wash.

Spoon filling into the indention.

Repeat with remaining dough pieces and filling.

Add sliced almonds, diced fruit (used strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries).

Vatrushka buns ready to bake

Sprinkle with sugar, if you like.

Betty Crocker Sprinkles, Gold Shimmer Sugar

I just love these Finishing sugars since they add extra sweetness and crunch to your baked goods!

Vatrushka buns baked inside

Bake in the preheated to 400F oven, 15 – 18 minutes, or until golden brown.

Q&A

What is “egg wash”?

  • An egg wash is beaten eggs, sometimes mixed with another liquid such as water or milk, which is brushed onto the surface of a pastry before baking. 

BTW, Annie’s Organic Flaky Biscuits dough is perfect for Pirozhki as well

Beef Pirozhki

This recipe is one of the easiest and quickest. 

Vatrushka Sweet Cheese Buns, Vatrushki (Ватрушки)

Vatrushka Sweet Cheese Buns, Vatrushki (Ватрушки)

Yield: 16 sweet buns
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 18 minutes
Total Time: 38 minutes

Vatrushka/Vatrushki (Ватрушки с творогом), an Eastern European Sweet Cheese Buns! I’m not into overly sweet cakes, but I can’t pass by a pastry shop. If you are like me, this recipe is for you! It's super quick and easy as well!

Ingredients

  • 2 tubes of Annie’s Organic Flaky Biscuits or Pillsbury Biscuits
  • 2 cups of 1 pound White Cheese (Farmer cheese or Ricotta)
  • 4 Tbs. Sugar or Stevia (we like them on the sweet side)
  • 2 Tbsp. Sour Cream
  • 1 Egg
  • 1 tsp. Vanilla extract
  • egg wash
  • sliced almonds
  • diced fruit
  • sugar sprinkles

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400F.
  • In a medium bowl blend white cheese, sugar, sour cream, egg, and vanilla extract until smooth consistency. 
  • Place each biscuit on the baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  • Use a glass or cup to press an indention for the filling in the center of each dough piece.
  • Brush each biscuit with an egg wash.
  • Spoon filling into the indention.
  • Repeat with remaining dough pieces and filling.
  • Add sliced almonds, diced fruit (used strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries).
  • Sprinkle with sugar, if you like.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes.

Did you make this recipe?

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