Indulge in Vatrushka, an Eastern European pastry that’s soft, creamy, and irresistibly fragrant. Perfect for any time of day!

Vatrushka

Vatrushka is a traditional sweet yeast pastry from Eastern Europe characterized by its round shape and a creamy center filled with tvorog, a local dairy product similar to ricotta, flavored with vanilla and enriched with raisins. This delightful treat resembles Italian cream pastries but stands out with its unique filling and quicker preparation method. Perfect for breakfast, an afternoon snack, or alongside a cup of tea, once you taste a Vatrushka, you’ll find it hard to stop at just one!

Ingredients

• 500g flour
• 250ml milk
• 100g sugar
• 10g salt
• 20g yeast
• 1 egg
• 100g butter, melted
• 300g tvorog (or ricotta)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 50g raisins

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm milk with a tablespoon of sugar. Let it sit until frothy.
2. In a larger bowl, combine flour, remaining sugar, and salt. Add the yeast mixture, egg, and melted butter to the bowl.
3. Knead the dough until smooth and elastic. Cover and let it rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
4. In another bowl, mix tvorog, vanilla extract, and raisins to make the filling.
5. Once the dough has risen, punch it down and divide it into equal pieces. Shape each piece into a round ball, then flatten them slightly.
6. Make a small well in the center of each flattened dough and fill it with the tvorog mixture.
7. Preheat the oven to 180°C (356°F). Place the Vatrushka on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
8. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Let them cool slightly before enjoying!

Total Time

Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes

Cuisine

Italian

Also, check out these typical Eastern European recipes: Syrniki, Deruny, Khachapuri.