Sirniki Recipe (Farmer’s Cheese Pancakes)
Sirniki are delicious farmer’s cheese pancakes with a slightly sweet, fluffy texture. A staple in Ukrainian and Slavic homes, they’re often served for breakfast or enjoyed as snacks throughout the day.
Traditional farmer’s cheese (Tvorog) is easy to find in most Slavic grocery stores, or you can try my homemade recipe. Sirniki (syrniki) are versatile – enjoy them sweet with jam, honey, or fruit, or savory with herbs and sour cream. Making them at home is a delicious way to experience Eastern European flavors for breakfast, brunch, a snack, or even dessert.
What is Sirniki?
Sirniki, also called Tvorozhniki or Ukrainian cheese pancakes, are a beloved Slavic treat known for their fluffy texture and delicious flavor. Made from cottage or farmer’s cheese mixed with eggs, flour, and sugar, the dough is shaped into small cakes and pan-fried until golden and creamy inside. Served warm with sour cream, honey, jam, or fresh fruit, sirniki are perfect for breakfast, dessert, or even lunch. You can use store-bought farmer’s cheese or make your own with my simple recipe.
Sirniki Recipe Video
What Make this Sinrniki Recipe Special?
- Authentic: Enjoy the flavors of Eastern Europe right at home – my recipe delivers the classic, authentic taste of sirniki.
- Easy: Made with simple, fresh ingredients like cottage cheese, flour, eggs, and sugar, this recipe is quick and straightforward.
- Versatile: Serve them sweet with jam or honey, or savory with herbs – perfect for breakfast, dessert, or a snack.
- Perfect Texture: These pancakes come out fluffy, thick, and delicious every time, with that classic, irresistible flavor.
Key Ingredients
- Eggs: Eggs act as a binder and give the sirniki a light, fluffy texture.
- Sugar: Adds a touch of sweetness to balance the tanginess of the cheese.
- Farmer’s Cheese: The star ingredient — it gives sirniki a rich, creamy texture and slight tang. You can use regular cottage cheese or farmer’s cheese for best results.
- Baking Soda: Helps neutralize the cheese’s acidity and creates a light, airy texture.
- Vinegar: Reacts with the baking soda to make the pancakes rise and stay fluffy.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the overall flavor.
- All-Purpose Flour: Binds the ingredients together, allowing the patties to hold their shape while frying.
- Oil: Used for frying to achieve golden, perfectly cooked sirniki.
How to Make Sirniki Recipe
Prep Cottage Cheese: If using cottage cheese, start by grinding it into a smooth, paste-like texture to keep your patties soft and moist (If you’re using farmer’s cheese, you can skip this step).
Make the Pancake Dough: In a large bowl, beat the eggs and sugar on high for 3 minutes until light and fluffy. Add the ground cottage cheese and mix on medium for 2–3 minutes until fully combined. Activate the baking soda with vinegar, then pour it into the mixture and beat for another minute. Sift in the flour and salt, then fold everything together with a spatula until a smooth dough forms.
Shape Sirniki: After mixing in the flour, sift the remaining ½ cup onto a large cutting board. Transfer the batter onto the floured surface, shape it into a ball, and cut it in half. Dust both halves with flour to prevent sticking and set one half aside. Take the other half, roll it into a log, and cut it into 1-inch pieces. Coat each piece with flour, then flatten them with your hand into ¼-inch thick ovals or rounds.
Sauté Sirniki: Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat and add 2 tablespoons of olive. Place sirniki in the pan and sauté for 3–4 minutes per side, or until golden brown. Repeat the cutting, shaping, and sautéing steps with the second half of the dough.
Serve: Serve your sirniki warm or cooled, topped with sour cream, jam, maple syrup, honey, fresh fruit or berries, or enjoy them simply on their own with a glass of milk, just like my kids do!
Variation Ideas for Sirniki Recipe
- Sweeter: Add 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 2 tablespoons sugar, and ½ teaspoon vanilla to the dough for a sweet twist.
- Savory: Mix in finely chopped herbs like dill or parsley for a savory version.
- Crunchy: Fold in raisins or chopped nuts to add texture and crunch.
- Bite-Sized: Shape the dough into small, bite-sized pieces before frying – perfect as a fun snack for kids.
How to Store Leftover Sirniki
Store leftover sirniki in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2–3 days. Reheat in the microwave in 30-second intervals or lightly pan-fry until warm – they’re delicious either way. You can also freeze them for 2–3 months; just thaw overnight before serving warm or enjoying chilled.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Substitute all-purpose flour with almond flour, oat flour, or a gluten-free flour blend. The texture will be slightly different but still delicious.
Yes! Place them on a greased baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 15–20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Sirniki use cheese as the main ingredient, giving them a dense, creamy interior, while regular pancakes are made from a flour-based batter and are lighter and fluffier.
Sirniki Recipe (Farmer’s Cheese Pancakes)
Ingredients
- 5 large eggs
- 1 cup organic sugar
- 24 oz. cottage cheese or farmer's cheese
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tbsp vinegar
- ¼ tsp sea salt
- 4 ½ cups organic all-purpose flour
- Olive oil for sautéing
Instructions
How to Prep Cottage Cheese for Sirniki
- First, let's start by grinding the cottage cheese to a paste-like texture (If you are using farmer's cheese, then skip this step). I've tried making them without grinding the cheese and I've noticed that the patties became very dry after sautéing.
How to Make Sirniki Dough
- Now let's start making the sirniki pancake dough! We're going to add the eggs and sugar in a large bowl and beat them on high with a hand mixer for 3 minutes.
- Next, we'll add our ground cottage cheese or farmer's cheese and beat with an electric mixer on medium for 2-3 minutes until the ingredients are well combined.
- After that, activate the baking soda with vinegar in a small spoon, then pour it over the cottage cheese and egg mixture.
- Mix it with your hand mixer for another minute then add 3 cups of flour and 1 tsp of salt through a sifter.
- Thoroughly stir the flour in with a spatula until all the flour is combined.
How to Shape Sirniki
- After the flour is well mixed, take the remaining ½ cup flour and sift it on top of a large cutting board.
- Once that’s done, transfer the batter from the bowl onto the floured cutting board.
- Roll the dough into a ball and cut it in half, then cover both balls with flour so they don’t stick. Set one half aside for later.
- Take the other half of the ball and roll it into a log.
- Cut the log into approximately 1-inch pieces and cover each side with flour. Flatten each piece with your hand to make them ¼ inch thick and oval or round shaped.
How to Sauté Sirniki
- Heat a frying pan at medium-low heat on the stove with 2 tablespoons of olive oil or vegetable oil.
- Place sirniki in the frying pan and sauté 3-4 minutes per side or until golden brown then remove them from the pan.
- Place another set of sirniki and continue sautéing until you are done with all the pancake dough.
- Take the second half of the dough and repeat the cutting, shaping, and sautéing steps until you’re done with the other half.
- Your delicious Sirniki are ready to be served warm or cooled!
Notes
- Grind the cheese: Make sure to grind the cottage cheese into a smooth texture to keep the sirniki soft and moist.
- Beat eggs and sugar: Whip the eggs and sugar until light and fluffy before adding the cheese.
- Handle the dough gently: Shape the sirniki carefully, avoiding overworking or pressing them too thin to prevent breaking during frying.
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This recipe was originally posted on September 18, 2014 (original picture below), and updated for a better user experience. The post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure.
What do you mean by grinding the cheese?
Cottage cheese curds are too large for pancakes so I process them either in the food processor or grind them through the meat grinder. This step is not necessary if farmer’s cheese is being used for this recipe. Thanks for asking!
Ahh, syrniki! So delicious 🙂
Thanks Ksenia! Every time I make them, it reminds me of my childhood. It’s one of our family favorite. 🙂
Oh……… WOW! MEMORIES! Brings tears to my eyes. How I remember the taste and smell of the place I used to call home. Will make that feeling for my kids:)! thank you sooooooooo much for posting this recipe!!!!!!
Mom’s recipe! 🙂
These are soooo delicious and bring back many wonderful memories of mom. This is what I’ll be making for breakfast tomorrow! Yammmmiiii! 😛
Thanks Nina! Let me know how they turn out. 🙂