Authentic Ukrainian Sirniki (Cottage Cheese Pancakes)

Sirniki are delicious farmer's cheese pancakes that truly define Ukrainian and Slavic households, thanks to their slightly sweet, fluffy texture that's absolutely incredible. They're a staple in most East European households, and you'll find them regularly on every table being served for breakfast and eaten later as snacks.

This recipe is the authentic one for Sirniki (aka Syrniki) to give you that classic fluffy texture that's both satisfying and comforting. 

Sirniki is not only delicious but is also easy to prepare, making them a popular breakfast or dessert option for families. Traditionally, sirniki were made from quark, a type of farmer's cheese that is commonly used in Eastern European cuisine. However, cottage cheese is also a popular ingredient that is readily available in most major grocery stores.

And if you're looking for traditional Ukrainian farmer's cheese, that's also easy to find. You can find it in pretty much all Slavic grocery stores around the country. I even have my very own recipe for homemade farmer's cheese that you'll absolutely love! 

One of the best things about sirniki is the versatility of how they can be served. You can enjoy them sweet, with a dollop of sour cream, honey, jam, maple syrup, and fresh fruit. They're even delicious savory, with sour cream and chopped herbs or smoked salmon.

Making sirniki at home is a wonderful way to experience the rich and comforting flavors of Eastern European cuisine. What's best is that they can be eaten for breakfast, brunch, as a snack, or even as a dessert after dinner.

Want to learn how to make these deliciously fluffy Sirniki (Cottage Cheese Pancakes)? Then keep on reading! 

Table of Contents

• What is Sirniki?
• What Makes This Sirniki Recipe Special?
• What You Need to Make Sirniki at Home
• How to Make Sirniki (Step-by-Step)
• Video Recipe
• Tips for Making the Best Sirniki Ever
• Recipe Variation Ideas for Sirniki
• How to Store Leftover Sirniki
• Similar Recipes You'll Love
• Recipe Card
• Authentic Ukrainian Sirniki (Cottage Cheese Pancakes)
• Comments

What is Sirniki?

Sirniki is the Ukrainian name for cheese pancakes. They're also known as Tvorozhniki in some East European countries, and these pancakes are a staple in every Slavic household thanks to their delicious flavor and fluffy texture.

These pancakes are made by mixing cottage cheese or quark with flour, eggs, and sugar, along with some other pantry staple ingredients. They're combined to form a dough, which is then shaped into small, flat cakes. It's then pan-fried in butter until golden brown on the outside and soft and creamy on the inside.

Sirniki is served warm and topped with sour cream, honey, jam, or fresh fruit. They are a popular breakfast or dessert dish, and can even be eaten for lunch! I've always loved these tasty pancakes that remind me of my childhood, and my kids love these in just the same way! 

These pancakes are also known as Ukrainian cheese pancakes since they're really popular in Ukraine and a lot of East European countries. You can make your own farmer's cheese at home using my recipe, or buy it from any major grocery store in the US. They're also widely available in pretty much all Slavic grocery stores. 

What Makes This Sirniki Recipe Special?

This Sirniki recipe is incredibly special for many reasons. Let's look at some of the top ones:

Authentic: Sirniki is a great way to enjoy Eastern European flavors without having to travel. My recipe will give you the authentic flavor of sirnikis easily at home that you're going to absolutely love!

Easy: This sirniki recipe is special because it is incredibly easy to make and uses simple, fresh ingredients. All you need is cottage cheese, flour, eggs, sugar, and a couple of staple pantry ingredients.

Versatile: Additionally, the pancakes can be served either sweet or savory depending on your preference. This makes them a perfect breakfast or dessert option for any occasion.

Texture: You'll get the most perfect and delicious texture with my recipe that's absolutely authentic. They're incredibly fluffy, thick, and tasty, with that classic flavor I'm sure you're going to seriously love.

What You Need to Make Sirniki at Home

All you need are some simple pantry staple ingredients to make the tastiest farmer's cheese pancakes at home. Let's look at what they are:

• Eggs: The first ingredient we'll need for this recipe is some eggs. They'll work as a binding agent, holding the other ingredients together, while also giving our sirniki a fluffy texture. 
• Sugar: Next, we're going to use a little sugar. It will help balance the tanginess of the cream cheese and give a little sweetness also. 
• Cottage cheese: Cottage cheese is a key ingredient in this sirniki recipe. It gives it a rich and creamy texture with a great slightly tangy taste. You can use regular store-bought cottage cheese or farmer's cheese for this recipe for even better results. 
• Baking soda: We're using a little baking soda to neutralize any sourness in the cottage cheese and to help give them a light, airy texture.
• Vinegar: Vinegar will help our sirniki rise and become fluffy while also getting rid of any leftover baking soda taste.
• Salt: We'll need a bit of salt for this syrniki recipe, to balance some of the sweetness from the sugar and also help the sirniki rise and become fluffy. 
• All-purpose flour: Flour will serve as the base of our sirniki patties, binding all the other ingredients together which lets us form and fry them without losing their shape. 
• Oil: Lastly, we'll need a little oil for sauteeing our sirniki to golden perfection.

How to Make Sirniki (Step-by-Step)

Making Sirniki is super easy and worthwhile. Here's how to make it at home step by step:

How to Prep Cottage Cheese for Sirniki

First, let's start by grinding the cottage cheese to a paste-like texture. I've tried making them without grinding the cheese and I've noticed that the patties became very dry after sautéing.

How to Make Cottage Cheese Pancake Dough

Now let's start making the 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 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 teaspoon of salt through a sifter.

Thoroughly stir the flour in with a spatula until all the flour is combined.

How to Shape and Make 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 the 1-inch pieces 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 1-inch pieces 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!

Video Recipe

Watch the Video Below on How to Make these Authentic Ukrainian Sirniki

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Enjoy them with a dollop of sour cream, preserves, fresh fruit, and berries, or the way my kids enjoy it: on their own with a glass of milk. 

Tips for Making the Best Sirniki Ever

• To make the best Sirniki, it's important to follow the instructions carefully. Grinding the cottage cheese is a crucial step that shouldn't be skipped, as it affects the texture of the final product. It helps keep the sirnikis from becoming too dry after sautéing them.
• Use a light hand when shaping the sirnikis, as you don't want to overwork the dough or press them too thin. This can cause them to break apart during frying.
• Be sure to beat the eggs and sugar together until light and fluffy before adding in the cottage cheese.

Recipe Variation Ideas for Sirniki

Sweeter: For a sweet version, add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, 2 tablespoons of sugar, and ½ teaspoon of vanilla to the dough before shaping.

Savory: If you like savory flavors, you can add some finely chopped herbs such as dill or parsley to the dough.

Crunchy: You can also try adding some raisins or chopped nuts for a crunchy texture.

Bite-sized: Try forming the dough into bite-size pieces before frying to make an extra fun treat for kids.

How to Store Leftover Sirniki

You can store leftover Sirniki in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 to 3 days. To reheat them, microwave them in 30-second increments until they are warm. You can enjoy them warm or cooled since they taste incredible both ways.

Alternatively, you can lightly pan-fry them again to reheat them. You can also freeze these delicious Ukrainian cheese pancakes in the freezer for up to 2 to 3 months! Allow them to thaw overnight before warming them or enjoying them cool. 

Similar Recipes You'll Love

• Easy Light and Fluffy Vanilla Greek Yogurt Pancakes
• Crispy Ukrainian Potato Pancake Recipe
• Mom's French Toast Recipe

Recipe Card

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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.