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Cottage Cheese Brioche Buns (Vatrushka) Recipe

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4 from 12 reviews

Delightful Cottage Cheese Brioche Buns, also known as Vatrushka, combine soft, buttery brioche dough with a creamy, tangy pressed cottage cheese filling. Topped with an optional buttery streusel, these buns are perfect for breakfast or a sweet snack. This recipe guides you through making tender, fluffy buns with a luscious cheese center and a golden, slightly crisp exterior.

  • Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
  • Yield: 10 buns

Ingredients

Dough

  • ½ cup milk (warm)
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 3 g yeast (1/2 packet, about 1 teaspoon)
  • 3 ¼ cup all purpose flour (390g)
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • 2 large eggs (room temperature)
  • ¼ cup sour cream
  • ½ cup unsalted butter (softened)
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

Cottage Cheese Filling

  • 1 lb pressed cottage cheese (farmers cheese, tvorog, or Ukrainian cottage cheese)
  • ½ cup granulated sugar (add ¼ cup sugar if not using streusel topping)
  • 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest (from about 1 lemon)
  • 1 tablespoon potato starch (or cornstarch)
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 3 tablespoons sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt

Streusel Topping (Optional)

  • ½ cup all purpose flour (60g)
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons butter (softened)
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt

Egg Wash

  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tablespoon milk

Instructions

  1. Activate Yeast: Pour the warm milk into a medium bowl, add the yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar. Whisk to dissolve and set aside for 10 minutes until foam forms on top, indicating active yeast.
  2. Prepare Dough: Sift flour into a large bowl, make a well and add sugar, salt, eggs, sour cream, softened butter, vanilla extract, and the yeast mixture. Stir to form a cohesive dough ball.
  3. First Rise: Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and let dough rise in a warm place for 45-50 minutes until doubled and puffed.
  4. Deflate Dough: Using fingers, lift one edge of dough and fold over to the other side; repeat 6 times to deflate. Form into a smooth ball, cover again, and let rise for another 25-30 minutes until doubled.
  5. Make Filling: In a bowl or blender, combine pressed cottage cheese, sugar, lemon zest, potato starch, egg yolk, sour cream, vanilla extract, and salt. Blend until mostly smooth and thick. Alternatively, mix by hand for a grainier texture.
  6. Make Streusel (Optional): On a plate, combine flour, sugar, softened butter, and salt. Use a fork to press butter into flour until mixture resembles crumbs without dry bits.
  7. Prepare Egg Wash: Whisk egg and milk together in a bowl and refrigerate until needed.
  8. Shaping Dough: Perform another stretch and fold by lifting one edge and folding over; repeat 5 times to develop elasticity. Grease work surface with neutral oil. Divide dough in half, roll each half into a log, then cut each log into 5 pieces, totaling 10 pieces.
  9. Form Balls: Roll each piece into a smooth ball and tighten by dragging the bottom side on the surface under your hand to create tension.
  10. Arrange and Rise: Place dough balls on parchment-lined baking sheets spaced 4 inches apart. Let rise for 15 minutes while preheating oven to 355°F (180°C).
  11. Create Filling Well: Grease the flat bottom of a 2.5" diameter glass. Press down firmly in the center of each dough ball to create a cavity for filling.
  12. Apply Egg Wash: Gently brush egg wash over the surface and edges of each bun to help toppings stick and improve browning.
  13. Fill Buns: Divide the cottage cheese filling evenly, mounding it in the center of each bun. Optionally, add a teaspoon of jam or fresh/frozen berries into the filling and swirl gently.
  14. Top with Streusel (Optional): Sprinkle streusel crumbles around the edges of the buns so they adhere to the egg wash.
  15. Bake: Place buns in the center of the preheated oven and bake for 17-20 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Check doneness by a clean toothpick inserted into the crust.

Notes

  • If yeast does not foam after activation, use a fresh packet or batch of yeast.
  • Press cottage cheese firmly before measuring to remove excess moisture.
  • The filling can be blended for smoothness or mixed by hand for texture preferences.
  • Adding jam or berries inside the filling adds extra flavor and moisture.
  • Streusel topping is optional but adds a delightful crumbly contrast.
  • Ensure buns have enough spacing on baking sheets for even rising and baking.
  • Use neutral oils like vegetable or light olive oil for shaping and greasing.
  • Author: Amelia
  • Prep Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Baking
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Eastern European
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Find it online: https://recipesvibe.com/cottage-cheese-brioche-buns-vatrushka-recipe/