Russia · Sweet Dishes

Tvorozhnaya Zapekanka (Russian Cottage Cheese Bake)

Tvorozhnaya zapekanka is the soft, lightly sweet cottage-cheese bake that Russians remember from childhood kitchens and kindergartens.

80 min✻6 servings✻240 kcal
Tvorozhnaya Zapekanka (Russian Cottage Cheese Bake)

Ingredients

  • tvorog (farmer's cheese)600 g
  • egg3 pcs
  • sugar4 tbsp
  • semolina4 tbsp
  • sour cream3 tbsp
  • raisins80 g
  • vanilla sugar10 g
  • butter20 g

Method

  1. 1Press the cottage cheese through a sieve or blend it until smooth — this is what makes the bake tender rather than grainy.
  2. 2Whisk the eggs with the sugar and vanilla sugar until pale and a little frothy, then stir in the sour cream.
  3. 3Fold in the sieved cottage cheese and the semolina until smooth. Let the batter stand 20–30 minutes so the semolina swells — this is essential for a set, non-gritty texture.
  4. 4Cover the raisins with boiling water for 10 minutes, drain, pat dry, and fold them into the batter.
  5. 5Grease a baking dish (about 20 cm) with the butter and dust it with a little extra semolina, tipping out the excess. Spoon in the batter and level the top.
  6. 6Bake at 180°C for 40–50 minutes, until the top is golden and a skewer comes out clean. Don't open the oven early or it may sink.
  7. 7Cool at least 15 minutes before slicing — it firms up as it cools. Serve warm or cold with sour cream, condensed milk, or berries.