Description
Delight in these traditional Eastern European Blueberry & Cheese Vatrushka Buns, featuring a soft, yeasted dough filled with a luscious mixture of ricotta, cream cheese, and fresh blueberries. Perfect as a sweet breakfast treat or dessert, these baked buns combine creamy, tangy cheese filling with juicy blueberries and a hint of lemon zest for a refreshing finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
- ¾ cup warm milk
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
Cheese Filling
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 egg yolk
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Blueberry Topping
- 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
Egg Wash
- 1 egg, beaten
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In a small bowl, dissolve the active dry yeast in warm milk. Allow it to sit for 5–10 minutes until the mixture becomes foamy, indicating the yeast is active and ready.
- Prepare Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, large egg, vanilla extract, salt, and softened butter. Pour in the yeast mixture and knead everything together until a smooth, elastic dough forms. Kneading by hand takes about 10 minutes, or 5 minutes if using a stand mixer with a dough hook. Cover the dough and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until it has doubled in size.
- Mix Cheese Filling: Meanwhile, in a separate bowl, blend the ricotta cheese, softened cream cheese, sour cream, egg yolk, powdered sugar, lemon zest, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
- Prepare Blueberries: In another small bowl, toss the fresh or frozen blueberries with cornstarch and granulated sugar to coat them evenly. This helps thicken the juices while baking.
- Shape Buns: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Punch down the risen dough and divide it into 12 equal portions. Shape each portion into a ball, then flatten slightly. Place the dough pieces on the baking sheet, spacing them evenly.
- Create Wells: Use the bottom of a glass or your fingers to press a shallow well into the center of each bun, creating space for the filling.
- Fill and Top: Spoon a generous amount of the cheese filling into each well, then add a few coated blueberries on top of the cheese mixture for a burst of fruity flavor.
- Apply Egg Wash: Brush the exposed edges of each bun with the beaten egg to ensure a beautiful golden-brown finish once baked.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the buns turn golden brown and the filling is set.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the buns from the oven and allow them to cool slightly before serving to enjoy the perfect texture and flavor.
Notes
- For a more traditional Eastern European flavor, substitute ricotta cheese with farmer’s cheese.
- Best enjoyed fresh but can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat slightly before serving to restore soft texture.
