Russian Desserts

These traditional Russian pancakes are prepared with flour, eggs, milk, yeast, and a pinch of salt. What distinguishes them from other pancakes is the addition of yeast, since similar equivalents mostly do not add any leavening agents. The batter ... READ MORE

Varenye is a traditional dessert consisting of various fruits and berries cooked together with sugar. The ingredients should not lose their shape, dissolve, or overcook in order for varenye to be properly prepared. Originally, varenye was cooked w... READ MORE

Medovik is a popular Russian layered honey cake consisting of honey-infused, almost biscuit-like sponges that are coated with thin layers of cream. Although there are numerous variations of the cake, the custard is usually prepared with whipped cr... READ MORE

Kissel is an interesting fruit combination, often referred to as a dessert drink or soup, usually made with refreshing summer berries. It is prepared with water, mashed fruit or fruit juice, and thickening agents such as cornstarch or pot... READ MORE

Pastila is a traditional sweet originating from the 17th century. It is a cross between candy and meringue cookies: light and airy puffs made from egg whites, sugar, and fruit, reminiscent of the popular Turkish Delight. Traditio... READ MORE

Delicate, airy, and moist, sharlotka is the most popular Russian apple pie, mainly due to the ease of its preparation. It consists of eggs, sugar, flour, baking soda, and apple slices, but some people like to add honey or cinnamon into the cake in... READ MORE

Syrniki is a dessert consisting of fried cottage cheese pancakes that are usually garnished with honey, fruit jam, sour cream, or applesauce. It is part of the Russian (where it's sometimes also called tvorozhniki), Belarusian, Ukrainian,... READ MORE

Paskha is a Russian dish consisting of tvorog (farmer's cheese), butter, sugar, egg yolks, cream, and vanilla for flavoring. The dessert is traditionally prepared for Easter, its white color symbolizing Christ's purity and the Paschal Lam... READ MORE

Zefir is a popular dessert prepared throughout the former Soviet Union, similar to marshmallows in texture and consisting of puréed apples or other fruits, pectin, and whipped egg whites. Because it contains virtually no fat, it is consider... READ MORE

One of Russia's most beloved desserts, ptichye moloko is a decadent cake famous for its reversed cake-to-filling ratio: the thick, but exceptionally light, almost soufflé-like layers of silky custard are separated by thin, fluffy, ... READ MORE

Small, but packed with flavor, the batter for these famous Russian pancakes differs from those for traditional pancakes as it is prepared with kefir, a fermented milk product with a slightly sour taste. Aside from kefir, the remaining ingredients ... READ MORE

Smetannik is a traditional layer cake. It's usually made with a combination of flour, sugar, eggs, honey, and a sour cream frosting consisting of sour cream, vanilla, cream cheese, and milk. The cake is traditionally made in a deep pan. Once done,... READ MORE

Limonnik is a refreshing Russian pie that is perfect for the summer heat. It is quite aromatic, and its taste is slightly sour due to the usage of crushed lemons with their peel intact. The pie is made with a shortcrust pastry shell that is filled... READ MORE

Napolyeon tort is a traditional cake consisting of layers of thin and flaky puff pastry and a rich and smooth pastry cream sandwiched between the layers. The layers are usually made with a combination of flour, salt, butter, white vinegar, a bit o... READ MORE

Prianik is a Russian sweet bread or a cookie that is flavored with spices such as cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, cumin, and anise. It is often filled with various fruit jams and caramelized or condensed milk. The first prianik was made only w... READ MORE

Çäkçäk or chak-chak is a traditional dessert originating from Tatarstan. It's usually made from unleavened dough that's cut and rolled into small balls, and the balls are then deep-fried in hot oil. Dried fruits and hazelnu... READ MORE

Sukhariki are traditional Russian cookies made with a combination of flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, eggs, orange juice and zest, vanilla, walnuts, and raisins. The dough is shaped into flat logs, brushed with egg whites, sprinkled with sugar, ... READ MORE

Guriev kasha is a traditional semolina porridge. Unlike more typical porridge varieties, Guriev kasha is not merely cooked in milk–instead, milk or cream is baked in the oven, and the crust which is formed on top is removed and used to separ... READ MORE

Kutia is a Ukrainian, Russian, Belarusian, and Polish sweet grain pudding that is traditionally served as part of a twelve-meal Christmas Eve supper. Interestingly enough, this festive treat is believed to have existed long before Christianity. It... READ MORE

Mishka na severe or Bear in the North started as an iconic Soviet candy from Leningrad, but over time it's been made into a cake inspired by the candy's flavors. Although there's no standard recipe, and every household had its own version... READ MORE

Nevsky pirog is a traditional sweet pie or a cake dating back to Soviet times, when it was regularly sold in small eateries or cafés, often by the slice. It is made from soft leavened dough that's soaked with syrup and filled with butter-ba... READ MORE

Talkish kaleve is a traditional dessert originating from Tatarstan. These small pyramids are usually made with a combination of wheat flour, butter, honey, sugar, and water. The butter and flour are cooked in a pan, and the combination is then mix... READ MORE

Kyorchekh is a traditional dessert originating from the region of Yakutia. This simple dessert is often made by Yakuts, indigenous people who live in permafrost conditions. It consists of a few simple ingredients – sour cream, fresh cow's mi... READ MORE