Vatrushka with Sweet Cheese and Cherries

Also known as “Ox Eye,” vatrushka, or Carlsbad-style sweet cheese pastry, this traditional Eastern European bake comes in many variations. It can be made with raisins, blueberries, and there is also a savory version.

This version is decorated with cherries. My family joked that it reminded them more of a certain part of the female body than an “Ox Eye.”

Either way, this is a classic winter-style pastry: warm, comforting, and with a real old-fashioned “grandma baking” feeling.

It can be served for breakfast, brunch, or even as a snack for kids during online classes. I prepared it between lessons, since each step fits nicely into short breaks.

We enjoyed it for lunch after a hearty soup.

Ingredients

• 2.5 dl milk (1 cup / 8.45 fl oz)
• 2 tsp instant yeast
• 4 tbsp sugar
• 550 g flour (4 1/3 cups / 19.4 oz)
• a pinch of salt
• 1 egg
• 1 egg yolk
• 70 g butter (2.5 oz)

For the filling:

• 350 g farmer’s cheese / quark (12.3 oz / ~1.5 cups)
• 80 g powdered sugar (2.8 oz)
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• zest of 1 lemon
• 2 egg yolks
• 2 tbsp sour cream

For the topping:

• 1 egg
• 1 tbsp sour cream
• 10 cherries

If you like yeast-based recipes, here are more ideas:

1. Ham and Cheese Rolls
2. Wasp Nest – Classic Recipe
3. Golden Dumplings (Aranygaluska)

Preparation

1. Dissolve 1 tsp sugar in the lukewarm milk, add yeast and let it activate.
2. Mix flour with sugar, salt, eggs, yeast mixture, and finally melted (not hot) butter.
3. Knead for about 10 minutes, then let rise for 1 hour in a warm place.
4. Meanwhile, mix the cheese filling ingredients.
5. Divide dough into 10–12 pieces, shape into balls, rest 15 minutes.
6. Press centers with a glass bottom and fill with cheese mixture.
7. Brush edges with egg and sour cream mixture.
8. Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 25 minutes.
9. Add one cherry on top of each pastry before serving.