Ukrainian Cottage Cheese Cake Recipe | High-Protein Dessert
🍒 If you’re looking for a simple, comforting, high-protein dessert that tastes both light and indulgent, this cottage cheese casserole with cherries is the perfect choice. It’s incredibly tender, pleasantly sweet, and has a beautiful golden crust with a juicy cherry layer hidden inside.
This recipe is easy to follow and uses simple ingredients you likely already have at home. The result? A soft, airy casserole that melts in your mouth and pairs perfectly with tea or coffee.
🛒 Ingredients
For the Casserole:
➤ 500 g (1.1 lbs) cottage cheese
➤ 3 eggs
➤ ½ cup semolina
➤ ½ cup warm milk
➤ ½ cup sugar
➤ ½ cup sour cream
➤ 1 small pinch of salt
➤ 1 small piece of butter (for greasing)
For the Cherry Filling:
➤ 100 g (3.5 oz) fresh or frozen cherries 🍒
➤ 1 tbsp sugar
➤ 1 tbsp cornstarch
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Prepare the Semolina
➤ Start by pouring ½ cup of semolina into a bowl.
➤ Add ½ cup of warm milk and stir well.
➤ Let the mixture sit for about 10 minutes.
This step allows the semolina to absorb the liquid and swell, which makes the casserole softer and more delicate in texture.
💡Why this step matters:
Semolina absorbs the milk and swells, which gives the casserole structure and prevents it from becoming dense or dry. Skipping this step may result in a grainy texture.
2. Prepare the Egg Mixture
➤ Separate one egg into yolk and white. Set the yolk aside — we’ll use it later for the topping.
➤ Add the remaining egg white and the other two whole eggs into a bowl.
➤ Add ½ cup of sugar.
➤ Whisk everything together until smooth and slightly fluffy.
3. Make the Cottage Cheese Batter
In a large bowl:
➤ Add 500 g (1.1 lbs) of cottage cheese
➤ Add a small pinch of salt
➤ Pour in the egg and sugar mixture
➤ Blend everything using a hand blender until completely smooth.
Next:
➤ Add the soaked semolina mixture
➤ Add ½ cup of sour cream
➤ Mix thoroughly until the batter becomes smooth and airy.
💡Important tip:
The smoother the cottage cheese mixture, the more delicate and airy your casserole will be. If your cottage cheese is very grainy, blending is especially important.
4. Prepare the Cherry Filling
In a separate bowl, combine:
➤ 100 g (3.5 oz) of cherries
➤ 1 tablespoon of sugar
➤ 1 tablespoon of cornstarch
Mix carefully so the cherries are evenly coated.
👉 If using frozen cherries, do not thaw them completely — just remove excess ice.
💡Success Secret:
The cornstarch is essential — it prevents the cherries from releasing too much juice and keeps the filling thick and beautiful.
5. Get the Oven and Dish Ready
➤ Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
➤ Grease the baking dish with butter.
➤ Then lightly sprinkle the dish with semolina.
This creates a thin protective layer and ensures easy removal after baking.
1️⃣Pour half of the cottage cheese batter into the prepared baking dish.
2️⃣Spread the cherry filling evenly over the surface.
3️⃣ Gently pour the remaining batter on top and smooth the surface.
👉Try to distribute the batter carefully so the cherries stay in the center layer.
7. Create a Golden Top
➤ Take the reserved egg yolk and mix it with 1 tablespoon of sour cream.
➤ Brush this mixture evenly over the top of the casserole using a pastry brush.
This will create a beautiful golden, glossy crust while baking.
8. Bake
Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for 50–60 minutes, or until the top is golden and set.
This fluffy cottage cheese casserole with cherries is fragrant, soft, and incredibly satisfying. Once you try it, it may become one of your favorite homemade desserts.
If you enjoyed this recipe, be sure to share it with your friends and save it for later. Happy baking! 🍒✨
AI Website Generator
