Vatrushka

A round Russian and Eastern European yeast pastry with an open center filled with sweetened farmer's cheese.

Vatrushka: Round golden vatrushka buns with glossy brown rims and open centers filled with pale, lightly browned sweet farmer's cheese
  • Cakes, cookies, pastries and baked goods
  • Russia

Vatrushka is made from a soft enriched yeast dough shaped into a round bun. A deep well is pressed into the middle and filled with tvorog, a fresh farmer's cheese mixed with egg, sugar and often vanilla or raisins. The dough is brushed with egg and the pastry is baked until golden, with the cheese set but still soft.

The open, ring-like shape lets the filling show, which sets it apart from closed pies. Vatrushki are made in sizes from small buns to large pies and may also be filled with jam or fruit. They are an everyday tea pastry in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.

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Sources

Written by VanillaGoods in our own words from these sources. Last reviewed October 15, 2026.

  1. Vatrushka: Delicious Tvorog Pastry With a Mysterious Past, ITMO University