Syrniki (Farmer’s Cheese Pancakes) 

Syrniki are fluffy, sweet, and cheesy pancakes from Eastern Europe. Give these bite-sized pancakes a try for breakfast, lunch, or a delicious snack!

Hello Reader! I try my hardest to research recipes as best as I can before posting to ensure I am representing each culture correctly. If this recipe is from your country and I have made a mistake or you have suggestions for how to make it more authentic, I would love to hear! Please leave a comment below letting me know what should be different, and I will rework the recipe. It is always my intention to pay homage and respect to each cultural dish that I cook. Thanks for reading!

Syrniki are magical Eastern European pancakes, and today I am making them to represent Latvia in our Cook the World series! The magic of these pancakes is how simple, basic ingredients turn into a delicious, fluffy, cheesy, pillowy pancake before your eyes.

Just mix up some farmer’s cheese, eggs, sugar, and flour and you’ve got a simply delicious dish you’ll be dreaming of making for breakfast every day.

Syrniki are slightly sweet and fluffy but with a good pan-fried texture to them. It’s a little bit like eating cheesecake for breakfast. It’s the perfect breakfast for relaxing on Saturday mornings. These are not your traditional American pancakes. If you’re looking for something new for breakfast, a snack or a light lunch, give these Syrniki a try!

Recipe origins

The exact origin of Syrniki, (or sirniki or syrnyky) is not recorded, but there are some versions of Syrniki dating back hundreds of years.

The dish became popular during the existence of the USSR, and it is still served often within those countries. You can find Syrniki on the menu in different restaurants in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. “Syr”is the Russian word for “cheese”.

Syrniki has become a comfort food dish for many. It’s popular with children and adults alike and is served with a dollop of sour cream, berry sauce or a bit of condensed milk.

Why Make This Recipe

1. New Twist on Breakfast: I’ve seen Syrniki described as a doughnut or a pancake with a flavor similar to cheesecake. It’s really the best of all of these!
2. Simple Ingredients: It may be a challenge to find good quality farmer’s cheese but you could also try this recipe with ricotta or cottage cheese. The rest of the ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.
3. Taste of Latvia: If you’ve ever wanted to visit Latvia, this recipe is a great way to visit from your kitchen! You can try a Latvian breakfast right from home.

What Do You Need To Make This Recipe

Ingredients

Here is a visual overview of the ingredients in the recipe. Scroll down to the recipe at the bottom for quantities.

1. Farmers Cheese: You can substitute with ricotta or cottage cheese. Be sure and read my tips below! You can also use Russian tvorog cheese if you can find it.
2. Granulated Sugar: You can use vanilla sugar if you can find it!
3. All Purpose Flour: *VERY IMPORTANT* See the note in the “What is Farmer’s Cheese” section to determine how much flour you will need.
4. Vegetable Oil: You can use any neutral oil for cooking. Feel free to substitute with coconut oil if you prefer

What is Farmer’s Cheese?

Farmer’s cheese, or tvaroh (Творо́г) or tvarog, is a curd cheese that is similar to cottage cheese or ricotta but much drier and crumblier. It is the main ingredient in these pancakes. It’s easy to find in Slavic countries but it can be a challenge to locate in the United States. 

If you have access to a Russian grocery store, you should be able to find some there for your authentic Syrniki.

I was able to find 365 brand Farmer’s Cheese at Whole Foods. Unfortunately, this is a very wet brand of Farmer’s Cheese and it did not drain well. This recipe was developed and designed to make up for that moisture. I decided to keep this recipe as-is because I anticipate this brand of Farmer’s Cheese being the most accessible to most readers.

If you are lucky enough to find an authentic Farmer’s Cheese, you will only need ½ cup flour. 

Cottage cheese and ricotta are both similar to Farmer’s Cheese but they contain more moisture. If you would like to substitute either of these options, use a cheesecloth to drain any excess moisture from your cheese. You can leave your cheese in a strainer in the refrigerator overnight to get it nice and dry.

Tools

1. Large Mixing Bowl
2. Pan or Griddle

How to Make This Recipe

Step One: Prep the Batter

In a large bowl, use a wooden spoon to combine the farmer cheese, egg, granulated sugar, flour, and salt until all of the ingredients are well combined. Do not overmix the Syrniki batter. 

Step Two: Coat in Flour

Flour a work surface. Scoop out about ¼ cup of your cheese mixture and drop it onto the floured surface, making sure to get a little flour on all of the surfaces of the pancake. Place a glass over the Syrniki and move the glass in a circle (see video) to shape it into a perfect circle.

Step Three: Pan Fry

Heat about 2 tbsp of vegetable oil in a large frying pan or on a griddle. Add the Syrniki to your hot pan and cook on medium-low heat for about 4-5 minutes or until the surface is golden brown. Then flip and repeat until the other side is brown as well. 

Serve delicious Syrniki for a breakfast treat with jam, fresh berries, or sour cream. Enjoy! 

Expert Tips – Getting the Syrniki Dough Perfect 

• Because the brand of Farmer’s Cheese that I used was so wet, you can also substitute ricotta cheese or dry cottage cheese without adjusting the recipe measurements. Drain any excess liquid from those options. 
• Some recipes use semolina instead. In that case, allow it to sit for 10-15 minutes before rolling into balls
• Your batter should be thick with a texture more like dough than regular pancake batter.

Cooking your Syrniki Recipe Perfectly 

Preparing and cooking your Syrniki can have a big impact on the final result. Here are some tips for coating and cooking your cottage cheese pancakes. 

• The coating of flour keeps your Syrniki from sticking to the pan and it’s an essential step. Don’t skip it! 
• Make sure to dust off any excess flour so that it does not burn when you are frying your Russian Syrniki. 
• Try not to overcrowd your pan while cooking. This may cause these sweet pancakes to cook unevenly and also make it difficult to flip.

Variations

• Some recipes call for the addition of raisins to this Syrniki recipe. If you are a fan of raisins, feel free to add some to your batter. 
• Some recipes also call for either vanilla sugar or an addition of vanilla extract! This will add some sweetness to your batter. Feel free to give it a shot! 

Toppings 

The traditional topping for these Russian cheese pancakes is sour cream, fresh fruit, or a berry sauce. You could also serve Syrniki pancakes with maple syrup, Greek yogurt, or any other favorite toppings.

Did you enjoy this recipe for Syrniki? If so, make sure to check out these other recipes I picked out just for you: 

• Potato Pancakes from Belarus
• Kaiserschmarrn: An Austrian Pancake Dessert 
• Cracker Barrel Pancakes