Vareniki with cherries

Name: Vareniki with cherries
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 24
Ingredients: Type 00 flour 3 ¼ cups; Water lukewarm 0.8 cup; Sunflower seed oil 2 ¼ tbsp; Fine salt 1 pinch; Quark 1 ¼ cup; Sugar 0.4 cup; Cherries in syrup 24; Butter 4 tbsp; Sour cream to taste; Almond slices to taste; Honey to taste

it de es fr br

Vegetarian

Difficulty: Easy
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 5 min
Makes: 34 pieces
Cost: Low

PRESENTATION

Recipe by
Andriana Kulchytska

Cherry vareniki are this really amazing treat from Eastern Europe. Honestly, every bite brings a taste of home. These sweet dumplings are filled with juicy cherries and tworog, which is a fresh cheese kinda like ricotta. It makes them so creamy and satisfying. Once boiled, they're topped with melted butter—super tasty—adding a glossy finish and rich flavor. They fit right in with other Eastern European favorites, like Syrniki and Vatrushka, making a cozy family of homemade cherry pierogi. Perfect for special occasions or whenever you’re feeling nostalgic, they often steal the show at family gatherings. Everyone, for sure, looks forward to a plate of Ukrainian cherry dumplings for dessert.

Across Eastern Europe, these sweet dumplings pop up in various forms depending on the region, but cherries always remain a classic filling. And look, what sets traditional vareniki apart is the flavor balance—tart, juicy cherries meet the smooth tworog. Plus, they're topped with a bit of honey and sour cream. So, so good. Some folks might drizzle extra honey for sweetness, or just keep it simple with sour cream. Not overly fancy, but you know, they always feel special. Once you remember how good they are, you seriously start craving them. The combo of soft dumpling dough, tangy cherries, and buttery richness makes this cherry dessert recipe stand out among other cherry-filled dumplings.

Passed down through generations, each family adds its own twist. But, the feeling remains: warm, cozy and just the right amount of special. Whether you are new to these sweet delights or they've been a family staple forever, there's no denying the comfort and joy they bring to the table. And here's the thing, they're way, way better than you might think.

INGREDIENTS

For the dough (for about 34 vareniki): Type 00 flour 3 ¼ cups (400 g); Water 0.8 cup (200 g) - lukewarm; Sunflower seed oil 2 ¼ tbsp (30 g); Fine salt 1 pinch

For the filling: Quark 1 ¼ cup (300 g); Sugar 0.4 cup (80 g); Cherries in syrup 34

For serving: Butter 4 tbsp (60 g); Sour cream to taste; Almond slices to taste; Honey to taste

Preparation

How to prepare Vareniki with cherries

To prepare the vareniki with cherries, start with the dough: in a bowl, place the sifted flour, then add the warm water 1, sunflower oil 2, and a pinch of salt 3.

First, work with a fork 4, then move to the workbench and knead with your hands 5 until you get a smooth and homogeneous dough 6. If the dough is too sticky, you can add a bit more flour. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 10 minutes at room temperature.

Meanwhile, prepare the filling: in a bowl, place the tvorog and mash it with a spoon or fork 7, then add the sugar 8 and mix 9. Taste to adjust the sweetness to your liking.

Now take the dough and divide it in half 10. Roll out both parts with a rolling pin to get two sheets about 1/16 inch thick 11. Use a glass or cookie cutter to cut out discs about 3 inches in diameter 12.

Remove the excess dough 13, which can be re-kneaded to make more discs. Fill the discs with a spoonful of filling 14 and a canned cherry 15.

Fold the discs in half and seal them into half-moons by pinching the edges 16 17. Cook the dumplings in boiling water with a pinch of salt added 18. Meanwhile, melt the butter and pour it into a bowl.

Drain the vareniki when they float to the top, it will take about 3-4 minutes, then transfer them directly into the bowl with the melted butter 19. Toss to coat them well with the dressing 20. Pour a tablespoon of sour cream on the serving plates and place the vareniki on top 21.

Drizzle them with the liquid from the canned cherries and honey 22. Finally, garnish with almond flakes 23. Your vareniki with cherries are ready to be served 34!

Storage

Vareniki with cherries can be stored in the refrigerator, in an airtight container, for 1-2 days at most.

Tip

If you can't find tvorog, you can substitute it with well-drained ricotta.

The version with canned cherries is a much-loved classic, but you can vary the filling according to the season or your tastes: one of the most popular alternatives is with fresh pitted cherries, perfect in summer!

If desired, you can flavor the filling with a pinch of cinnamon or grated lemon zest.

For the translation of some texts, artificial intelligence tools may have been used.