Description
Zapekanka is a traditional Ukrainian baked cheesecake featuring creamy cottage or farmer’s cheese combined with eggs, sugar, and sour cream. Lightly flavored with vanilla and optionally enhanced with raisins and lemon zest, this comforting dessert is baked until golden and offers a slightly textured, moist cheese filling. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a delicate dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups (500g) cottage cheese or farmer’s cheese (drained if wet)
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
- ¼ cup (60ml) sour cream or plain yogurt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (75g) raisins (optional)
- Zest of 1 lemon (optional)
For the Baking Dish
- 2 tablespoons butter (for greasing the pan)
For Serving
- Powdered sugar (for dusting, optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it reaches the optimal baking temperature before the cheesecake goes in.
- Prepare the Batter: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cottage cheese, eggs, sugar, sour cream (or yogurt), vanilla extract, baking soda, and salt. Blend these ingredients until the mixture is smooth but retains a bit of texture from the cheese. Carefully fold in the raisins and lemon zest if you are using them to add fruity and citrus notes.
- Prepare the Baking Dish: Grease an 8×8-inch baking dish thoroughly with butter to prevent sticking. Pour the cheesecake batter into the dish and use a spatula to smooth the top evenly.
- Bake the Cheesecake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30-40 minutes. The cheesecake is done when the top turns golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, indicating it’s fully set.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the cheesecake to cool in the baking dish for 10-15 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely. Before slicing, dust with powdered sugar if desired to add a touch of sweetness and an attractive finish.
Notes
- Make sure the cottage cheese is well drained to avoid excess moisture in the cheesecake.
- You can substitute sour cream with plain yogurt depending on taste preference.
- Raisins and lemon zest are optional but add wonderful flavor dimensions.
- Allowing the cheesecake to cool completely ensures better slicing without crumbling.
- For a richer flavor, use farmer’s cheese if available as it tends to be denser and creamier.
