By Rachel Ringler
You’ve probably heard of cheesecake or blintzes as traditional foods to enjoy for the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, but get ready to fall in love with Bessarabian cheese buns. Serving these sweet buns with a dollop of sour cream and sliced strawberries.
Ingredients:
For the dough:
1/2 cup warm milk
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 packets dry yeast
1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter
1/2 cup sugar
3 eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
5 cups all-purpose flour
For the filling:
1 pound farmer cheese
1/3 cup sugar
2 eggs
Pinch salt
1 tablespoon flour
1/4 pound cream cheese
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Directions:
To make the dough: Proof the yeast in the warm milk with sugar and salt. While yeast is proofing, cream butter and sugar, add eggs one at a time and sour cream. Make a well in the flour. Add the yeast mixture and mix a bit with spatula or spoon. Then add the egg mixture. When dough starts to come together, place on floured surface and knead until smooth, 5-7 minutes. Put in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. Mix filling ingredients together in mixer. Refrigerate until ready to use. When dough is ready, cut off small pieces (about 2 ounces) and flatten into rounds (approximately 5 inches wide). Make sure the center of the rounds is not too thin or the filling will burst through the top. Put 1 heaping tablespoon of filling in the center and gather the ends together, crimping shut so the filling doesn’t come out. Place upside down (with crimped end facing down) in greased muffin tin. Let buns rise at room temperature in a warm spot for 4 hours. Bake at 350 F. for 30 minutes. Keep an eye on them after 15 minutes to make sure they don’t get too brown, too quickly. Depending on your oven, you may need to turn down the temperature. Brush with 1 beaten egg mixed with a little water 10 minutes before the end. Serves 24 buns.
This story originally appeared on The Nosher.