Varenyky with Cherries
A delightful sweet variation of the classic Ukrainian dumplings, varenyky, filled with fresh or preserved cherries and served with sour cream or a dollop of sweetened yogurt.
🧂 Ingredients
- 300 g All-purpose flour
- 150 ml Hot water
- 1 large Egg
- 0.5 tsp Salt
- 400 g Fresh or frozen cherries(pitted)
- 50 g Sugar(for filling, adjust to taste)
- 1 tbsp Cornstarch(for filling)
- for serving Sour cream or yogurt
- for dusting (optional) Powdered sugar
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Make a well in the center.
💡 Tip: Using hot water helps create a tender dough. - 2
In a separate small bowl, whisk the egg with hot water. Pour this mixture into the well of the flour.
💡 Tip: Be careful when handling hot water. - 3
Mix with a spoon until a shaggy dough forms, then turn out onto a floured surface and knead for 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
⏱️ 7 minutes - 4
Cover the dough with a damp cloth and let it rest for 20-30 minutes.
⏱️ 30 minutes - 5
While the dough rests, prepare the cherry filling. If using fresh cherries, pit them. If using frozen, thaw them slightly. Toss cherries with sugar and cornstarch.
💡 Tip: Cornstarch helps thicken the cherry juices during cooking. - 6
Divide the dough into portions. Roll out each portion thinly (about 2mm thick) on a floured surface.
💡 Tip: Keep unused dough covered to prevent drying. - 7
Cut out circles from the dough using a glass or cookie cutter (about 7-8 cm diameter).
- 8
Place about 1-2 teaspoons of cherry filling in the center of each dough circle. Fold the dough in half and pinch the edges firmly to seal, creating a half-moon shape.
💡 Tip: Ensure the edges are well sealed to prevent filling from leaking out. - 9
Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Carefully drop the varenyky into the boiling water in batches.
💡 Tip: Do not overcrowd the pot. - 10
Cook for 3-5 minutes after they float to the surface, or until the dough is cooked through.
⏱️ 5 minutes💡 Tip: The cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the dough. - 11
Remove varenyky with a slotted spoon and serve immediately with a dollop of sour cream or yogurt, and a dusting of powdered sugar if desired.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For a richer dough, you can substitute some of the hot water with milk.
- ✓If cherries are very tart, increase the amount of sugar in the filling.
- ✓You can freeze uncooked varenyky on a baking sheet until firm, then transfer to a freezer bag for later cooking.
🔄 Variations
- Add a pinch of cinnamon or lemon zest to the cherry filling.
- Serve with melted butter instead of sour cream.
- Use other berries like blueberries or raspberries for the filling.