SWEET BOILED CHEESE DUMPLINGS WITH TOASTED BREADCRUMBS
This sweet boiled cheese dumpling recipe is a delightful treat that some say even rivals traditional plum dumplings (gomboti). Light, tender, and coated in buttery toasted breadcrumbs, these dumplings are perfect for dessert or a comforting snack. Some couldn’t resist a third piece even late in the evening — will you?
🕒 Prep Time: 45 min (including resting)
🍳 Cook Time: 5 min
🍽️ Yields: About 9 dumplings (7 cm each)
Ingredients
Dough:
- 200 g all-purpose flour (BL55)
- 100 ml water
- ½ large egg (beat one egg and use half)
- 1 tsp oil
- ¼ tsp salt
Filling:
- 200 g fresh cottage cheese (or farmer’s cheese)
- 1 tbsp sour cream (fermented)
- 2 tbsp sugar
- ½ large egg (remaining half from dough)
- Ground cinnamon to taste
Breadcrumb Coating:
- 50 g butter
- 150 g golden breadcrumbs
- 3-4 tbsp sugar
Instructions
- To prepare dough, place flour in a bowl and make a well in the center. Add salt, beaten egg, oil, and water into the well. Gradually incorporate flour into liquids with your fingers until dough forms.
- Knead the dough by hand until smooth and elastic (2-3 minutes by hand, or 10 minutes if done fully by hand). Cover with a bowl and let rest for 1 to 5 hours (longer resting improves texture).
- For the filling, mix cottage cheese, sour cream, sugar, remaining egg, and cinnamon with a fork until smooth without large lumps.
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add breadcrumbs and toast, stirring constantly for 2-3 minutes. Add sugar and toast for 1 more minute. Remove from heat.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Lightly flour your work surface or tablecloth. Roll out the dough with a rolling pin as thin as possible, then gently stretch it by hand into a large, very thin sheet (about 70 x 60 cm), transparent enough to see through. Trim thick edges.
- Spread 2/3 of the dough sheet with a thin layer of cheese filling.
- Roll the sheet tightly from the filled side, using the cloth to help.
- Cut the roll into 7 cm pieces using the edge of a plate to seal the cuts as much as possible.
- Reduce boiling water to a gentle simmer (no rolling boil). Add dumplings carefully without overcrowding—cook in batches if needed.
- Boil dumplings for 5 minutes until they float and are cooked through.
- Use a slotted spoon to transfer dumplings to the skillet with toasted breadcrumbs. Gently roll them in the breadcrumbs while hot, handling carefully to avoid breakage.
- Serve warm or cold.
💡 Tips
- Resting the dough improves elasticity and ease of rolling.
- Use a plate edge to cut and seal dumplings to minimize filling leakage during boiling.
- Handle cooked dumplings gently—they are delicate when hot.
🍽️ Perfect For
- Traditional Eastern European desserts
- Sweet cheese dumplings lovers
- Comfort food with a nostalgic twist
📝 Final Thoughts
These sweet boiled cheese dumplings coated in buttery toasted breadcrumbs offer a soft, luscious texture and rich flavor. Whether warm or chilled, they bring a comforting homemade sweetness that’s hard to resist.