Sweet Cheese Buns

Sweet Cheese Buns are like Russian Cheesecake Buns! Called Vatrushka in Russian, these round pastries are made from an easy homemade yeast dough similar to a Danish Pastry!

📝 Ingredients

• 1 cup warm milk
• 1 Tbsp yeast
• 1/2 Tbsp sugar
• 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup oil
• 1 1/2 cups cottage cheese (drained and rinsed)
• 16 oz cream cheese (softened )
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 Tbsp milk ((for brushing buns))

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1--- How to make Sweet Cheese Filled Buns: ---
2. 2Proof yeast: Whisk together the milk, yeast, and 1/2 T sugar. Set aside.
3. 3Make and knead dough: Meanwhile, place all the remaining dough ingredients into the bowl of a KitchenAid mixer, in the order given. Stir in the yeast mixture and knead over med-hi speed for 7 minutes. Lightly oil and cover to rise 35 minutes.
4. 4Divide and shape the dough: Cut the dough in half, then each half into 8 pieces, and form all 16 pieces into balls. Place 2 inches apart onto a lined cookie sheet and allow to rise 25 minutes.
5. 5Make the cheese filling by mixing all the filling ingredients until fluffy. Set aside.
6. 6Fill dough with filling: Indent each risen ball leaving a 1-inch border. Fill with 2 heaping Tablespoons of the cheese filling and give the buns a final rise of 20 minutes.
7. 7Brush the dough with milk and bake: Brush tops with 2 tablespoons of milk. Bake in a pre-heated 350°F oven for 22 minutes.