Carnival is a time of joy, celebration, and of course, delicious homemade treats! One of my favorite indulgences during this season are Cheese Oponki – fluffy, delicate, and full of flavor. Their aroma always transports me back to my childhood, when my mom and I would prepare them together in our kitchen. Our old home, the warm oven, and us, surrounded by the scent of vanilla and frying Oponki – these are memories I cherish to this day.
Today, I’m sharing with you a recipe for these special Cheese Oponki, made without yeast. They are easy to prepare and always turn out perfectly, even if they don’t look perfect:)
Try also: Pączki, another beloved treat of all Poles
Ingredients:
- 250 g Twaróg – farmer’s cheese (preferably full-fat or semi-fat)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 egg yolks
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon spirit or vodka
- 100 ml 18% sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Oil for frying (about 700 ml, 3 cups)
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions:
- Mash the farmer’s cheese with a fork or press it through a sieve to make it smooth.
- Add the egg yolks, sugar, vanilla extract, and sour cream – mix well.
- In a separate bowl, combine the flour with baking soda and add it to the cheese mixture.
- Pour in the spirit or vodka – this will prevent the dough from absorbing too much oil and keep the Oponki light and fluffy.
- Knead the dough until it becomes elastic and soft.
- Roll out the dough to about 1 cm thickness and cut out circles (you can use a glass), then use a small shot glass to cut a hole in the center of each.
- Heat the oil in a pot (about 170°C/ 338°F) and fry the Oponki until golden brown, about 1-2 minutes per side.
- Drain on a paper towel and dust with powdered sugar.
These Cheese Oponki taste best when still warm, but they also make a great sweet snack with coffee. I hope this recipe brings you as much joy as it did in my childhood. Enjoy and have a wonderful carnival season!
If you liked my posts and tried my recipes, you can consider buying me a coffee. Or rather I should say: you can buy me a flour for Pierogi, cabbage for Gołąbki and beets for Barszcz:) This would help me to cook more and publish more delicious recipes for You. www.buymeacoffee.com/cookinpolish.
Comment on the post if you have questions, other ideas on the recipe or just enjoyed reading. I would be happy to see your thoughts on my posts! Do you remember Cheese Oponki from your childhood?
Polish food recipes, sentimental Polish cuisine, only tried and true recipes.
