Apple tvorog (farmers cheese) buns are the perfect way to treat yourself to homemade baking without spending a lot of time in the kitchen. We will bake them in the oven in just 30 minutes, using one of the easiest and most accessible recipes that requires no special pastry experience. The dough turns out incredibly tender and aromatic even without yeast and eggs, thanks to the use of ricotta or soft tvorog (farmers cheese). The addition of juicy apple chunks and warm cinnamon creates that cozy, comforting atmosphere. This recipe is also highly versatile: you can substitute the apples with pears, peaches, or even pineapples, getting a new and interesting flavor profile every time.
Aromatic and soft apple cheese buns make the perfect companion to your morning coffee or tea.
Ingredients
- 125 g (4.4 oz) tvorog (farmers cheese) or ricotta
- 50 g (1.8 oz) butter
- 35 g (1.2 oz) granulated sugar
- 125 g (4.4 oz) all-purpose flour
- 1 apple
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp baking powder
- powdered sugar
- pinch of salt
For the Coating
- sugar and cinnamon for coating
How to Make Apple Tvorog Buns
Place the ricotta into a bowl and add a pinch of fine salt. This cheese-based dough is incredibly simple to make—you can mix it by hand or use a food processor, whichever you prefer.
We start with the base: place the ricotta in a bowl and add a pinch of salt to balance the flavor.
Cut the slightly softened room-temperature butter into small cubes. Add the diced butter to the ricotta.
Softened butter gives the dough a delightful texture and a delicate creamy aroma.
Add fine white sugar to the dough. You can use either granulated sugar or powdered sugar.
Add the sugar. You can adjust the amount depending on the sweetness of your apples.
Add the all-purpose flour and baking powder.
Sifted flour and baking powder will make our buns fluffy and light.
Sprinkle in the ground cinnamon. Keep in mind you can flavor the dough with more than just cinnamon; a splash of vanilla extract also pairs beautifully with the apple filling.
Cinnamon is a classic pairing for apples that will fill your kitchen with an incredibly cozy aroma while baking.
Thoroughly mix the ingredients by hand or pulse them in a food processor. You will end up with a fairly stiff dough—this is exactly how it should be, so resist the urge to add any liquid.
The dough turns out dense and elastic. It's important not to add too much flour so the buns remain tender.
Core a sweet-tart apple, dice it finely, and fold it into the dough.
Use sweet-tart apple varieties, as they perform best in baking.
Mix the diced apple into the dough by hand, making sure the fruit pieces are evenly distributed throughout.
Thoroughly fold in the apples to ensure every bun is packed with a juicy filling.
Portion the dough into pieces weighing about 50 g (1.8 oz), or roughly the size of a ping-pong ball if you don’t have a kitchen scale. Moisten your hands with a little water and roll the dough into neat balls.
Shape the dough into neat little balls. Moistening your hands with water helps create a smooth surface.
In a separate bowl, mix two tablespoons of granulated sugar with ground cinnamon. Roll the dough balls in this sweet, spiced mixture until fully coated.
The spiced coating will create a mouthwatering caramelized crust during baking.
Line a baking sheet with non-stick parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Place the balls on the parchment, leaving a little space between them. The dough contains baking powder, so the buns will expand as they bake; if placed too close together, they will stick.
Leave enough space between the buns, as they will puff up in the oven.
Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Place the baking sheet on the middle rack of the preheated oven. Bake the apple buns for 25-30 minutes. The exact baking time will depend on the size of your buns and your specific oven.
Bake until golden brown. You can check for doneness using a wooden skewer.
Cool the baked buns on a wire rack. If desired, dust them with powdered sugar and serve warm with tea or coffee. These incredibly delicious buns are perfect for a quick breakfast treat since everything comes together so effortlessly.
Serve the buns warm when the aroma of cinnamon and apples is at its most intense.
These tender apple tvorog (farmers cheese) buns are best served warm, when their creamy aroma is at its peak, and the caramelized sugar-cinnamon crust remains appetizingly crisp. If you plan to store them for more than a day, make sure to use an airtight container to keep the dough from drying out, and gently reheat the buns before serving—this will bring back their original softness.
To create new flavor accents, try adding a little lemon zest or a handful of chopped nuts to the dough. The main secret to the success of this dish lies in the quality of the cheese base: choose ricotta or well-mashed tvorog without large curds, so the texture of the pastries is truly melt-in-your-mouth and uniform. Enjoy your meal!
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