Tvorozhny Keks s Tykvoy — Cottage Cheese and Pumpkin Loaf Cake

Welcome to a recipe that perfectly captures the cozy essence of autumn! This Tvorog and Pumpkin Loaf Cake is a delightful treat that brings together two beloved ingredients in Eastern European cuisine: tvorog, a creamy farmer's cheese, and sweet, earthy pumpkin. The result is a wonderfully moist, tender cake with a beautiful golden-orange hue and a delicate, tangy flavor. Spiced with a warm hint of cinnamon and crowned with luscious whipped cream, this cake is perfect for a chilly afternoon with a cup of hot tea. It's simple to make and sure to become a seasonal staple in your home.

Cooking: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Quantity: 8 Servings
Per serving
Calories: 391 kcal
Proteins: 10 g
Fats: 16 g
Carbohydrates: 52 g

Ingredients for Tvorog and Pumpkin Loaf Cake

  • 200 g tvorog (farmer's cheese, quark, or dry-curd cottage cheese)
  • 200 g pumpkin puree
  • 180 g granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 35 g olive oil
  • 240 g all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • pinch of salt

For the Topping

  • 200 g heavy cream (33% fat)
  • 25 g powdered sugar
  • fruit jam
  • ground cinnamon

How to Make Tvorog and Pumpkin Loaf Cake

A bowl of tvorog (farmer's cheese) being pressed through a fine-mesh sieve with a spoon.

Pressing the tvorog through a sieve.

A bowl with sifted tvorog and a spoonful of orange pumpkin puree being added to it.

Adding cooled pumpkin puree to the tvorog.

Granulated sugar being poured into a bowl with the tvorog and pumpkin mixture.

Adding granulated sugar.


Press the tvorog (a type of farmer’s cheese, similar to cottage cheese or quark) through a sieve. If there are visible lumps, I recommend sifting it twice to ensure the batter is smooth.

Peel the pumpkin and remove the seeds. Cut it into small cubes and cover with boiling water. Cook over medium heat until tender, then drain the water. Blend the pumpkin into a puree and let it cool. Add the cooled pumpkin puree to the tvorog.

Add the granulated sugar. Mix the ingredients thoroughly until the sugar crystals dissolve.

A bowl containing the cake batter with eggs and lemon juice being mixed in.

Adding lemon juice and eggs to the bowl, mixing the ingredients until smooth.

Squeeze one tablespoon of juice from the lemon. Strain it through a sieve to remove any seeds. Add the lemon juice and eggs to the bowl, and mix until smooth.

Pouring vegetable oil from a bottle into the bowl with the cake batter.

Pouring in olive oil or any other neutral-flavored vegetable oil.

Sifting all-purpose flour into a bowl of wet ingredients for the pumpkin loaf cake.

Sifting flour into the bowl with the wet ingredients.

A teaspoon of ground cinnamon being added to the flour in the mixing bowl.

Adding a heaping teaspoon of ground cinnamon.


Pour in the olive oil or any other neutral-flavored vegetable oil. Add a pinch of fine salt to the batter and mix well again.

Combine the all-purpose flour with baking soda and baking powder, and mix. Sift the flour mixture into the bowl with the wet ingredients.

Add a heaping teaspoon of ground cinnamon.

A thick, orange-colored batter for the tvorog and pumpkin loaf cake in a mixing bowl.

Kneading the batter; it should be quite thick.

Knead the batter; it should be quite thick. If it’s too runny, I recommend adding a little more flour. The consistency of the batter largely depends on the consistency of the pumpkin puree.

A rectangular metal loaf pan being greased and floured in preparation for baking.

Greasing a rectangular loaf pan with non-stick spray and dusting with flour.

The thick pumpkin cake batter being poured and spread into a prepared loaf pan.

Pouring the batter into the pan.

A loaf pan with cake batter placed on the middle rack inside a preheated oven.

Placing the loaf pan on the middle rack of the preheated oven.


Grease a rectangular loaf pan (this recipe uses a 22×11 cm / approx. 9×4 inch pan) with non-stick spray and dust with flour.

Pour the batter into the pan. Spread it evenly to ensure a uniform thickness.

Preheat the oven to 175°C (350°F). Place the loaf pan on the middle rack of the preheated oven. Bake for about 50 minutes. Check for doneness with a wooden skewer – it should come out clean from the thickest part of the cake. Before decorating, let the finished cottage cheese and pumpkin loaf cake cool completely on a wire rack.

Piping whipped cream from a piping bag with a star tip onto the cooled pumpkin loaf cake.

Piping the cream onto the cooled loaf cake.

Whip the 33% heavy cream with powdered sugar until stiff peaks form. Transfer the whipped cream to a piping bag fitted with a star tip. Pipe the cream onto the cooled loaf cake.

The finished tvorog and pumpkin loaf cake decorated with whipped cream, fruit jam, and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Decorating with drops of fruit jam and sprinkling with ground cinnamon or cocoa powder.

Decorate with drops of fruit jam and sprinkle with ground cinnamon or cocoa powder.

And there you have it – a beautiful and delicious Tvorog and Pumpkin Loaf Cake, ready to be shared and enjoyed! This cake is wonderful on its own, but feel free to get creative with the toppings. A drizzle of honey, a sprinkle of toasted pumpkin seeds, or even a simple dusting of powdered sugar would be fantastic. It keeps well in an airtight container for a few days, and the flavor even deepens overnight. We hope this recipe brings a touch of warmth and comfort to your kitchen. Happy baking!