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These light and fluffy Ukrainian cheese pancakes, known as syrniki, are slightly sweet and perfect for breakfast with jam and sour cream. They also make a lovely dessert, especially when dusted with icing sugar.

Plate of syrniki with sour cream and jam

If you're looking for an alternative pancake recipe then I can definitely recommend these Ukrainian syrniki. They are delightful little cheesy pancakes that taste wonderful with strawberry jam but can also be served with honey, chocolate spread or even caramel for a slightly more decadent treat.

As a food blogger I have been following the news about the situation in Ukraine with horror and besides donating to help those involved, I wanted to do something to show my solidarity with those affected. It may be just a small thing but making these pancakes is my way of showing support. By the way, you can donate to help the people affected on the #CookforUkraine Just Giving page. All proceeds to to UNICEF's Ukraine appeal.

Not only are syrniki a popular Ukrainian recipe, they are also popular in Russia. It may seem impossible right now but I am hoping for a time when people in both countries can live their lives without fear and enjoy everyday things like these syrniki.

What ingredients do you need for syrniki?

To make these syrniki you'll need:

Twarog - This is Polish farmer's cheese. Lots of supermarkets in the UK sell it these days but if you struggle to find it you could replace it with ricotta.
Egg
Plain flour
Caster sugar
Salt

How do you make syrniki?

To make these syrniki put all the ingredients in a food processor and blitz. You should get a thick batter, thicker than normal pancake batter and just a little thinner than scone dough.

Put some flour in a bowl and scatter some flour on a clean plate if you are not putting the pancakes directly in the pan. Take a spoonful of the batter and drop it into the flour. Turn it over so the flour coats both sides. Put on the plate and repeat until all the batter has been used up.

Heat a little oil in a frying pan. Plate the syrniki in the pan. You may need to cook them in two batches. Fry for about 3-4 minutes on each side.

Serve with jam and sour cream and a dusting on icing sugar if you like!

Can you adapt the recipe?

As this is a traditional recipe for syrniki then I wouldn't adapt it too much. However, one way that the recipe is often adapted is that raisins are added to the batter. I left them out as my family are not huge fan of raisins but feel free to add a few if you like them.

What can you serve with syrniki?

Traditionally syrniki are served with jam and sour cream. You can switch things up and use yogurt instead of sour cream. You don't have to serve them with jam either. They are great with chocolate spread, caramel and berries too.

two plates of syrniki with coffee, jam and sour cream

Storing and reheating

If you have any leftover pancakes you can store them in the fridge for up to three days. Just reheat them in the microwave or in a frying pan again.

Can you freeze them?

Yes. Put them in an airtight freezer bag and you can freeze them for at least three months. You can then just microwave them from frozen.

More breakfast recipes

If you like these Ukrainian cheese pancakes then why not try one of my other breakfast recipes:

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