![King Vatrushka (Cheese Cake)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdata1.behind.ai%2Fimages%2FSaeyylBpJSg7CA19GNP323d86%2F1920%2Fimage.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
King Vatrushka (Cheese Cake)
A pastry made with farmer’s cheese is traditionally called “vatrushka” in Russia. This one is truly worthy of a king both in its taste and look.
Ingredients:
1.1 lbs farmers cheese
1.5 cups sugar
2 cups flour
Zest of half a lemon
4 eggs
Half tsp vanilla extract
1 heaping tsp baking powder or ½ tsp baking soda
6 oz butter
![Image 1](https://data1.behind.ai/images/BLwbvvri3CtzmJZcXeL246c94/960/image.jpg)
A pastry made with farmer’s cheese is traditionally called “vatrushka” in Russia. This one is truly worthy of a king both in its taste and look.
![Image 3](https://data1.behind.ai/images/UaSiuSpPF7HEwhrcXeL8aff89/960/image.jpg)
And it’s so easy to make that it’s sure to become the staple on your table.
Place the farmer’s cheese into a bowl.
![Image 5](https://data1.behind.ai/images/PkuXfwkFTKWV2ULcXeL1eff54/960/image.jpg)
Measure a cup of the sugar.
![Image 7](https://data1.behind.ai/images/3HRTBRxXfrSSqrpcXeL4f1af9/960/image.jpg)
Note: if the recipe says “a cup”, it simply means that you can use any 7-8 oz cup. And if a recipe is based on proportions, you’ll have to measure everything with the same cup. If the proportions are not important, I’d be specifying the exact amount of each ingredient. In this case, just use the same cup for both flour and sugar.
Pour the sugar into the bowl with the cheese. Break the eggs into the same bowl.
![Image 9](https://data1.behind.ai/images/ayep5DpwcbgDg5jcXeL9e2e53/960/image.jpg)
Prepare the lemon zest using a special knife or a fine grater.
![Image 11](https://data1.behind.ai/images/ZL16lww1aug6FfHcXeLabb176/960/image.jpg)
Add the vanilla extract and lemon zest to the bowl with the farmer’s cheese mixture.
![Image 13](https://data1.behind.ai/images/Oyo5TDe98wClwFqcXeL23a97a/960/image.jpg)
![Image 14](https://data1.behind.ai/images/X3mf9VRLhsLEBRVcXeL95995b/960/image.jpg)
Mix the farmer’s cheese filling with a fork and then a whisk, or with a regular mixer.
![Image 16](https://data1.behind.ai/images/oao6kzGDwxIQ3WpcXeL365b4a/960/image.jpg)
The filling will be runny.
![Image 18](https://data1.behind.ai/images/InWGbZwKsKOQRJycXeL6ce5c5/960/image.jpg)
Separately prepare the crumbly dough.
Pour the flour into a bowl.
![Image 20](https://data1.behind.ai/images/eUawRLpam4UgSnEcXeL3d6d55/960/image.jpg)
![Image 21](https://data1.behind.ai/images/lyiwG2MmdZdwj3LcXeLbca770/960/image.jpg)
Add the remaining half a cup of the sugar.
![Image 23](https://data1.behind.ai/images/jwufn7f6GTJwLtKcXeLde3e67/960/image.jpg)
Top with the heaping teaspoon of the baking powder.
![Image 25](https://data1.behind.ai/images/SUqxJkn2Dw1cBK6cXeL62afe9/960/image.jpg)
Coarsely grate the cold butter right into the bowl with the flour.
![Image 27](https://data1.behind.ai/images/WfUPdx4U6ijegECcXeL1360ba/960/image.jpg)
Dip the butter into the flour before each grating: this way it won’t stick to the grater or roll into a lump.
![Image 29](https://data1.behind.ai/images/U2hMYa6mTNjIzkIcXeLd5e29a/960/image.jpg)
Mix the flour, butter and sugar with your fingers into uniform crumbs: just take the mixture from the bowl and rub together.
![Image 31](https://data1.behind.ai/images/MH0Me1Qsync1g2YcXeLc2fad6/960/image.jpg)
You should end up with uniform crumbs which would be the base for the cheese cake.
![Image 33](https://data1.behind.ai/images/Ek8hQPS5AmUdstjcXeL67b1ae/960/image.jpg)
Preheat the oven to 400F.
Prepare a springform pan about 10-14” in diameter.
![Image 35](https://data1.behind.ai/images/TgU5CbQPc59V34kcXeL0355aa/960/image.jpg)
Line the bottom of the pan with baking paper and lock the pan so that the paper edges stick out.
![Image 37](https://data1.behind.ai/images/7ypy2e7OsPUiKqpcXeL6cb2d6/960/image.jpg)
There’s no need to butter the pan.
Divide the crumbs in 3 parts visually and pour two-thirds into the cake pan.
![Image 39](https://data1.behind.ai/images/HCFjIsaiVdhoaKJcXeL118c57/960/image.jpg)
First shape the sides of the cake pressing the crumbs all the way up to the edges of the pan. You don’t need to make the sides even; just push the crumbs to level up with the rim of the pan.
![Image 41](https://data1.behind.ai/images/7jSItsucqMvMhXCcXeL6f3997/960/image.jpg)
![Image 42](https://data1.behind.ai/images/G5BO96ZY94ChrtpcXeLfd9e20/960/image.jpg)
The rest of the crumbs should be spread on the bottom of the pan. Do not tramp the crumbs.
![Image 44](https://data1.behind.ai/images/Xqq3sudI5CEUZjncXeLed3c2d/960/image.jpg)
Pour the liquid filling into the center of the pan.
![Image 46](https://data1.behind.ai/images/DGUiSAJjwqfsLKecXeLa676c7/960/image.jpg)
It will spread evenly on its own.
![Image 48](https://data1.behind.ai/images/oZVxJMtfc6HwFaVcXeL59af28/960/image.jpg)
Carefully push in the crumbs along the edge of the cake.
![Image 50](https://data1.behind.ai/images/4OgOXeHXQ8Zu8LGcXeLddbec0/960/image.jpg)
![Image 51](https://data1.behind.ai/images/pprcpNuqE1e3bCdcXeL9a1882/960/image.jpg)
Take the remaining one-third of the crumbs and pour it evenly over the farmer’s cheese filling.
![Image 53](https://data1.behind.ai/images/Bjbk8vU3WnZFjLYcXeL97c31a/960/image.jpg)
![Image 54](https://data1.behind.ai/images/yD8PoS6dOTcEt5FcXeLd883d3/960/image.jpg)
Simple, isn’t it? The only things you’ll need are 2 bowls, a mixer and a springform pan. No need to roll any dough or anything!
Put the cake into the oven.
![Image 56](https://data1.behind.ai/images/ajrxAcmkfnok9jKcXeLd86d29/960/image.jpg)
Bake for 45 minutes.
![Image 58](https://data1.behind.ai/images/81ezI5LSOeqYu9ncXeL039bd0/960/image.jpg)
Remove the cake from the oven and don’t worry if the filling still looks runny.
The cake needs to cool off, and the filling will solidify during that.
![Image 60](https://data1.behind.ai/images/tY1ioeF3OEGjvLUcXeL36aec8/960/image.jpg)
Ideally you should leave the cake overnight at room temperature, or refrigerate for 3-4 hours.
![Image 62](https://data1.behind.ai/images/njQfT1ssN2anq1ZcXeLa537d2/960/image.jpg)
Slice the cake into 12 parts and serve.
![Image 64](https://data1.behind.ai/images/hlkWMHdKBs7nV5AcXeL15fd9e/960/image.jpg)