Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (2024)

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These farmer’s cheese vareniki (aka pierogi) are soft dumplings filled with sweet farmer’s cheese. Make a huge batch and you’ll have tons to freeze for your next craving!

Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (1)

Get ready to venture straight into my childhood when you bite into pierogi with farmer’s cheese (or tvorog as we called it). Passed down through several generations, this homemade pierogi recipe is authentic, time-tested and so tasty!

Hot tip: Are you running low on time but still want vareniki/pierogi? Check out this recipe for a quick, 30 minute version of this dish.

What Are Pierogi/Vareniki?

Pierogi and vareniki are actually the same thing, but in our family, we mostly used the word vareniki. This word (or “varenyky”) is a Slavic term which means “boiled things.” In short, vareniki are dumplings filled with a range of sweet to savory fillings. Some vareniki are filled with only cheese or mashed potatoes, while others are filled with fruits, vegetables, and occasionally meat. Our vareniki recipe uses a sweet filling, making it perfect for breakfast or dessert!

Vareniki Video

How To Make Vareniki

Vareniki do have a lengthier prep time than most dishes (about an hour and a half), but it’s so worth it! Set some time aside to make a large batch of vareniki, and you’ll be enjoying a freezer stash for months to come.

Make the Filling & the Dough

  • Combine the liquid ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, sour cream, lukewarm water, and milk.
  • Add in the dry ingredients: Add the all purpose flour, sugar, and salt. Knead the dough by hand or with a stand mixer until it is no longer sticky.
  • Make the filling: In a separate bowl, combine the farmer’s cheese, sugar, and egg.

Hot tip: Did you know you can make your own farmer’s cheese? Check out this crazy easy way to make homemade farmer’s cheese.

Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (2)
Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (3)
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Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (5)

Shaping Vareniki

  • Roll the dough: Roll out the dough on a well-floured surface with a rolling pin.
  • Stamp out the dough circles: Using a small cup, stamp out circles in the dough.
  • Add the filling: Fill the center of each dough circle with a small teaspoon of filling.
  • Fold over the edges: Fold the edges of the circles over to make a half-moon shape. Push the edges together with your fingers, making sure they seal tightly so the filling doesn’t ooze out.
  • Cook and serve: Bring a pot of water to a boil, then drop in 10-20 vareniki, stir, and cook until they float to the top. Once they float, drain the water from pot (or use a slotted spoon to scoop out the vareniki), add in a bit of butter and serve.

Hot tip: If you like the taste of fried or crispier vareniki, boil them first, drain, then place them on a frying pan with a bit of butter. Fry them over medium heat just until they reach a golden brown color on both sides. Yum!

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Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (7)
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Vareniki Tips & Tricks

This easy pierogi recipe has been tested by multiple generations of our family. Over time, we’ve come up with lots of tips and tricks to make these dumplings taste and look their best. Check out these pointers to help you make the perfect batch of vareniki on your first go.

  • Adjust the flour amount: For the best dough consistency, you may need to adjust the amount of flour you use. After adding the initial four cups, slowly add in more flour in ¼-½ cup amounts (if needed), kneading after each addition until the dough is soft and no longer sticky.
  • Roll the dough to about three millimeters: We prefer to roll out the dough to about three millimeters in thickness, which is about the same as two stacked pennies. Avoid rolling the dough too thin, or the vareniki might rip when cooking. Make it too thick, and the outer layer of the dumplings may be too chewy.
  • Change up the cutter size: If you like smaller vareniki, use a smaller cup to cut out the circles. For larger vareniki, use a larger cup. Keep in mind — the smaller the cup, the more vareniki, and the larger the cup, the less vareniki you’ll have. Depending on the size of the circles, you may find yourself with uneven amounts of dough and filling at the end.
  • Use a cookie cutter: If you have a circular cookie cutter on hand, use it! It’s a perfect substitute for the cup to make the vareniki rounds.
  • Flour the cup rim: Before pressing out the circles in the rolled out dough, flour the rim of the cup to make it easier to cut the circles and prevent the dough from sticking to the cup.
  • Combine the “scraps”: Once you use up the rounds from the rolled-out sheet of dough, combine the “scraps” into a new ball and roll it out again. Repeat until no dough remains.
  • Change up the filling: There are a ton of different pierogi filling options. Toss in small pieces of fresh fruit like berries or cherries to switch things up. For something more savory, mushroom and onion, sauerkraut and potato, or potato and cheese fillings are great options as well.
  • Keep cooking until the vareniki float: Vareniki are cooked through when they begin to float at the top of the boiling water. To be extra sure, allow them to cook an extra 1-2 minutes.

Ways To Serve

Vareniki with farmer’s cheese taste amazing when freshly topped with melted unsalted butter while the dumplings are still hot. Serve them with cold sour cream, sweet fruit jam (raspberry, blackberry, strawberry) or a sprinkle of extra sugar.

Storing Cooked vs Raw Vareniki

If you cooked too many vareniki to enjoy in one go, keep reading to find the solution. Or — if you made the expert move and prepped a large batch to freeze, we’ve got the tips you’ll be needing for storing those, too!

  • Cooked: Store cooked vareniki in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. Reheat them in a pan over medium heat with a splash of water, or place them in the microwave for a quick zap.
  • Raw: Freeze raw vareniki for up to three months. First, freeze them on a floured surface like a baking sheet or cutting board. After they are completely frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag.

More Dumpling Recipes

  • Steamed Blueberry Vareniki aka Pierogi — Vareniki with a sweet blueberry filling
  • Classic Pierogi — Potato and cheese filled dumplings
  • Meat Potato Pierogi — A yummy dinner entrée made with ground meat and mashed potatoes
  • Gyoza — Japanese dumplings made with ground turkey and shredded cabbage

Recipe

Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (10)

Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe)

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Servings

70 Units

Prep Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 50 minutes mins

Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin

These farmer's cheese vareniki (aka pierogi) are soft dumplings filled with sweet farmer's cheese. Make a huge batch and you'll have tons to freeze for your next craving!

Ingredients

Pierogi Filling

  • 2 lbs farmers cheese
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 egg

Pierogi Dough

  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tbsp sour cream
  • 1/2 cup lukewarm water
  • 1 cup milk
  • 4 cups flour
  • 3 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp salt

US UnitsMetric

Instructions

Pierogi Filling

  • In a medium bowl, mix the farmer's cheese, sugar and egg until well combined. Set aside.

Pierogi Dough

  • Whisk the eggs together with sour cream, lukewarm water, and milk until the mixture has an even texture.

  • Add in flour, sugar, and salt to the liquid ingredients. Knead the dough by hand or with a stand mixer with dough hook attachment until it is no longer sticky.

Making Pierogi

  • Roll out the dough on a well-floured surface. Using a cup or biscuit cutter, stamp out circles in the dough. Flour the cup to make it easier to cut circles.

  • Fill the circles with the cheese filling, placing the filling in the center.

  • Fold over the edges of the circles and pinch the edges with your fingers. Make sure the edges are tightly sealed so the filling does not fall out.

  • Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add 10-20 vareniki and cook until they float to the top. Drain, then top the hot vareniki with a few small slices of butter. Optionally, serve with sour cream, jam, or sugar.

Nutrition Facts

Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 56 Calories from Fat 18

% Daily Value*

Fat 2g3%

Saturated Fat 1g5%

Trans Fat 0.001g

Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g

Monounsaturated Fat 0.1g

Cholesterol 12mg4%

Sodium 89mg4%

Potassium 16mg0%

Carbohydrates 8g3%

Fiber 0.2g1%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 3g6%

Vitamin A 18IU0%

Vitamin C 0.003mg0%

Calcium 7mg1%

Iron 0.4mg2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Posted February 29, 2024

About Author

Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (18)

Natalya Drozhzhin

Natalya founded Momsdish to demonstrate that placing a homemade meal on the table is not hard at all. Natalya makes cooking easier and approachable, by simplifying the ingredients, while still producing the same great taste.

  1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (19)

    Stephen WardFeb 26, 2024

    Is Farmer's Cheese similar to Baker's Cheese? Sounds like it may be the same. My grandmother used to use "baker's cheese" but it is hard to find these days. Can we add potato to the Farmer's Cheese to make the cheese go further? If so is there a ratio, like 50/50? Or would that not be recommended? I am looking forward to trying this recipe.

    1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (20)

      Natalya DrozhzhinFeb 27, 2024

      Hi Stephan, I have never heard of Bakers Cheese reference to cottage cheese. We have a link on how to make farmers cheese in the recipe, maybe see if they look similar? But.. I wouldn't combine it with potatoes, its not going to taste very good.

  2. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (21)

    MarianaFeb 21, 2024

    I use different sized drinking glasses to cut dough into rounds (dip in flour before cutting into dough) to get different sizes of perogi.
    I find just a regular drinking glass is a good size, juice glass for bite-size perogi and perhaps a large coffee cup for larger ones. Wine glasses would probably also work but be careful the glass is not too thin as you will be pressing into the dough! Don't want to cut yourself or have broken glass.

    1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (22)

      Natalya DrozhzhinFeb 21, 2024

      Thanks for the feedback Mariana and for sharing such great tips with others!

  3. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (23)

    M YorgaJan 25, 2024

    These are sweet perogies where I make regular cheese perogies.
    Dry cottage cheese, salt to taste if cheese is salt free, bit of sour cream. No need for egg but you can.
    Use hand mixer and blend till smooth. Only perogies allowed to make other than dessert. Parents Ukrainian and many aunts head of Ukrainian halls in Western Canada.
    Should try.

    1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (24)

      Natalya DrozhzhinJan 25, 2024

      Thanks for sharing your version! We appreciate it.

  4. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (25)

    WindchimeAug 12, 2023

    The dough was WAAAAAAAAY too sticky and wet even after kneading for 10-15 min by hand. Had to add over 1 cup of extra flour to get it right in the end. The dough is also super difficult to roll even after resting and letting the gluten develop. Not happy and needless to say, not using this recipe again 🙁

    1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (26)

      MarianaFeb 21, 2024

      I have found that I need to adjust for humidity sometimes when making perogi dough. On a very humid day, I usually need to add more flour/salt OR cut down on the liquid.
      I will usually put half the amount of liquid to the amount of flour used, to start. (for example, for 2 C flour I will use 1C liquid, including egg or oil to make the 1 C).
      What you can do is start with a little less than half the amount of liquid and then add a bit more flour if too sticky/wet. If I end up adding quite a bit more flour I will also sprinkle in more salt.
      My test is to rub my dough-covered hands together and if the dough forms (balls) together and just comes cleanly off my hands, then the dough is the right consistency. Good luck and enjoy!

    2. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (27)

      Natalya DrozhzhinAug 14, 2023

      Hi Windchime, I'm sorry to hear it didn't work out for you. The dough is very soft and easy to work with, so I'm not sure what went wrong that it was so sticky. What flour did you use?

  5. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (28)

    GinaJul 17, 2023

    Is there a certain thickness to roll the dough out to? Tried to boil one but felt not cooked as much as it should be taking it out once floating??

    1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (29)

      MarianaFeb 21, 2024

      The Babas used to say that the dough should be thin enough to read a newspaper through! That might be a bit too thin if you haven't made them all your life - you don't want the dough to tear because it is too thin. I roll my dough (which should be elastic) to about 1/8" thick. that's thin enough to handle without tearing. I don't like too thick a dough as it's all about the filling! Practice 🙂

    2. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (30)

      Natalya DrozhzhinJul 18, 2023

      Hi Gina, you can let them simmer for a bit more when they are on top. But I typically roll it our to about 1/12 of an inch or about 3mm. Hope this is helpful. Enjoy

  6. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (31)

    PatJul 10, 2023

    Best perogis ever. I use ricotta cheese and no sugar and they taste exactly like babcias, love the dough's texture, it REALLY brings me back
    Thank you!!!

    1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (32)

      Natalya DrozhzhinJul 10, 2023

      Hi Pat, ah I'm so glad you found a recipe that reminds you of your grandmother! I love nostalgic recipes 😀 Thank you for giving this pierogi recipe a try!

  7. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (33)

    ChrisMay 12, 2023

    I am looking forward to trying your recipe. I have my mother's which is a little different. I make these for Christmas and like to make ahead and freeze. Do you recommend freezing before or after putting in boiling water.

    1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (34)

      MarianaFeb 21, 2024

      If you freeze cooked perogi you end up with a big goopy mess that's stuck together.
      Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and/or sprinkle with flour to prevent sticking. Tray freeze. I give the tray of frozen perogi a short rap on the counter or drop it onto the counter from an inch or so above to loosen perogi, if need be. Once frozen, you can fill ziplock bags and the periogi won't stick together. You can remove individual periogi from the bag to cook as many as you need at a time. I bring the water to a boil, gently slip the perogi off my fingers into the boiling water. Use a wooden or plastic utensil to stir the water in a circle (so you don't cut into the perogi) until water comes back to a boil.
      For frozen perogi, I turn the heat down to a gentle boil or simmer and leave them in 1-2 minutes longer to make sure filling is heated/cooked thorugh. If you continue on to pan fry then just remove them when they float to the top. You should coat perogi with EVOO or butter (heart patient) in a bowl right after they come out of the boiling water to prevent sticking.
      When you have a large roasting pan of them for the holidays/gatherings, and they've been sitting for a while, take a kitchen towel. clasp the lid down against the pan and give one (or two at the most) quick firm shake. This will un-stick them again. Too many shakes or too hard of a shake will tear them apart.

    2. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (35)

      Natalya DrozhzhinMay 12, 2023

      Hi Chris, I typically freeze them before boiling, this prevents them from sticking together. I would recommend reading "Freezing Pierogi" section in the post. We share the details on freezing them. Enjoy

  8. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (36)

    MichelleMar 1, 2023

    When I was growing up we always went out for Pierogi dinner and they were much larger and deep fried. How would you make the larger ones and is there a tool you can buy to make the larger ones? Thanks I want to try this soon as I don't care for the potato ones. I was brought up on the farmers cheese.

    1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (37)

      Natalya DrozhzhinMar 1, 2023

      Hi Michelle, I am wondering if you are referring to these. https://momsdish.com/recipe/6… I hope this is what you were looking for.

  9. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (38)

    AngelinaFeb 13, 2023

    They took time to make it work. I put a lot more flour and rolled cut the circles and individually took each circle before filling and filled in my hand because they stuck the first time on the board. Anyways they did turn out amazingly delicious after some tries. Thank you!

    1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (39)

      Natalya DrozhzhinFeb 13, 2023

      Hi Angelina, I am so glad it worked out in the end. Thank you for taking the time to leave feedback. Enjoy!

  10. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (40)

    Natasha KotowiczJan 3, 2023

    I learned to make them from my mother in law. I do not do sugar and we serve them with a rich cream gravy and pork chops. This is recipe that you need to make several times and maybe have some guidance to get them right. Once you do, they are worth the labor to make.

    1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (41)

      Natalya DrozhzhinJan 3, 2023

      Hi Natasha, That sounds so delicious!! Thank you for sharing this!

  11. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (42)

    Sharlene BarrierDec 10, 2022

    My first time ever and what a disaster. Dough too thick, way too much cheese leftover. How thick do you roll out??? Missing my mom. My fault I never made them with her or my babcia. I think a first timer needs to do it with someone experienced. I only got 18 pierogis. Well see how they taste on Christmas Eve. Good thing my sister got store bought as a backup. Drying my tears!! Lol
    Not recipe's fault.

    1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (43)

      Natalya DrozhzhinDec 12, 2022

      Hey there! I am so sorry to hear that! I am sure you did a wonderful job, I am wondering if the dough was a little off. I hope you give this recipe another go in the future. It's so great to have these traditional recipes under your belt.

  12. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (44)

    LanaDec 5, 2022

    Perfect vareniki dough! So easy to work with.

    1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (45)

      Natalya DrozhzhinDec 5, 2022

      I am delighted to hear you love this recipe, Lana! Thank you for your feedback. Happy holidays!

  13. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (46)

    DelOct 4, 2022

    Can you also share a pieroshki recipe?

    1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (47)

      Natalya DrozhzhinOct 4, 2022

      Hi Del- which kind are you looking for exactly? We have several on the blog! This link will take you to the piroshki recipes we have. Enjoy! https://momsdish.com/?s=piros…

  14. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (48)

    TerraSep 6, 2022

    Hi! I am wondering if I need to boil the perogies... Can I freeze and then pan fry with butter. Or must these be boiled

    1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (49)

      Natalya DrozhzhinSep 6, 2022

      Hey Terra- yes, it is recommended you boil them since the dough is raw. Pan frying would take a lot longer and I haven't tried it before with these. If you want that pan fried taste, you can always do that after boiling them! Enjoy!

  15. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (50)

    michelleSep 5, 2022

    The dough was beyond sticky after kneading for a long time which made the process beyond frustrating. Next time I am craving these Ill just go to the speciality market. Bummed I spent all this time and am not happy with the final product.

    1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (51)

      Natalya DrozhzhinSep 5, 2022

      Hey Michelle- I'm so sorry to hear that, I know how frustrating that must feel. In the future, if the dough is still sticky I would recommend you keep adding extra flour a little bit at a time until it's the perfect consistency. Sometimes the flour type can make a difference, as well as how it's measured.. so I recommend adding more if needed to make the dough soft and work-able. If you give them another try I hope you love them!

      1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (52)

        NatalieOct 7, 2022

        Absolutely agree with you! I'm a cook by a profession. Measurements depend on the flour grade and quality. I personally prefer canadian flour. Simple solution, keep on adding extra flour little by little untill you get that desirable consistancy.

        1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (53)

          Natalya DrozhzhinOct 8, 2022

          Thank you, Natalie! I like Canadian flour as well.

  16. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (54)

    TerryApr 24, 2022

    I love pierogi with farmers cheese, but I don't think my mom added sugar. This may be a silly question, but can I just use this recipe sans cheese and get good results?

    1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (55)

      Natalya DrozhzhinApr 25, 2022

      Hi Terry - Thanks for the question. Technically, you can add whatever filling you'd like to pierogi. If you skip the cheese filling, you can fill them with fruit, poppy seed filling, or whatever else you'd like. Hope this helps!

  17. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (56)

    Diane BarnardJan 30, 2022

    Hi. This may seem like a dumb question. When you say to use a cup to cut the dough into circles, can you give me the size of the cup please (width). I have tried to make Pierogi's but they are always to small and not enough filling. Thank You.

    1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (57)

      ElizabethFeb 21, 2022

      We use a Tuna can to cut the dough. It's the perfect size.

      1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (58)

        Natalya DrozhzhinFeb 21, 2022

        That's so clever! Thanks for sharing, Elizabeth.

    2. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (59)

      Natalya DrozhzhinJan 31, 2022

      Hello, Diane. I'd say roughly 3 inches in diameter. If this still seems too small, you can always use a wider cup and just add more filling! You will have less pierogi overall, but they'll be bigger. Enjoy!

  18. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (60)

    LenaJan 30, 2022

    Natasha! Yesterday I left a review on potatoe pirogues. Last night I made farmers cheese and made these вареники today. Recipe came out perfect, easy to work with, superior results. The only change I made was omit the sugar in the dough. It was perfect. My Dad's face lit up when I put these on the table. He loved it!!!!

    1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (61)

      Natalya DrozhzhinJan 31, 2022

      Your comment made me smile. I'm happy you all enjoyed them. Thank you for sharing, Lena!

  19. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (62)

    CindySep 20, 2021

    Hi Natalya, I used to always make veraniki with my grandmother and mother, but I haven’t made them in years. My cousin is coming to visit and wants to make them with me. I lost my precious recipe, and am going to use yours.
    I have a tendency to over knead dough by hand, then it gets tough, and the last time I made pasta dough in my Kitchen aide I had to keep adding flour and it was tough:( Which do you recommend, and any tips? Thank you, Cindy

    1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (63)

      Natalya DrozhzhinSep 20, 2021

      Hey Cindy, this dough is very soft and easy to work with. I think adding too much flour could me it tough. Instead of adding more flour to the dough, I would flour the surface generously.
      I hope you love the outcome! Enjoy time with family!

  20. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (64)

    InnaMay 30, 2021

    I used Canadian flour but had to add 5th cup of flour it was so sticky, is the description correct or right?

    1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (65)

      Natalya DrozhzhinMay 31, 2021

      Hey Inna, if you knead the dough and allow it to rest, it should be more elastic. Flour the working surface as well, it should work well. If you see that it’s still sticky, you can add more flour. Enjoy

  21. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (66)

    MarianeFeb 15, 2021

    I just read your article and have to say that my family never
    puts sugar in the farmers cheese/dry cottage cheese. This would make it sweet more like a desert. This is not used as part of a main meal only desert.

    I'm from a large Ukrainian family with several aunts in charge of the kitchen at Ukrainian halls and we have never done this.

    We will add a tsp salt and some sour cream and possibly a egg yolk for the cheese filling.

    As for your dough it is basic for beginners but for advanced cooks the dough is so soft similar to gnocchi.

    As for eggs in the dough it doesn't make the dough softer, quite the opposite, so you have to watch the quantity of eggs to flour. Instead of milk use oil.

    Your whole recipe is for desert perogies. We never put sugar in our dough.

    1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (67)

      Daniel AntoniukJun 1, 2021

      I grew up in a Ukrainian family and my mother and grandmother also never added sugar. I ordered it this way once in a restaurant and couldn't stand it. So I think, traditionally it is best without the sugar. I'm not sure if you can like both the sweet and non- sweet versions as they are so different. Mom used to use half farmers' cheese/half cottage cheese and then added a dollop of sourcream on top at the table. Yes, it was served as our main entree not an appetizer.

      1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (68)

        Natalya DrozhzhinJun 1, 2021

        Everyone's version is a bit different, we love this version as a dessert or brunch option.

    2. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (69)

      Natalya DrozhzhinFeb 16, 2021

      Yes, sounds like our family has a different recipe. This is our favorite recipe for breakfast or brunch. Hope you give it a try, it's so good!

  22. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (70)

    Liliana DavilaJan 19, 2021

    Hi Natalya! I am eager to try this recipe! I traveled once to Poland and a lady shared her dough recipe with me. I never took down the ingredients, but I do remember the addition of sour cream, to the flour, water and salt. I don't recall the eggs in the ingredients. I have searched a variety of recipes and many of them have just a basic flour, water and salt. What might the addition of sour cream/kefir, and eggs add to the dough? How will the dough be different? I would love to hear your insight. Thank you!

    1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (71)

      Natalya DrozhzhinJan 19, 2021

      Hi Liliana, eggs are used for color, bring ingredients together and make the dough tender. We have tried several recipes and this one has always been a favorite.

  23. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (72)

    DorianDec 27, 2020

    I moved to Utah from Chicago many years ago, and have struggled every Christmas to find the pierogis of my childhood. Mom used to buy them from numerous Polish shops around the city, but never made them herself. This year I decided it was time
    to bring back the tradition and I hunted for a recipe online. These pierogis not only reminded my family of our childhood Wigilia, but also tasted even better! Thank you for allowing us to continue the pierogi tradition! I'll be keeping this in my recipe box for years to come!

    1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (73)

      Natalya DrozhzhinDec 27, 2020

      Dorian, I am so happy to hear this. This is why I love what I do. Thank you for sharing your story, it gives me extra motivation. 🙂

  24. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (74)

    Eva LeeDec 19, 2020

    Would like to make a non-sweet version of farmer's cheese pierogies. What do you suggest?

    1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (75)

      Natalya DrozhzhinDec 20, 2020

      Hey Eva, you can remove sugar and add a bit more salt. I don't know what other seasonings would be good with salty vareniki.

  25. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (76)

    Shirley BairdDec 9, 2020

    Please what is farmers cheese and. European butter

    1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (77)

      MarianeFeb 15, 2021

      farmers cheese is dry cottage cheese. For non desert perogies you put approx 1tsp per 1 lbs cheese, add some sour cream to smooth and possibly 1 egg yolk.

      the amount of sour cram depends on how dry the cottage cheese is.

      1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (78)

        Natalya DrozhzhinFeb 16, 2021

        Thanks for all the tips!

    2. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (79)

      Natalya DrozhzhinDec 9, 2020

      Here is the link to farmers cheese: https://momsdish.com/recipe/2…. Lots of stores sell European butter, you can google for a few brands.

  26. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (80)

    Jane ZNov 5, 2020

    Can I make the dough a day ahead?

    1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (81)

      Natalya DrozhzhinNov 6, 2020

      Hey Jane, you can, just keep it in a sealed container.

  27. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (82)

    NinaOct 8, 2020

    HI Natalya! I love your site!! You have wonderful recipes. I was bothered however reading your history on the name difference between Varenyky and Perogies where you said in Ukraine they are referred to as Perogies which is not at all correct. They are called Varenyky, ( варити - Varite, meaning boil) and a variety that is baked is called Pyrohy. The term perogy became a common identifiable name in north America because of the large number of Polish companies who branded pre-made varieties and made them mainstream.

    1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (83)

      John StramkowskiJan 13, 2021

      I am a Ukrainian English and my recipes have been handed down directly from grandparents of the Ukraine 🇺🇦 and vereniki is all I know it’s potato cheese filled fried with onions
      I’m not saying anything is wrong with anyone else’s history just want to share mine xxx

      1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (84)

        Natalya DrozhzhinJan 13, 2021

        Hi John, thank you for sharing your feedback. There are a lot of versions of Ukrainian Vareniki. Yours sound more modern because cheese wasn’t available in Ukraine back in the days. Unless it was farmers cheese. I do like the potato and cheese combo! 🙂

        1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (85)

          MarianeFeb 15, 2021

          Once again your all to young to know. As farmers in the Ukraine we had farmers cheese/dry cottage cheese. This is the same in Western Canada.
          Some people find the sharpness of just cheese to much and like to mix with potato and onions which I do for my husband but he's not Ukrainian.
          Remember to make the really great dough and use cheese is more expensive so it's cheaper for commercial enterprises to skimp.

          1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (86)

            Natalya DrozhzhinFeb 16, 2021

            Mariane, not sure if age plays a role. I grew up on the farm in Ukraine and we made our own farmers cheese. The style of American cottage cheese and farmers cheese would be different. It wouldn't work well for this recipe. I would suggest making or purchasing farmers cheese. Homemade farmers cheese doesn't really have sharpness unless you are using cheddar cheese.

    2. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (87)

      Natalya DrozhzhinOct 8, 2020

      Hey Nina, thank you for sharing your feedback about the recipe. I think it will be useful for others.

  28. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (88)

    DariaOct 8, 2020

    Hi! Is it possible to boil them without freezing them first or will they fall apart?

    1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (89)

      Natalya DrozhzhinOct 8, 2020

      Yes, you can book them right away. Just keep them on a well-floured surface to prevent them from sticking.

  29. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (90)

    ScottJun 11, 2020

    Hi Nat my family comes from a long line of Ukraines we used brancourts farm cream cheese but since they closed certain cheeses we are unable to find a cheese to replace our veraniki with , what do you recommend and where to purchase please

    1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (91)

      Natalya DrozhzhinJun 11, 2020

      Farmer's cheese can be made at home and the process is pretty easy. Here is the recipe: https://momsdish.com/recipe/2…

  30. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (92)

    ConniJan 15, 2020

    My family LOVES any type of pierogi. BUT hubby is now Celiac and can NEVER eat them again. I’m hoping that you or someone reading this has come up with a gluten free dough you’d be willing to share.

    1. Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (93)

      Natalya DrozhzhinJan 15, 2020

      I am not familiar with gluten-free cooking. But I think the dough is very forgiving and would probably work with gluten-free flour, Costco has a really good one.

Pierogi with Farmers Cheese (Vareniki Recipe) (2024)

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