Cheese Blintzes

Cheese Blintzes are a tasty Russian and Eastern European dish. Thin Blinis or Crepes that are stuffed with a sweet and tangy cheese then baked in Heavy Cream. Enjoyed as a dessert, a snack or a tasty breakfast, enjoyed all over the world. This is how Babushka makes Cheese Blintzes.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Delicious and Creamy - melt in your mouth, the ideal balance of sweet and tangy cheese, wrapped in a crepe
• Baked Not Fried - some recipes fry in Butter before serving, but Baking in Heavy Cream blends the flavors perfectly adding creaminess, and saves time to heat in a large batch
• Make Ahead Friendly - easily prepared in advance, frozen, and can be easily pulled out for quick meals
• Video - it's not scary to make these I promise, there's even a video of Babushka making these to help you along the way

Ingredients

• 20-25 Blinis - Eggs, Water, Milk, Salt, Sugar, Oil, Flour, Butter
• Quark or Tvorog (or Farmers Cheese)
• Salt
• Eggs
• Sugar
• Heavy Cream (Whipping Cream)
• Sour Cream (homemade Smetana)

Equipment

• Non-Stick Frying Pan (Skillet)
• Electric Mixer
• Mixing Bowl
• Measuring Cups and Spoons
• 9”x13” Baking Dish

How to Make Cheese Blintzes

1. Prepare Batter - using Electric Mixer, whisk together Eggs, Water, Milk, Salt, Sugar and Oil. Gradually add Flour and mix until smooth. Should have consistency of Heavy Cream.
2. Cook Crepes - grease a non-stick frying pan and heat over medium heat. Pour about ⅓ cup of Batter into hot pan, swirling around to create thin layer. Cook for 1-2 minutes until edges start to curl, and flip over and cook for another 30 seconds. Stack crepes on plate, coating each one in butter to prevent sticking.
3. Prepare Cheese Filling - combine Tvorog (Quark), Salt, Sugar and Egg. Stir until blended. Adjust sweetness if needed.
4. Assemble Blintzes - lay 1 Blinchik flat on surface. Spoon 2 tablespoons of Cheese Filling on the bottom edge of Crepe. Fold bottom edge over the Filling, tuck sides in and roll into a Cheese Blintz like a Burrito. Place in baking dish.
5. Fill Baking Dish - continue making Cheese Blintzes until tray is full. Can make 2 smaller Baking Dishes and freeze one for later.
6. Pour Cream - sprinkle about ½ cup of Sugar over Cheese Blintzes. Pour Heavy Cream until they are covered.
7. Bake - place in a preheated oven at 350°F (180°C). Bake for about 25-30 minutes until it starts to bubble and Cream is absorbed into the Blintzes.
8. Serve - enjoy immediately with a generous dollop or Sour Cream.

Cheese Blintz Variations

• Fruit Blintzes - add Jam or fresh fruit into the Cheese Filling (I like smearing Apricot Jam underneath Cheese)
• Chocolate Blintzes - add chocolate spread like Nutella or Cocoa Powder to the Cheese Filling
• Nutty Blintzes - add finely chopped Almonds, Hazelnuts, or Macadamia Nuts for flavor and texture
• Lemony - add Lemon Zest and 1 teaspoon of Vanilla Essence to the Cheese for a flavor variation

Recipe Tips and FAQs

• Don't Overstuff - avoid the urge to overfill the Blintzes or they won't hold their shape
• Blini are Tearing - if they tear when you flip them over when cooking, whisk in 1 egg into the batter to strengthen them
• Adjust Batter - If batter is too thick and not spreading easily in pan, add an extra ¼ cup of water to make thinner crepes, until desired consistency is reached
• Don't Over Sweeten - the Cheese Filling should be tangy, with additional sweetness coming the sweetened cream - this ensures the right balance
• Premade Crepes - save time by buying Crepes or making in advance for easy assembly when ready
• Batter Ahead of Time - make Blini Batter, cover with Cling Wrap and keep refrigerated. Use within 48 hours.

What Types of Cheese to Use?

Eastern European Tvorog or Quark is most authentic. Farmers Cheese is easily made, and Ricotta Cheese is easily found in all supermarkets. Can mix Cottage Cheese and Cream Cheese in a 2:1 ratio to mimic the tangy flavor of Tvorog or Quark.

Can I Fry Blintzes Instead of Baking?

Yes. In Poland and Ukraine, these are known as Nalesniki or Krokiety. After assembling Cheese Blintz, pan fry in butter for 2-3 minutes per side until golden and crispy.

How Many People Does This Serve?

Using a glass Pyrex 9"x13" Glass Baking Dish will fill 20-25 Cheese Blintzes. As a dessert, count on 1-2 per person. If enjoying for breakfast, 3 per person is usually enough. A sweet treat to finish a dinner party, this could serve up to 10 people.

Storage and Reheating

• Fridge - place cooked Blintzes in airtight container and keep refrigerated. Enjoy within 3-4 days.
• Freezer - place in freezer without adding Heavy Cream. Tightly wrap in Cling Film with an extra layer of Foil (to avoid freezer burn). Best enjoyed within 1 month. Defrost in fridge overnight before baking with sugar and cream.
• Reheating - place in preheated oven 350°F (180°C) and warm for 10 minutes until heated through

Russian Recipes You'll Love

• Breakfast Blinis - Stuffed with Bacon and Egg
• Farmers Blini Stuffed with Potatoes and Bacon
• Savory Crepes Stuffed with Meat
• Olivier - Russian Potato Salad
• Butter Braised Cabbage
• Syrniki Cheese Pancakes
• Naturally Fermented Tvorog Cheese
• Buckwheat Porridge Kasha

Sweet Cheese Blintzes are a delicious dessert or a breakfast treat. Popular in Russian, Jewish and Slavic families. A Baked Blintz recipe stuffed with creamy cheese. Your family and guests will love it. Bon Appetit! Приятного аппетита!

©PetersFoodAdventures.com *originally published March 2019, updated January 2025