A soft and fluffy traditional Russian Easter bread made with cottage cheese, enriched with dried fruits and spices, topped with a light cream and fresh strawberry garnish.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Cottage Cheese Easter Bread, or Kulich, is a festive and flavorful centerpiece perfect for celebrating springtime holidays. The addition of cottage cheese gives the bread a uniquely tender texture and subtle richness. This version is lightly sweetened, spiced to taste, and packed with soaked dried fruits, making each bite full of warmth and tradition. Finished with a delicate cream topping and fresh strawberries, this bread offers a beautiful and delicious way to mark the occasion.
Ingredients
For the Dough:
100 g all-purpose flour
50 g milk
8 g fresh yeast
100 g dry homogeneous 9% fat cottage cheese
2 eggs (category C1)
1 egg yolk (category C1)
3 g salt
50 g sugar (can increase if desired)
50 g butter, sliced thinly
180 g all-purpose flour
100–150 g dried fruits and candied fruits soaked in alcohol (drained weight)
Spices to taste (e.g., vanilla, cinnamon, cardamom, zest)
(Tip: You can find the complete list of ingredients and their measurements in the recipe card below.)
Directions
Prepare the Yeast Mixture
Warm the milk slightly and dissolve the fresh yeast in it. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy and activated.
Mix the Dough
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cottage cheese, eggs, egg yolk, salt, sugar, and chosen spices. Mix well to form a smooth base. Add the activated yeast mixture and mix thoroughly. Gradually stir in 100 g of flour to form a batter. Incorporate the sliced butter and continue mixing while gradually adding the remaining 180 g flour until a soft dough forms.
Knead and Add Fruits
Knead the dough thoroughly by hand or with a dough hook until elastic. Gently fold in the drained soaked fruits and candied fruits until evenly distributed.
First Rise
Cover the bowl with a towel or plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1–1.5 hours.
Shape and Second Rise
Divide the dough between greased molds or pans, filling them about halfway. Let rise again until nearly doubled in volume.
Bake
Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Bake the breads for 30–40 minutes or until golden brown and a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. If browning too quickly, cover loosely with foil.
Cool and Decorate
Allow the bread to cool completely. Top with a dollop of whipped cream or your favorite light cream, and garnish with fresh strawberries for a festive presentation.
Servings and timing
Makes 6–8 servings
Prep time: 30 minutes
Rising time: 2 hours
Cooking time: 40 minutes
Total time: 3 hours 10 minutes
Calories: Approximately 320 kcal per serving
Variations
- Use orange or lemon zest for a citrusy note.
- Substitute raisins with dried cherries, apricots, or cranberries.
- Add slivered almonds or chopped nuts for extra texture.
- Top with a traditional glaze made of powdered sugar and lemon juice instead of cream.
- Mix in a few drops of almond extract for a deeper flavor.
Storage/Reheating
Store the bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, refrigerate for up to 5 days. To serve warm, reheat slices in the oven at 150°C (300°F) for about 10 minutes or microwave individual portions briefly.
FAQs
Can I use dry yeast instead of fresh yeast?
Yes, substitute with approximately 2.5 g (¾ tsp) of dry yeast and activate it in warm milk as directed.
What kind of cottage cheese should I use?
Use a dry, smooth cottage cheese with about 9% fat. Avoid chunky or watery types.
Can I use pre-mixed spice blends?
Yes, a pre-mixed Easter or baking spice blend works well in this recipe.
How long should I soak the dried fruits?
Ideally soak for several hours or overnight in alcohol or fruit juice for best flavor.
Can I skip the alcohol in the recipe?
Yes, soak the fruits in juice or hot water instead.
Can this be made gluten-free?
Yes, use a gluten-free flour blend suited for yeast breads and adjust liquid if needed.
What size baking molds should I use?
Use small cylindrical molds, loaf pans, or muffin tins depending on your preference.
Can I freeze the bread?
Yes, freeze without the cream topping for up to 2 months. Thaw and reheat before serving.
Can I make this recipe without dried fruits?
Yes, the bread will still be flavorful but less traditional.
What type of cream works best for topping?
Lightly sweetened whipped cream or mascarpone-based cream works well.
Conclusion
Cottage Cheese Easter Bread (Kulich) with Cream is a soft, festive bread that brings warmth and joy to holiday celebrations. With its rich yet tender crumb, spiced aroma, and fruity interior, this kulich is both traditional and uniquely flavorful. Finished with a touch of cream and fresh fruit, it makes a stunning and delicious centerpiece for any Easter table.
Cottage Cheese Easter Bread (Kulich) with Cream
A soft and fluffy traditional Russian Easter bread made with cottage cheese, enriched with dried fruits and spices, topped with a light cream and fresh strawberry garnish.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 6–8 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Russian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 100 g all-purpose flour
- 50 g milk
- 8 g fresh yeast
- 100 g dry homogeneous 9% fat cottage cheese
- 2 eggs (category C1)
- 1 egg yolk (category C1)
- 3 g salt
- 50 g sugar (can increase if desired)
- 50 g butter, sliced thinly
- 180 g all-purpose flour
- 100–150 g dried fruits and candied fruits soaked in alcohol (drained weight)
- Spices to taste (e.g., vanilla, cinnamon, cardamom, zest)
Instructions
- Warm the milk slightly and dissolve the fresh yeast in it. Let it activate for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
- In a large bowl, combine cottage cheese, eggs, egg yolk, salt, sugar, and spices. Mix well.
- Add the activated yeast mixture and mix again.
- Gradually incorporate 100 g flour, stirring to form a batter.
- Add the butter and continue mixing while gradually adding the remaining 180 g flour until a soft dough forms.
- Knead the dough well, then fold in the soaked dried fruits and candied fruits.
- Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size (about 1-1.5 hours).
- Divide the dough into greased molds or baking pans.
- Let rise again until nearly doubled.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for 30-40 minutes or until golden and a skewer inserted comes out clean.
- Cool completely before topping with cream and fresh strawberries.
Notes
- Use high-quality cottage cheese with a smooth texture for the best crumb.
- Soak dried fruits overnight for deeper flavor.
- Adjust sweetness by increasing the sugar if desired.
- Decorate with whipped cream and fresh strawberries just before serving for a fresh finish.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: Approx. 18 g
- Sodium: Approx. 160 mg
- Fat: Approx. 12 g
- Saturated Fat: Approx. 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: Approx. 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: Approx. 45 g
- Fiber: Approx. 2 g
- Protein: Approx. 7 g
- Cholesterol: Approx. 85 mg