SWEET BOILED CHEESE DUMPLINGS WITH TOASTED BREADCRUMBS

This sweet boiled cheese dumpling recipe is a delightful treat that some say even rivals traditional plum dumplings (gomboti). Light, tender, and coated in buttery toasted breadcrumbs, these dumplings are perfect for dessert or a comforting snack. Some couldn’t resist a third piece even late in the evening — will you?

🕒 Prep Time: 45 min (including resting)

🍳 Cook Time: 5 min
🍽️ Yields: About 9 dumplings (7 cm each)

Ingredients

Dough:

200 g all-purpose flour (BL55)
100 ml water
½ large egg (beat one egg and use half)
1 tsp oil
¼ tsp salt

Filling:

200 g fresh cottage cheese (or farmer’s cheese)
1 tbsp sour cream (fermented)
2 tbsp sugar
½ large egg (remaining half from dough)
Ground cinnamon to taste

Breadcrumb Coating:

50 g butter
150 g golden breadcrumbs
3-4 tbsp sugar

Instructions

To prepare dough, place flour in a bowl and make a well in the center. Add salt, beaten egg, oil, and water into the well. Gradually incorporate flour into liquids with your fingers until dough forms.
Knead the dough by hand until smooth and elastic (2-3 minutes by hand, or 10 minutes if done fully by hand). Cover with a bowl and let rest for 1 to 5 hours (longer resting improves texture).
For the filling, mix cottage cheese, sour cream, sugar, remaining egg, and cinnamon with a fork until smooth without large lumps.
Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add breadcrumbs and toast, stirring constantly for 2-3 minutes. Add sugar and toast for 1 more minute. Remove from heat.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Lightly flour your work surface or tablecloth. Roll out the dough with a rolling pin as thin as possible, then gently stretch it by hand into a large, very thin sheet (about 70 x 60 cm), transparent enough to see through. Trim thick edges.
Spread 2/3 of the dough sheet with a thin layer of cheese filling.
Roll the sheet tightly from the filled side, using the cloth to help.
Cut the roll into 7 cm pieces using the edge of a plate to seal the cuts as much as possible.
Reduce boiling water to a gentle simmer (no rolling boil). Add dumplings carefully without overcrowding—cook in batches if needed.
Boil dumplings for 5 minutes until they float and are cooked through.
Use a slotted spoon to transfer dumplings to the skillet with toasted breadcrumbs. Gently roll them in the breadcrumbs while hot, handling carefully to avoid breakage.
Serve warm or cold.

💡 Tips

Resting the dough improves elasticity and ease of rolling.
Use a plate edge to cut and seal dumplings to minimize filling leakage during boiling.
Handle cooked dumplings gently—they are delicate when hot.

🍽️ Perfect For

Traditional Eastern European desserts
Sweet cheese dumplings lovers
Comfort food with a nostalgic twist

📝 Final Thoughts

These sweet boiled cheese dumplings coated in buttery toasted breadcrumbs offer a soft, luscious texture and rich flavor. Whether warm or chilled, they bring a comforting homemade sweetness that’s hard to resist.