Are you a creature of habit? Do you have the same special treat on every birthday? I could never commit to just one thing. I like mixing things up. I like experimenting in the kitchen. In fact, I very rarely make the same thing twice, even when it is really delicious the first time.
What I do like doing on my birthday is filling my day with my favorite people, gifts (yep I said it), and delicious food (it is usually new food as a birthday is the perfect occasion to try out a new restaurant in my opinion!). And it is essential that the delicious food part begins the moment I wake up!
Birthday breakfasts should be a little more special, don’t you think? I had some tvorog left from the pirojki I made the week prior which I wanted to put to use for a new recipe here on the blog. Luckily, my mom reminded me of the perfect (special) breakfast – ponchiki! By the way, before we continue with what those even are… how fun is the word ponchiki?? My husband has been repeating it over and over ever since he learned it. I think it’s very cute when he pronounces Russian words… but I’m digressing here 
Ponchiki have the same dough as sirniki (cheese cakes) but they are ball shaped and fried. You can also add fun mix-ins into them (I like raisins… I bet cherries or even chocolate chips would be awesome too) and a touch of baking powder makes them fluffier. There are kind of like ricotta-like donut holes. Worthy of a birthday… or just a random weekend breakfast (which actually ended up happening for me because I became lazy and ate a brownie for breakfast instead… which was already cooked.) 
Ingredients (makes ~20 ponchiki):
- 1 lb farmers cheese (tvorog)
- 2 egg
- 2 cups flour (+more for rolling)
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1/2t baking powder
- oil for frying
- (optional) sweetened condensed milk or preserves for dipping
Start heating up oil in a small-medium pot.
1. Mix all ingredients (except for oil)
2. Form dough into 2" balls (my medium cookie scoop, which is 1.5T, was perfect for this).
3. Roll balls in flour, shacking off excess flour.
Such cuties 
4. Fry ponchiki in 385* for a few minutes, until golden brown.
Note: make sure the oil is kept at this temperature so that they are not greasy. Do not overcrowd the pot – fry just a few ponchiki at a time!
5. Blot on paper towels.
6. Enjoy them dipped in condensed milk (my favorite) or sour cream/preserve mixture (another great combo!)
Adam LOVED these! Yay, another winner for the books.
:
Your donuts dipped in sweetened condensed milk sound amazing!
these look awesome. i know they tasted awesome too. LOOOVE the photoshoot setup
Wow, those look excellent! I’m assuming you have a Russian food store nearby? I love those! Mmmm, the candy!
Julie – there are some Russian stores in the Boston area but I don’t really go to them… my parents do so that’s how I get my fix on occasion
Nothing I blog about here needs special ingredients, though 
Donut holes in any language are delicious
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As a girl, I would always request strawberry shortcake for my birthday dessert… but these days I’m like you in that I rarely make anything twice. Too many recipes, too little time!
that is such a fun word, and they look delicious!! i’m always trying new recipes too, so many on my list
Thanks for reminding me of dishes that I’ve forgotten about. I love ponchiki. I have an excuse of making more of these, as in my mind farmers cheese is good for you
it’s not just fried dough.
Haha, totally
[Also, if you keep the oil at the right temperature, they don't even absorb that much oil. Not a diet buster at all!]
Mmm, these look super delicious and addicting! I ask for carrot cake every year
I missed this post! These look delicious. Dipped in condensed milk sounds fabulous.
Elina, thank you for this terrific recipe! I actually made them today and my husband said they were out of this world! I made two different batches: one with no raisins and with raisins and a little bit of shredded coconut. Both turned out really yummy although I personally preferred the no raisin batch. Anyway, I am very grateful for the recipe! thanks!
Yay, thanks so much for the feedback. My husband was going crazy over them too
Love the addition of coconut!
[...] blog about them on Russian Bites) – update on 10/3: so far I’ve made beef stroganoff, ponchiki, savory profiteroles, blini, layered jello cake, vareniki, chocolate covered [...]
[...] 6. Ponchiki (Russian doughnut holes) [...]