Chocolate-Filled Syrniki (Russian Cottage Cheese Pancakes)

This version of the famous Russian cottage cheese pancakes (Syrniki) features chocolate inside which is a perfect addition to creamy and soft texture of the pancakes! These little guys are filling and super delicious!

Today I have something special for you, guys. Something so good that will make you bite your fingers off! Seriously. Even though I grew up with Syrniki I still can’t get enough of these little guys. This time I decided to go a step further and add some chocolate inside. This turned out to be a brilliant idea!

Don’t worry, though, this recipe is really easy and quick to make. Basically, a food processor does all the job for you. These chocolate-filled cottage cheese pancakes require only 20 minutes to throw together.

Syrniki have been really popular in my country for many years. Lithuanian cuisine was heavily influenced by Russia and other former USSR countries. I wouldn’t be surprised if many of you have never tasted these pancakes before because I am not sure if they are known in Europe or the United States.

I like these pancakes because they’re easy and the cottage cheese makes them really filling. They have a different texture and are thicker than normal ones like orange ricotta pancakes, for these reasons I love them so much.

Love them because they are different.

Usually, I make Syrniki for my weekend breakfast. However, they are also great for lunch or even as a light dinner. I don’t consider them to be a dessert even though these pancakes are sweet. Cottage cheese makes them really filling so I can’t imagine having one after the main meal! They are great with a cup of tea or coffee, though.

What I wanted to say… Oh, yes. CHOCOLATE. It changes everything! I came up with this idea not such a long time ago and I absolutely love it. My hubby, who is not the biggest fan of Syrniki (the first person ever I know who doesn’t like them) said that chocolate raised them to another level.

By the way, if you want to have these pancakes traditional style – here is a Syrniki recipe without chocolate. I love them both ways, to be frank.

When you bite into one, you will feel a yummy crispy fried shell on the outside, and creamy, soft and chocolatey texture on the inside. A slightly melted chocolate bar inside of the pancake is a real winner, trust me!

If you need some inspiration for what to prepare for breakfast, then check out my other breakfast recipes!

Chocolate-Filled Syrniki (Russian Cottage Cheese Pancakes)

This version of the traditional Russian Syrniki features melted chocolate bars inside. A perfect breakfast, lunch, or dessert!

4.60 from 5 votes

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Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 pancakes

Calories: 194kcal

Author: Yummy Addiction

Ingredients

• 1 lb (450g) cottage cheese , well-drained
• 2 eggs
• 4 tablespoons sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• about 10 chocolate bars
• 1/2 cup flour , for dusting
• butter or oil , for pan frying

Instructions

• In a medium bowl, combine 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons of sifted flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
• Place the cottage cheese, eggs, sugar, and vanilla in small food processor and blend just until cheese is almost smooth. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir with a rubber spatula just until combined. The mixture will be very sticky.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of butter or oil in a nonstick skillet on low-medium heat. Make sure that the oil is hot enough before you start frying the pancakes.
• Place 1/2 cup of flour into a shallow bowl or plate. Using a medium cookie scoop, scoop a ball of dough. Then place the chocolate bar inside the scooped ball of dough, and put it directly on the flour. Sprinkle flour over the top of the ball. Continue the process with the rest of the dough, until it’s all gone. You should get about 10 balls.
• With well-floured hands, gently transfer the ball from one hand to another in order to remove the excess flour. Then flatten the ball with your palm to make it into a patty and place it in the skillet. Fry both sides on low-medium heat until golden brown then place on paper towel to remove any excess oil. Dust the pancakes with powdered sugar and serve with your choice of jam, a fruit sauce or sour cream.

Notes

You may need slightly more or less flour depending on how moist your cottage cheese is. The dough should be sticky and soft, but should hold together well once the balls of dough are coated in flour.

Nutrition

Calories: 194kcal | Carbohydrates: 26.3g | Protein: 9.8g | Fat: 5.8g | Cholesterol: 49.6mg | Sodium: 318.2mg | Sugar: 11.8g | Vitamin A: 200IU