Syrnyk – Ukrainian Cheesecake
Simple and creamy, my family recipe Syrnyk has been part of our Easter menu for many years. A traditional Eastern European Easter cheese made with cottage cheese, it is also known as a Ukrainian cheesecake. This sweet, light, crustless, and naturally gluten free recipe can be enjoyed as a side dish or dessert.
Delicious Details
- Cuisine Inspiration: Ukrainian
- Primary Cooking Method: Oven
- Dietary Info: Gluten-free
- Skill Level: Easy
Syrnyk is a traditional sweet Ukrainian Easter cheese. It is made from cottage cheese, though it likely was originally made from farmer’s cheese, as I use in my gluten free pierogi. The cottage cheese is blended together with just a few other ingredients and baked until it is set and slightly golden on the edges. When you are ready to enjoy it, you’ll find it has a light texture and sweet vanilla flavor.
In fact, that sweetness leads to many calling it a Ukrainian cheesecake, albeit a crustless (and naturally gluten free!) cheesecake. So it can be served as a dessert. But in my family, we often enjoy it as a side dish alongside our Easter ham and kielbasa, Hrudka (another Eastern European Easter cheese), and Paska (Ukrainian Easter bread).
Syrnyk is the Ukrainian Cheesecake You Must Try
- So simple and delicious. I hope you are inspired to add a little Slovak inspiration to your Easter menu with an easy recipe that has just four ingredients and takes only a few minutes of preparation before you bake it.
- Something new. Whether you are Ukrainian or not, this is a tasty recipe and would be a unique addition to a cheese platter or dessert table.
- Naturally gluten free. While it is much like a cheesecake, there is no crust and no flour. So it’s gluten free without any fuss or special ingredients.
Recipe Ingredients
This Easter cheese recipe has just four simple ingredients and takes just minutes to assemble. Take a look at this overview of what you’ll need, then scroll to the recipe card for the full amounts and instructions.
- Cottage cheese. Use regular cottage cheese, not large curd or whipped. You do not have to drain it.
- Granulated sugar.
- Eggs. These bind the cheese together so it can be cut into squares once baked.
- Vanilla. I recommend pure vanilla extract for the best flavor.
How to Make Ukrainian Sweet Cheese
Preparations. Preheat your oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 13×9-inch glass baking pan or coat it with cooking spray.
Combine the ingredients. Add the cottage cheese, sugar, eggs, and vanilla to a large bowl and blend with a hand mixer until it is light and fluffy.
Bake the cheese. Pour the cheese mixture into the prepared pan and bake it for about an hour. It’ll be lightly browned on the edges and nearly set, though it will still jiggle slightly in the center.
Cool and serve. Let the cheese cool to room temperature then get it nice and cold in the refrigerator before serving. It will keep refrigerated for 3 or 4 days.
HAND MIXER: I use this inexpensive hand mixer all the time and you’ll need one to blend the ingredients.
MIXING BOWLS: The largest one from this set is the perfect size.
SILICONE SPATULAS: Scrape every last bit into the baking pan.
BAKING DISH: A 9×13-inch glass baking dish is what we you for this recipe.
Make it an Easter Meal
We have this recipe as part of our Easter celebration, alongside ham, kielbasa, and our other traditional Ukrainian Easter recipes. But not all of our dishes are from our Eastern European heritage, especially since I have to make sure my holiday meal is gluten free. These are some other favorites:
- Salads. My mom has always made potato salad for Easter, but coleslaw is also a great option.
- Casseroles. Corn Pudding is a holiday staple in my family, but you can’t go wrong with Scalloped Potatoes with your ham.
- Veggie Sides. I like to save space in the oven and make Air Fryer Asparagus, but we also enjoy Honey Roasted Carrots.
- Dessert. Grab a slice of celebration-worthy Gluten Free Coconut Cake and fill those baskets with Peanut Butter Eggs.
Syrnyk – Sweet Ukrainian Easter Cheese
Ingredients
- 32 oz. cottage cheese
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 13 x 9 inch pan.
- Combine 32 oz. cottage cheese, 1 cup granulated sugar, 4 large eggs, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract in a large bowl, and beat with a hand mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy.
- Pour into the pan and bake at 350°F for 50-60 minutes, or until lightly browned on the edges and nearly set (it will still jiggle slightly in the center).
- Cool to room temperature, then chill in the refrigerator before serving.
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What a cool recipe, love it for Easter, thanks for sharing!!
That looks rich and delicious, Brianne, and I love the story that goes along with your sweet cheese. The stories are my favorite part of reading blogs. Thank you for sharing!
I’ve never heard of this, but now I want it on my table today! I like that it is so easy, too, with just a couple of ingredients. Perfect.
This looks so good and so easy!. I can not wait to try this! Happy Easter!
It is so nice to have a place to chronicle favorite family recipes! I’d love to give this a try!
Wow, I have never seen a recipe like this! It’s light, healthy and looks so moist! I have to give this one a try!
It’s is really good. I actually want to try decreasing the sugar sometime, but forms traditional dish on Easter, I didn’t want to mess with it the first time I made it.
There are so many wonderful Easter dishes that I’ve never seen before! Your syrnyk looks marvelous! Happy Easter!
Easter is one of the few times of year we have these traditional dishes. Happy Easter to you and your family!
Ohhh yummmm. I am bookmarking this. I am a HUGE fan of anything with cheese and this looks so light and creamy! Thanks for sharing your family’s recipe!
It is very yummy!
I’ve never heard of this but it sounds delicious and definitely something I think I’ve gotta try! 🙂
It is simple and tasty!
Very interesting Brianne. Since Syrnk has cottage cheese doesn’t that cancel out the sugar and just make it a good for you dessert? Seriously , thank you for sharing this beautiful tradition.
BTW What a great attitude you have about sharing your writing…It is always best to do it for ourselves…But it is always nice when people do actually read what we’ve written.
Happy Easter to you and yours =)
Thanks Kim. I think it totally makes it healthy. We’ll ignore the cup of sugar. I am so happy to share my stories.
I’m a little late to the party, we’re Ukrainian and this was or is close to my Mom’s recipe too, except she always added lovely golden raisins to it. Omgosh everyone could not get enough of it! My non-Ukrainian friends also loved it every Easter. Perhaps try that one day? 🤗 I’m now following you on Pinterest, can’t have too many Ukrainian recipes! Thank you!