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Papanasi: Romanian Sweet Cheese Donuts with Blueberries & Cream

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A beloved Romanian dessert featuring golden, soft cheese donuts made from Twarog or ricotta, served warm with velvety crème fraîche and a drizzle of tangy blueberry syrup. Papanasi combines rustic comfort and indulgent flavor in every bite.

Ingredients

500 g Twarog cheese (or ricotta or cottage cheese)

300 g flour

2 eggs

1.5 tsp baking powder

3 tbsp sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp salt

Zest of 1 lemon

1.5 cups crème fraîche (or sour cream or yogurt)

1.5 cups blueberry syrup (or blueberry jam thinned with water)

2 cups sunflower oil or neutral oil for frying

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, combine cheese, eggs, sugar, vanilla, lemon zest, and salt. Mix until smooth and creamy.
  2. Add flour and baking powder gradually, stirring until a soft, pliable dough forms that is easy to handle but not sticky.
  3. Divide the dough into portions and shape each into a round donut with a small hole in the center.
  4. Heat sunflower oil in a deep pan to 175°C (350°F). Fry donuts in batches until golden brown, about 2–3 minutes per side.
  5. Remove donuts and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.
  6. Top each warm donut with a spoonful of crème fraîche and drizzle with blueberry syrup. Serve immediately while warm.

Notes

Papanasi are best served fresh but can be reheated gently in the oven.

Use ricotta or cottage cheese if Twarog is unavailable.

For a lighter version, bake at 180°C (350°F) for about 15 minutes instead of frying.

Experiment with different syrups like raspberry, cherry, or strawberry.

Drain excess moisture from the cheese to keep the dough firm and fry evenly.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://chocolatecoveredamy.com/papanasi-romanian-sweet-cheese-donuts-with-blueberries-cream/