This cheese blintzes recipe is a classic way to enjoy thin crepes filled with a smooth, lightly sweetened cheese filling. Cheese blintzes are simple to prepare and work beautifully for breakfast, brunch, or dessert.
With a few basic ingredients, this cheese blintzes recipe delivers a soft texture and rich flavor that feels both comforting and elegant.
How to Make Cheese Blintzes
You prepare cheese blintzes by making thin crepe batter that act as the base. The batter should be smooth and light so the crepes cook evenly without tearing. Once cooked, set them aside to cool slightly before filling.
Sweet Cheese Filling
The filling is what defines great cheese blintzes. You make the filling with soft cheese, a touch of sugar, and vanilla which creates a creamy texture with balanced sweetness. As a result, the filling stays smooth while holding its shape inside the crepe.
Cooking and Serving
Finally, cheese blintzes are lightly pan-fried until golden on the outside. This step adds texture and enhances flavor. Serve warm with fruit, sour cream, or a dusting of powdered sugar for a classic finish.
Cheese Blintzes
Ingredients
- For the pancakes
- 1 cup 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp ▢1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- ¼ tsp ▢1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup ▢1 1/2 cups milk I use 1%
- ⅓ cup water
- 3 ea ▢4 large eggs
- 4 tbsp ▢6 tablespoons unsalted butter divided use plus more for coating the pan
- For the filling
- 1 ½ cups ▢1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese
- 4 oz ▢4 ounces cream cheese softened
- ¼ cup ▢1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 ea ▢1 egg yolk
- ½ tsp ▢1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 tsp ▢1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- For the pancakes
- Pour flour, sugar, salt, milk, eggs, and 3 tablespoons of melted butter into a blender.
- Puree until mixture is smooth, about 30 seconds. Let batter sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before you use it.
- Heat a 10-inch nonstick skillet on medium heat. Lightly coat with additional butter. Add 1/4 cup batter and swirl to completely cover bottom of skillet. Cook until underside of pancake is golden brown, 2-3 minutes.
- Loosen edge of pancake with a spatula, then with your fingertips, quickly flip. Cook 1 minute more. Slide pancake out of skillet and repeat with remaining batter.
- For the filling
- Place the filling ingredients in a bowl, then stir until well combined.
- To assemble
- Lay a pancake out on a flat surface. Place 3 tablespoons of the filling onto the pancake, about 1 inch away from the bottom of the pancake.
- Fold the bottom edge over the filling. Fold both sides in, then gently roll the blintz all the way up. Repeat the process with remaining pancakes and filling.
- Place the blintzes in the freezer for 10-15 minutes or until firm,
- Melt the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter in a skillet. Place the blintzes in the skillet in a single layer and cook for 4 minutes per side or until golden brown. You may need to work in batches.
- Serve the blintzes with any berry syrup, powdered sugar and berries. Garnish with mint sprigs if desired.
Cheese blintzes are also very flexible and you can prepare ahead of time, making them ideal for entertaining or weekend brunch. Once assembled, you can refrigerate and quickly finish in a pan when you are ready to serve. As a result, they work well for both casual meals and special occasions. You can also adjust the filling to taste by adding citrus zest or a touch of cinnamon for extra flavor.
These cheese blintzes are best served warm right after pan-frying, when the exterior is lightly crisp and the filling is soft and creamy. They also pair well with fresh berries, jam, or a light dusting of powdered sugar for added sweetness and contrast.
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Try another classic dessert recipe.
Inspired by traditional Eastern European cheese blintzes recipes and techniques.
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