Hungarian Cottage Cheese Donuts (Túrógombóc)

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Hungarian Cottage Cheese Donuts (Túrógombóc) 🍡

A beloved Hungarian dessert, these fluffy, pillowy dumplings are made with cottage cheese (túró), coated in buttery breadcrumbs, and often served with jam or sour cream. They’re light, slightly sweet, and utterly addictive!

Ingredients

*(Makes about 12-15 dumplings)*

For the Dough:

500g (2 cups) dry cottage cheese (túró) (or farmer’s cheese, pressed dry)
2 large eggs

100g (¾ cup) all-purpose flour (or GF flour blend for gluten-free)
50g (¼ cup) semolina (or fine cornmeal for GF)
Pinch of salt

1 tbsp sugar (optional, for a touch of sweetness)
Zest of 1 lemon (optional, for brightness)

For Coating:

100g (½ cup) butter

100g (1 cup) breadcrumbs (or GF breadcrumbs)
2 tbsp sugar (or to taste)
1 tsp cinnamon (optional)

For Serving:

Powdered sugar
Fruit jam (apricot, plum, or sour cherry are traditional)
Sour cream (optional)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Dough

Drain the cottage cheese well (if watery, wrap in cheesecloth and squeeze out excess liquid).
In a bowl, mix cottage cheese, eggs, flour, semolina, salt, sugar, and lemon zest until smooth. The dough should be soft but hold its shape.
Chill for 30 minutes (helps firm up the dough).

2. Shape & Cook the Dumplings

Bring a large pot of salted water to a gentle simmer (not boiling hard, or they may fall apart).
Wet your hands, then scoop walnut-sized portions of dough, rolling into smooth balls.
Drop them into the simmering water and cook for 5-6 minutes (they’ll float when done).

Remove with a slotted spoon and drain well.

3. Coat in Buttery Crumbs

Melt butter in a pan, add breadcrumbs, and toast until golden.
Stir in sugar and cinnamon (if using).

Roll the cooked dumplings in the mixture until fully coated.

4. Serve Warm

Dust with powdered sugar and serve with jam or sour cream on the side.

Tips for Success

✨ Use dry cottage cheese—excess moisture makes the dough sticky.
🔥 Don’t overcrowd the pot—cook in batches to prevent sticking.
🍯 For extra richness, drizzle with honey instead of jam.

Why You’ll Love These

✅ Light yet satisfying—not overly sweet.
✅ Versatile—eat as dessert or even breakfast!
✅ Gluten-free adaptable with simple swaps.

These túrógombóc are a taste of Hungarian comfort food at its finest. Kóstolj bele! (“Dig in!”) 😊

(Fun fact: In Hungary, these are sometimes called “sweet cheese dumplings” and are a popular grandma’s recipe!)