Most of you have heard or read of traditional dishes of Russian cuisine, such as borsch (beetroot soup), pelmeni (dumplings), Russian salad, and the like. However, very few foreigners know the names of sweets, which are no less popular in Russia. Meanwhile, Russians are undoubtedly people with a sweet tooth, and Russian cuisine has been replenished with new dessert recipes and ideas for centuries.
On a visit to a Russian home you will definitely be treated with hot tea and something sweet.

1. Russian Pancakes
Golden pancakes are traditionally compared to the Sun, and for a reason. For our ancestors, they were a favorite treat for Shrovetide, when the spring replaces winter, and the sunny days become noticeably more frequent. There are lots of recipes and variations in serving Russian dessert crepes - with honey, jam, fruit and berries, condensed sweet milk.
Here are some recipes of Russian pancakes for you 

2. Tula Gingerbread
Gingerbread can be rightly called one of the most ancient Russian sweets. Known to the ancient Egyptians already, it came to the territory of Russia in the 9^th century. Back then, gingerbread was made of rye flour mixed with honey and berry juice. The most famous Russian gingerbread is Tula Gingerbread, the sweet symbol of this town situated not far from Moscow. There is even the Museum of Tula Gingerbread in this town. This gingerbread has traditional jam or condensed milk stuffing.


3. Vatrushka (Farmer Cheesecake)
This is another still popular sweet pastry, which has come down to us from hoary antiquity. This simple and delicious recipe was invented by the ancient Slavic tribes. This is a medium size round cake made from yeast-raised, sweet or unleavened dough, with a filler of farmer cheese with sugar, raisins, jam, condensed milk or jam. Although the recipe is very simple, vatrushka is very popular till date and available at almost any food store.


4. Syrniki (Curd Fritters) and Oladyi (Battercakes)
Curd fritters and battercakes, i.e. thick pancakes do not look like sweet desserts on their own. However they become really lip-smacking when traditionally garnished with sour cream, jam, honey, or sweet syrups. In addition, the syrniki, i.e. curd fritters are often made with apples, pears, dried apricots, nuts, pumpkin or zucchini pulp added to the base of cottage cheese, flour and eggs.


5.  Kulich, the Easter Cake
The Easter was one of the most important Russian holidays. Naturally, the Easter cake Kulich was an integral part of many rituals. There was even a belief that if kulich turns out to be fluffy and good-looking, then the whole family would be healthy, happy and rich.
More Russian Easter recipes here

6. Baked Apples
Not too many fruit grow in Russia, but apples are plenty in season. Thus, it is the apple that makes the basis of Russian fruit desserts. Apples with their cores removed are pre-soaked in various sweet syrups. Afterwards, they are filled with some sweet stuffing, such as raisins, nuts and the like, and baked.


7. Apple Pastila
Russian merchants had extensive trade links with the Arab and adopted the recipe of fruit paste from there. This light, soft and tender dessert remains popular till date. The main ingredients of this dessert, which appeared in Russia in the 14th century, were Russian sour apples and honey. In the 15th century egg whites came to be added into the recipe. In the 19th century, Russian confectioners replaced honey with sugar, and this is how it is produced on a large scale nowadays.

Apple pastila is a delicate, fragrant and surprisingly useful dessert. The wife of Leo Tolstoy, Sophia, treated apple pastila to their guests.

Russian Cuisine – Traditional Russian Dishes You Should Try