Polish Cheese Sweet Rolls Recipe - Drozdzowki z Serem

By
Barbara Rolek
Barbara Rolek
Barbara Rolek is a former chef who became a cooking school instructor and award-winning food writer.
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Updated on 02/28/22
Polish Sweet Rolls or Drozdzowki

Barbara Rolek 

Prep: 30 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Dough takes 2 rises: 2 hrs
Total: 2 hrs 50 mins
Servings: 12 servings
Yield: 24 rolls
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
362 Calories
14g Fat
44g Carbs
14g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12
Amount per serving
Calories 362
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 14g 18%
Saturated Fat 7g 37%
Cholesterol 111mg 37%
Sodium 297mg 13%
Total Carbohydrate 44g 16%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 14g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 233mg 18%
Iron 3mg 14%
Potassium 152mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This recipe for Polish cheese sweet rolls or drozdzówki z serem (drrawz-JOOF-kee z SEHRR-em) is made with a slightly sweet yeast dough that is topped with sweet cheese curd filling. This dough can be topped with any fruit, almond or poppyseed filling and can be further topped with streusel, if desired. After baking, they can be sprinkled with confectioners' sugar or a flat icing.
Although sweet rolls are usually considered a breakfast pastry, in Poland, they are served any time. In fact, the word drozdzowki actually means "buns" in English. Here is a larger photo of Polish Sweet Rolls.

Ingredients

For the Dough:

  • 1 (0.25-ounce) packet active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)

  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar

  • 1/4 cup warm water

  • 1 cup warm milk

  • 1.7 ounces (50 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature

  • 1.4 ounces (40 grams) granulated sugar

  • 1 pinch salt

  • 2 large eggs

  • 19.5 ounces (550 grams) all-purpose flour

For the Cheese Filling:

  • 14 ounces (400 grams) dry curd cheese, or farmer cheese

  • 3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar

  • 1 large egg yolk

  • 1 tablespoon vanilla sugar

For the Egg Glaze:

  • 1 large egg

  • 1 teaspoon water

For the Optional Toppings:

  • Water icing

  • Confectioners' sugar

Steps to Make It

  1. In a small bowl or glass measuring cup, combine yeast with 1 teaspoon sugar and 1/4 cup warm water. Set aside.

  2. In a large bowl or stand mixer, mix together with the paddle attachment 1 cup warm milk, butter, 1.4 ounces sugar and pinch salt, until the sugar has dissolved. Add eggs and yeast mixture, combining well. Add the flour and beat with the paddle attachment until well mixed. The dough will be very sticky, almost a batter, and that is fine. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and let rise in the same bowl, covered, until doubled.

  3. Punch down dough and turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead a few minutes to release the trapped air bubbles. Divide into 2-ounce portions.

  4. Using lightly floured hands, round each portion into a ball. Place on a parchment-lined sheet pan, spacing at least 2 inches apart, and let rise, covered, until doubled.

  5. Heat oven to 375 F. Using a lightly floured soup ladle bottom, make a depression in each ball of dough. Place a generous portion of filling in each depression. If using crumb topping, sprinkle it on now. Cover and let rise 30 minutes. Beat 1 large egg with 1 teaspoon of water and brush the egg glaze around the sides of each roll. Bake 15 to 20 minutes until done. Cool completely on wire rack. If desired, when cool, dust with confectioners' sugar or drizzle on water icing.