Farmer’s Cheese Blueberry Crumb Cake: slightly sweet, creamy and buttery with a gentle blueberry note. When served chilled, a slice has a texture and flavor reminiscent of cheesecake—some might call it a Ukrainian-style cheesecake.
Love farmer’s cheese? Try these recipes: cheese pancakes (sirniki), farmer’s cheese sweet rolls (pirozhki) and homemade farmer’s cheese.
Farmer’s Cheese Blueberry Crumb Cake Recipe
This cake begins with a simple buttery crust made from flour, sugar and cold butter. A creamy farmer’s cheese filling is layered on top of the crust and finished with more of the crumbly crust mixture to create a slightly crisp, buttery topping. The final texture is tender and creamy; once chilled, the cake takes on a cheesecake-like quality that makes it excellent for serving cold.
Farmer’s cheese is a staple in many Eastern European kitchens. It is firmer and drier than typical store-bought cottage cheese, and when made at home it has a clean, milky flavor and a pleasant creamy texture that’s ideal for baking. If you don’t have ready-made farmer’s cheese, you can prepare it at home using milk and an acid like lemon juice or vinegar—recipes for homemade farmer’s cheese are widely available.
Crust & Topping Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 6 oz (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, cold
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon table salt
Filling Ingredients
- 4 cups farmer’s cheese, crumbled into a measuring cup
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 3/4 cup dried blueberries (about one small bag)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon table salt
How to Make Farmer’s Cheese Blueberry Crumb Cake
1. Make the crust and topping: In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon baking soda and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Using a box grater, grate 6 oz of cold butter into the dry ingredients (or cut the butter into small pieces). Mix with a fork until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. This mixture will serve as both the crust and the crumb topping. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour to firm up.
2. Prepare the filling: In a separate bowl, crumble 4 cups of farmer’s cheese with your hands or a fork so it fits easily into the measuring cup and breaks up a bit. Add 3 large eggs, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Stir with a rubber spatula until the ingredients are evenly combined. Fold in 3/4 cup dried blueberries. Butter a 9-inch square baking pan and line it with parchment paper for easier removal.
3. Assemble and bake: After the crust mixture has chilled for an hour, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove the crumb mixture from the refrigerator and press most of it into the bottom of the prepared baking pan to form an even base, saving roughly 1/2 cup for the topping. Spoon the farmer’s cheese filling over the crust and spread it gently to the edges and corners (use a spatula to drop and smooth the filling as needed). Sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture evenly across the top.
Bake for about 50 minutes. The cake will appear fluffy when it comes out of the oven; it will settle and firm up as it cools. Allow the cake to cool completely, then refrigerate for best texture—chilling enhances the cheesecake-like quality.
The finished cake slices cleanly when chilled. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. Serve cold for a texture closest to cheesecake; at room temperature the filling will be softer and creamier.
Tips and Variations
- If you prefer fresh fruit, fresh or frozen blueberries can be used instead of dried; drain any excess moisture from frozen berries before adding.
- For a sweeter crumb topping, increase the sugar in the crust mixture by 1–2 tablespoons.
- To make serving easier, chill the cake for at least 2 hours before slicing so the filling sets firmly.
- Leftover cake can be wrapped tightly and refrigerated; bring to room temperature briefly before serving if you like a softer texture.
More Farmer’s Cheese Recipes
- Cheese Pancakes (sirniki) – a beloved breakfast made with farmer’s cheese.
- Farmer’s Cheese Sweet Rolls (pirozhki) – soft, fluffy rolls filled with sweet cheese.
- Homemade Farmer’s Cheese – a straightforward method to make fresh farmer’s cheese at home.
Approximate times: Prep time about 1 hour 15 minutes (including chilling), bake time about 50 minutes, total time roughly 2 hours 5 minutes. Makes about 10 servings.